Colton Hood left a starting spot in the SEC to play for Deion Sanders and the Colorado football team.

The Auburn transfer didn’t necessarily view it as a risk, but the Buffaloes’ defensive coordinator knows a decision like that isn’t easy to make.

“He’s a kid who took a chance on us,” Robert Livingston said of Hood on Wednesday. “He came here when a lot of people would go somewhere to start but he wants to learn. He wants to learn the game. He’s just a great kid, a great teammate and he makes plays.

“He makes plays for us on special teams and when his number has been called, to his credit, he’s done a good job. There is so much there. He can be a great player. He just has to continue to work and learn the game. We’re super excited about where his trajectory is.”

There’s plenty to be excited about when it comes to Hood’s trajectory.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound cornerback played in four games for Auburn last season as a true freshman and was expected to be a significant contributor to the Tigers’ secondary this fall.

However, when the opportunity presented itself to play for Sanders, Hood couldn’t pass it up.

“I never really saw it as a risk for me, to be honest, because I knew what I was capable of,” Hood told DNVR. “It was never about going somewhere I knew I would start. I knew I was going to start wherever I went just because I know the type of work I put in just to play the game so that never really played a factor.

“The reason I guess you could say I took a chance is because I left somewhere I was starting in the SEC, Power 5 and came here to play for ‘Coach Prime.’ That’s really what it was, to play for my idol and the best corner of all time. Just to learn from him and learn what he knows, that’s why I came and I feel like it’s been going well for me. I’ve learned a lot.”

Hood has mostly been utilized this season on third downs and obvious passing situations but in Week 8 vs. Arizona, he got the start at cornerback with two-way star Travis Hunter at less than 100% (shoulder injury).

The task was guarding Tetairoa McMillan, one of the top receivers in college football, and Hood was up for the challenge. McMillan, who leads the Big 12 receiving yards (982) entering Week 10, was held to just 38 yards on five catches.

Hood even intercepted Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita while guarding McMillan and nearly returned it for a touchdown.

“I knew what I was going to do before I even went out there,” Hood said. “It’s just the work that I put in, the film study and also it was all God. God gave me the opportunity. I knew I was going to start going into the week because Travis was a little banged up so he played mostly offense and came in on third downs, basically what I was doing before he got hurt.

“I just trusted God. I knew he was going to put me in the right position to make plays and I just did what I do.”

The Arizona game was Hood’s second straight week with a takeaway. He nearly returned an interception for a touchdown during the Week 7 loss to Kansas State.

Hood doesn’t look like your typical defensive back with the ball in his hands. That’s because the former Eagles Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Georgia) star didn’t really start playing defense until his junior year of high school.

“I’m an offensive-minded player so that was natural,” Hood said of his interception return. “Once I get the ball in my hands, I know what I’m going to do with it. That’s just something natural for me. I can make plays.

“I think my next one (interception) is for sure going to be a pick-six.”

With Hunter headed to the NFL draft next year as a top-five pick, Hood may very well be next in line to take on two-way duties. The 2022 regional athlete of the year accounted for 1,112 yards of total offense (647 receiving, 279 passing and 186 rushing) and 13 touchdowns as a high school senior.

It’s a privilege that Hood would relish.

“It definitely is something I’m looking forward to getting an opportunity to do,” Hood said of playing both ways. “We have a lot of guys this year, a lot of those guys are leaving next year and if the opportunity presents itself, when it does, I’m going to be ready and I’m going to make plays.” 

Whether Hood dabbles with playing receiver or not, the redshirt freshman will be a key piece of Colorado’s talented secondary for years to come.

Young defensive backs like DJ McKinney, Carter Stoutmire, Savion Riley, RJ Johnson and others give the Buffs a bright future.

“I think we’re only going to get better,” Hood said. “A lot of people probably think we’re going downhill because Travis (Hunter) is leaving but we’re going to be better than we were this year, in my opinion, in terms of that back end.

“We’re going to dominate.”

Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter on X.