Auburn football: True freshman makes big impact at fall camp

The Auburn football program is in the midst of its first fall camp under new head coach Hugh Freeze. There is plenty of work to be done for the program between having new coaches, new schemes, and over 40 new faces on the roster, but progress is being made.

Several players have made big impressions on the team and coaching staff during this offseason, and others have stepped up as leaders in their position groups. One of the guys standing out for the coaches during fall camp is true freshman Colton Hood.

As a recruit, Hood was ranked as the #48 cornerback in the recruiting class of 2023 and the #45 recruit out of the state of Georgia. Hood was being recruited by the Tigers’ former staff led by Bryan Harsin, but was not sold on those coaches and ended up committed to Michigan State in September of 2022. Even so, Hood visited the Plains in both official and unofficial capacity in the following months.

However, once Hugh Freeze was hired, Hood took another official visit to Auburn and de-committed from Michigan State the same day. By early national signing day, Hood was an Auburn Tiger.

Now, throughout the Tigers’ fall camp, Hood is making a big impression on the coaching staff, per Auburn Rivals:

"“He’s one of the freshmen that’s not afraid in a full defensive unit meeting to raise his hand and ask a question because it’s important for him to know what he’s doing,” Zac Etheridge said. “Not just, ‘Hey, Coach, man, teach me why I’m doing it this way, how is it important,’ but any guy can tell you he’s a guy that’s working every day, and you see it on the film.”"

Not only has Etheridge been speaking highly of Hood, but his teammates have a lot to say about the cornerback’s confidence and his attitude toward the game. While it may still be early days in Hood’s Auburn football career, it’s clear that his name is one to remember ahead of the 2023 season.