Name: Jaydon Hood
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 217 lbs.
High school: Fort Lauderdale (FL) Saint Thomas Aquinas
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #34
Last year: I ranked Hood #45 and said he would be a backup linebacker and special teamer (LINK). He made 3 tackles and 1 pass breakup.
TTB Rating: 72
Hood had a prime opportunity in 2022 to take advantage of some open snaps at inside linebacker. Josh Ross had departed after the 2021 season, and returning starter Nikhai Hill-Green missed the entire year with an injury. Junior Colson was basically assured a starting spot, but there was one position open and Hood failed to seize it. In fact, he barely laid claim to any snaps, playing in just three games.
I have heard some mildly positive things about Hood from practice, but the buzz about other players has been more significant. At this point he appears to be looking up at Colson, Michael Barrett, Ernest Hausmann, Jimmy Rolder, and possibly others, especially if Kalel Mullings is still taking snaps on defense. So at best Hood is still the fifth linebacker going into his third season on campus. Hood is a good athlete and known for his hitting ability, but his best chance in 2023 might be to carve out a role on special teams.
Prediction: Backup linebacker and special teamer
He’s still got some time to figure it out, and if Colson leaves after this year there could be an opening to battle over next year.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, I was pretty excited for him when he committed, but at this point it seems like the amount of people that have passed him is ominous for his future
Right. Even if Colson leaves - and Barrett will be gone - it still looks like Rolder and Hausmann will be ahead of him, and possibly other guys, too. Both of those guys will be juniors in 2024. Things aren't looking promising for Hood right now unless there's an unexpected departure or an injury.
DeleteOne of the make-or-break year backup juniors. Optimistically, he could be the top backup next year. But there's a lot of guys competing for that.
ReplyDeleteBig drop for a third year guy
ReplyDeleteCompletely valid regardless of anything he did or didn't do. All the LBs are less important than last year because we are exponentially stronger and deeper there.
DeleteLast year it was Colson (still a wonky player but one we absolutely couldn't afford to lose) starting beside a bunch of guys that were wishes and prayers. We hoped one of them could be healthy or move positions or be impact freshman or experience a huge leap in development. It worked out, but individually all the options were important rolls of the dice.
Now we've got about 4 sure things for 2 spots and everyone behind them is whip cream on the sundae.