The NFL recently announced the complete list of invitees for the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. The Colorado Buffaloes will be well-represented at the event, as Deion Sanders’ program had four players receive invitations.
Which Colorado Players Were Invited to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine?
The four Buffaloes who received an invite to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine are:
- QB Shedeur Sanders
- CB/WR Travis Hunter
- WR Jimmy Horn Jr.
- WR LaJohntay Wester
Let’s examine each player’s game and their current 2025 NFL Draft projection.
Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Draft Projection
Here’s what PFSN’s Jacob Infante wrote about Sanders in his draft projection:
How highly one values Sanders likely depends on how much one prioritizes positional value when putting together a draft board. If you put a premium on the quarterback position, it’s pretty clear Sanders is a first-round value. If not, though, the decision is not so simple.
Sanders is an accurate and tough quarterback with a well-built frame and plenty of throws, hitting his targets in stride from each deep third of the field. He has a good enough arm to execute throws to targets in tight windows, and there’s a natural sense of timing that tells him where to place the ball right where only his receivers can get it.
That said, there’s some mental development that needs to take place for Sanders. He’s shown that he’s capable of making full-field reads, but he tends to play Superman when he doesn’t have the raw physical talent to make that work.
His arm, though acceptable, isn’t particularly special. He’s not a statue in the pocket, but his athleticism is average. These issues can see him try too hard to extend plays that he simply can’t make, resulting in sacks or poor throws.
Compared to the quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft, I would argue Sanders would come in seventh as a prospect, ranking behind each of the six quarterbacks selected in the first round. This might make him more of a Day 2 talent, but the 2025 NFL Draft has a severe lack of high-end quarterback value.
Sanders arguably has the highest floor of any quarterback in the class, and he has the tools to become a solid starter in the NFL. In the right system, he could lead a team to a playoff run. Because of average physical tools, the ceiling likely does not go much further than that. However, a respectable starting quarterback is a valuable asset in today’s game, which should see him selected with a top-10 pick come April.
Travis Hunter’s NFL Draft Projection
Here’s what PFSN’s Brentley Weissman wrote about Hunter in his draft projection:
Hunter enters the NFL Draft as one of the best prospects in the class, and he also profiles as one of the most intriguing players in recent memory since he legitimately qualifies as a top-five pick at two positions. He is truly a one-of-one type of NFL prospect that will spark a lot of debate for not just the media, but decision-makers at the top of the draft as well.
The question, of course, lies in what position Hunter will play at the next level and if it is a combination of the two. With that being said, before I dive deeper into his scouting report, I personally believe Hunter is better at wide receiver, and that is the position I’d draft him to play.
As a prospect, Hunter possesses below-average overall size and length but offers once-in-a-generation type of overall athleticism. He has rare quickness, speed, and burst that allow him to excel and win against most players he lines up against on either side of the ball. Furthermore, Hunter has rare instincts, ball skills and is hyper-competitive, all of which are evident in the way he plays the game.
When playing offense, Hunter is a big-play threat whenever he touches the football. He displays rare ability with the ball in his hands and has outstanding start/stop quickness and lateral agility to make defenders miss in the open field. Additionally, his speed and acceleration allow him to defeat angles and hit big plays. Hunter is not the most refined route runner and lacks the nuance in his game to set up defenders throughout the route — something that he must develop as he plays more athletic corners in the NFL.
With that being said, Hunter can create easy separation at the top of the route as he explodes out of cuts, often leaving his defender stuck in place. Hunter is a tremendous deep threat with the speed to stretch the field and the ball skills to track the football downfield.
He has the rare ability to play the football in the air and is a tremendous ball-winner, even though he has a smaller frame. Hunter has exceptional hands and can catch outside of his frame with ease. His lack of size limits his ability to break tackles as a ball carrier and also makes it difficult for him to sustain blocks down the field; however, the effort is there.
On the defensive side of the football, Hunter projects to be a lockdown cover man who can excel in both zone and man disciplines. In zone coverage, Hunter displays outstanding instincts and awareness. He can read the quarterback’s eyes while dropping back in his zone and has the quickness to put his foot in the ground to make a play on the football.
His foot quickness and hip fluidity allow him to be exceptional in mirroring route patterns in man coverage. He is able to stay in phase against most receivers and is never panicked when working down the field.
Travis Hunter's highs at CBs are very high pic.twitter.com/xrCJLWsPG0
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) February 17, 2025
He is a playmaker at corner and has the ability to play the football and come up with interceptions. His size is a concern, however, as he lacks the mass and length to be left on an island against NFL-caliber receivers. Hunter struggles when asked to press receivers at the line of scrimmage and can easily get overpowered by bigger wideouts. He lacks the size to win at the catch point at times and will be a liability in run support as he struggles to get off blocks consistently.
To make Hunter’s evaluation a bit more murky, he’s also struggled to stay healthy throughout his collegiate career. His lack of size and the fact that he played more snaps than any player in college football makes Hunter an injury risk at the next level, and teams must come to the realization he cannot play both ways on a full-time basis in the NFL.
While many evaluators think Hunter’s ideal fit is as a full-time corner who plays a handful of offensive snaps, I personally think he has more upside as a full time receiver. I have less questions about his rare athleticism translating on the offensive side of the football, and I think he can be an instant game-changing player at receiver.
There is no wrong answer here, however, and whichever team drafts him will surely be getting a franchise-altering talent.
Jimmy Horn Jr.’s NFL Draft Projection
Horn enters the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the fastest and most electric receivers in this class. He was one of the stars in Colorado’s explosive offense over the last few seasons, and while he doesn’t carry the same level of notoriety as his superstar teammate Hunter, Horn is certainly capable of establishing himself at the next level.
As a prospect, Horn has below-average size and strength but is still an above-average athlete. Horn primarily aligned as a slot receiver in the Buffaloes’ offense and was the team’s primary kickoff returner as well.
Horn displays very good linear speed and is able to win vertically with ease. Defenders find it extremely difficult to stay in pace with Horn after he opens his gate and kicks it into high gear. He’s a big-play threat and a player defensive coordinators need to circle whenever he is on the field. He has the ability to stretch the field from the slot and win downfield, while also flashing above-average ability to track and play the football in the air.
While Horn certainly lacks the size you want in an NFL receiver, Horn’s toughness and competitiveness were clear on his college film. Horn rarely goes down on first contact and consistently fights for extra yards with the ball in his hands.
His downfield ability was the biggest key to his success, but Colorado also frequently schemed him easy touches in the form of screens, bubbles and reverses that helped him demonstrate how dynamic he can be with the ball in his hands.
WR Jimmy Horn Jr is an absolute sleeper in the 2025 draft.
His play making abilities are top notch after the catch. pic.twitter.com/cQn1JvFvaT— awthentik (@awthentik) February 7, 2025
Horn can make defenders miss and has the speed to defeat angles in the open field. This is a player who can have a clear and defined role as a slot receiver with the ability to stretch the field and draw quick, easy touches.
NFL decision-makers will have to weigh Horn’s ability as a playmaker against the fact that he does not meet the threshold for an NFL receiver as it relates to his size and strength. He lacks the ability to make contested catches and allows the defensive back to make plays on the football.
He has very little experience playing on the boundary and will almost certainly profile exclusively as a slot receiver at the next level. Injuries have been a concern as well, and Horn must prove he can remain healthy if a team is going to invest a draft pick in him.
Overall, Horn is not to be mistaken for a player capable of serving as a No. 1 or even No. 2 option in an NFL offense. However, Horn could certainly thrive as a No. 3/slot receiver with the ability to win at all three levels of the field and contribute on special teams.
It’s likely Horn hears his name called early on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he ultimately outplays his draft slotting.
LaJohntay Wester’s NFL Draft Projection
Wester isn’t as well known as his teammates Hunter and Horn, but he certainly will have a role in the NFL next season. Wester brings a ton of experience and versatility to the next level and he should be able to carve out a successful NFL career.
As a prospect, Wester has below-average size and strength but is a good overall athlete. Wester primarily played in the slot but was often moved around the formation to create favorable mismatches.
Wester is a sudden receiver who runs excellent routes. He creates very good separation at the top of the route and displays good start-stop quickness to snap off routes at the break point, leaving his defender stumbling to gather their footing. Wester was outstanding as an underneath option, and Colorado used him a ton on screens and bubbles to get the ball into his hands, as he is dynamic after the catch.
Colorado WR LaJohntay Wester #BuildingTheBoard
Starting his career at FAU, Wester consistently demonstrated his playmaking abilities, culminating in a standout 2023 season where he amassed 108 receptions for 1,168 yards and eight touchdowns, earning First-team All-AAC honors and… pic.twitter.com/qE6PFckVf8
— Chicago Football Connection (@CFCBears) February 17, 2025
Wester has very good speed and acceleration. He is able to win vertically down the field and has above-average overall hands and body control to track the football.
His lack of length and size limits his ability to come down with contested catches, and he battled concentration drops throughout his career. Wester is a slot-only receiver who will not be able to win on the boundary at the next level. He will struggle to win one-on-one against NFL-caliber corners and will find it difficult to defeat press coverage at the NFL level.
Overall, Wester is a tough, versatile receiver who should be able to compete as a slot receiver as well as contribute on special teams.
Wester was tremendous in his lone season with the Buffalos and provided the team with many big plays. Wester now enters the NFL Draft, where he hopes to hear his name called in a crowded receiver class. Due to his size and play strength, I expect him to get selected on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
