Coming straight out of Seminole High School, Florida, one of the lesser-known prospects had dreams in his eyes. He didn’t have the hype that 5-star or top athletes usually have, and coming in as a three-star prospect, the player was ranked 152 in his position. Was mostly signed to be the backup and expected to remain in the shadows except for some sporadic appearances. But he had different plans and dared to dream and perform at the highest level.
Yes, we are talking about Jimmy Horn Jr., who joined the South Florida Bulls in 2021 and started showing that he means business. Produced 408 receiving yards at an impressive average of 13.6 yards per reception as a true freshman. Backed it up next season with 551 receiving yards for 37 receptions, increasing his average to almost 15 yards per reception. No wonder Coach Prime came calling, and Horn Jr. has since not disappointed in any way despite facing tough times. But now awaits another challenge: the NFL draft.
Despite not playing for the full 2024 season and featuring in a few games, Horn still produced 441 receiving yards on 37 receptions and got a deserved invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. He did impress with his splits and drills as he produced a 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds and a 10-yard split in 1.54 seconds, along with a 40-yard shuttle in 4.41 seconds. While the stats are impressive, Horn vowed to improve them and deliver his very best on the Colorado Pro Day. Especially about the 40-yard dash, which he swore to improve to 4.3 seconds.
Well, according to the latest reports coming out of Colorado’s camp, the Florida native might not have reached the 4.3-second mark. But he has certainly improved on his NFL Combine record and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.40 seconds, which is still impressive. Deon Sanders was all in praise for the wide receiver and didn’t hold back in the media when asked about the feat, and the type of player Horn is.
“Jimmy Horn Jr has played a big part in my life as well. I love him, I appreciate him and I admire him for his tenacity, his consistency, his endurance, what he brings to the table, just his smile. He’s never jealous or envious of the other receivers or anyone on this team And what this man has gone through is tremendous. It could be life-changing for many, but he’s used it to catapult himself to the next level. Any team that drafts Jimmy Horn is going to get a blessing.”
Prime promised Shilo a brand new car if he clocked in at 4.4 on his 40-yard dash
Shilo finished with a 4.52 and 4.59 at Colorado’s Pro Day today
(via @JamesPalmerTV)
pic.twitter.com/r03DoE3S2T
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 4, 2025
Well, Deion Sanders being the type of man he is, you always see him speaking his heart out. However, he may have a slight inkling of disappointment too, as Shilo Sanders also ran the 40-yard dash and finished it with a 4.52-second and 4.59-second mark. Notably, as per Bleacher Report, Coach Prime had promised his son Shilo a new car if he had managed to execute the drill in under 4.4 seconds. Fortunately for Coach Prime, his other player, Jimmy Horn Jr., whom Coach Prime considers “his son,” has executed and bested Shilo. That may ultimately be pleasant news for Deion Sanders, after all.
Deion Sanders acts as a father figure for Jimmy Horn Jr.
The journey Jimmy Horn Jr. has undertaken throughout his college football days hasn’t been easy. His last season was marred with injuries, and his 2024 season finished early. Nevertheless, the WR still managed to accumulate more than 1,000 yards with the Buffaloes and scored seven touchdowns. And who can forget his performance in 2023 against TCU in a major upset where he ran havoc and finished with the joint-most receptions? Still, he faced problems off the field, too.
The player’s father, Jimmy Horn Sr., was convicted on drug-related charges on August 14, 2024. Horn’s father has been incarcerated in the case since 2021 and had a difficult time in that period. Deion Sanders, in that tough time, acted as a father figure for the talented wide receiver and even urged the county judge to show Horn’s father mercy in the case. Horn had opened earlier about the time and pondered the role that Coach Prime played and said that he had been “supporting me as a father figure through life.”
Colorado WR Jimmy Horn Jr. just ran a 4.40 at his Pro Day @Tooswiftj5 @CUBuffsFootball pic.twitter.com/8MbnO6Aqfw
— Overtime (@overtime) April 4, 2025
All in all, with the performance Horn has put in, the pro-day scouts’ phones would certainly be ringing in his favor. Earlier in various mock drafts, the player was touted to be a 7th-round pick, which should certainly improve now. Horn has a lot to offer to any team he would join; his explosive quickness may not have shown in the 40-yard dash, but then, not everything could be judged with the drills, right?
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