NFL Draft prospect Jimmy Horn Jr. turned heads at the East-West Shrine Bowl on Monday with his spectacular catching skills. Lately, he has been a hot subject in pro circles as a dark horse who could change the course of the game given how impactful he was at Colorado.
Coach Prime used the wideout to his fullest potential and had him play a crucial role in the Buffs’ 9-4 season; a major credit for his overall development goes to Coach Prime and his two years at Boulder, Colo.
Jimmy Horn Jr. Makes Eye-Catching Remarks About Coach Prime
The 22-year-old wideout joined Colorado in 2023, the same season Deion Sanders and his sons made their way from Jackson State. It was a complete roster revamp, and Horn was part of it. He was one of the only two Buffs to start each game for the program in 2023, recording 58 receptions, 567 receiving yards, and six touchdowns.
While speaking to reporters at the East-West Shrine Bowl, he mentioned the biggest things he learned under Coach Prime.
“You said right now, how to be a man?” Horn said. “You got to know how to be able to take coaching. You got to be accountable. His main things was smart, terrified, disciplined, and with character.”
This season, Horn’s stats dipped a bit — recording 441 yards and one touchdown on 37 receptions.
According to NFL Draft analysts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid, his prospects are ever-rising. His performance and workouts at Shrine Bowl practice have caught the attention of many Scouts.
Colorado WR Jimmy Horn Jr on the biggest lesson he’s learned from Coach Deion Sanders:
“How to be a man”@Tooswiftj5 @CUBuffsFootball @DeionSanders pic.twitter.com/5InedkMBQJ
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) January 28, 2025
“It didn’t take long for Horn’s quickness to stand out in practice, and he complemented that with strong hands, consistently plucking the ball out of the air,” Reid wrote about Horn per Buffaloes Wire.
“He was especially dominant during team periods in the red zone. Despite being only 5’8″ and 171 pounds, Horn consistently got separation and showed an ability to defeat man coverage. After he caught 37 passes for 441 yards this season, I had Horn on the Round 7 bubble, but he positioned himself this week to be a late-rounder who can round out a pro-depth chart,” he added.
Expect Horn to be a late-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. At worst, if he doesn’t get picked, an undrafted free agent contract could still be on the cards for the star wideout.