‘I didn’t really expect it to get this big’ – Former Vols CB Colton Hood has already mastered something in the NFL that’s tough to do
Former Tennessee Volunteers cornerback Colton Hood was selected by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Hood is expected to compete for a starting job with the Giants this summer.
Former Tennessee Vols cornerback Colton Hood has been in the NFL for less than a month, but he’s already accomplished something that some players never figure out.
Hood, who spent time at Auburn and Colorado before transferring to Tennessee, was selected by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The former Vol has made a positive impression early, both with his play on the field and his viral “hood” celebration.
Colton Hood’s celebration is catching on in a big way
Part of being a star in the NFL is being a marketable player. Production obviously matters, but the players with a little something extra — a great nickname, big personality, cool celebration — are the ones who break through and become stars that transcend the sport.
It’s early in Hood’s career, but he’s setting himself up to be that type of player with his elite competitiveness and his popular celebration.
According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, Giants defensive backs coach Addison Lynch called for Hood to do the celebration after coming down with an interception during minicamp last weekend.
“Hood, the second-round corner out of Tennessee, made the play of the day when he arrived at the same time as the ball during a rep on Saturday,” wrote Raanan. “He was playing zone coverage and converged with tryout running back Miles Davis. The ball ricocheted off Davis and into Hood’s arms for a bang-bang interception returned for a touchdown. … That’s when defensive backs coach Addison Lynch called for Hood to do his eponymous celebration — the Hood. The cornerback obliged and pantomimed putting a hood over his head. Get used to seeing that this coming season.”
The celebration has caught on so quickly that even Hood is surprised by it.
“I didn’t really expect it to get this big,” said Hood. “I’ve seen other players from different teams use it, but it really ain’t the same, because their last name is not Hood. But it’s been really cool just to see it pick up like that. And I’m going to keep doing it the rest of my career.”
One of the toughest things to do as a young player in pro sports is building a personal brand. It can be tough to stand out among a sea of similarly talented players.
Hood, though, has an advantage thanks to a celebration that’s rapidly increasing in popularity.