Colton Hood was viewed as one of the risers in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The 21-year-old blossomed during his junior season with Tennessee, finishing as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe award, presented to the nation’s top defensive back each year.

It still wasn’t enough to push him into the first round, though.

Hood surprisingly went unselected over the first 32 picks on Thursday night, but he didn’t have to wait around much longer once things got underway on Day 2.

The cornerback ended up landing with the Giants at the 37th overall selection.

“I feel great,” Hood said. “Being able to realize my dreams, you know what I’m saying? It’s something I grew up dreaming about, and getting to do it with such a storied franchise such as the Giants, it’s just a great feeling.”

Hood was actually surprised he was selected by Big Blue, as the two didn’t spend much time together during the pre-draft process other than a formal meeting at the Combine.

After being passed up by some many others, though, he’s out to prove them right.

“Of course it was disappointing,” he said. “But I know God does everything for a reason -- he was probably preventing me from something or he had something better in store for me, and that being this chance with the Giants.

“I’m super excited to go into this next chapter of my life and will just go in there and give my best and give my all and just be the best version of myself possible.”

As far as what New York is getting, in his own eyes...

"The most competitive person in this draft, the best cornerback in the draft, and someone who is just going to come out and give it his all each and every Sunday."