An impressive run no doubt. But Deion Sanders Jr. sees beyond that. When you think of game-breaking speed, Jimmy Horn Jr. might not be the first name that comes to mind. But that’s about to change. At 5’7, 171 lbs, the Colorado WR doesn’t fit the prototype of an NFL receiver. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for in pure, unfiltered explosiveness. And at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, he put the world on notice.
The stakes were high and the eyes of scouts locked in as Jimmy Horn Jr. lined up for his first 40-yard dash attempt. He took off, speeding up the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium. The time flashed — 4.47 seconds. Fast? Sure. Satisfied? Nah… Horn reset, refocused, and ran it back — this time 4.46. Faster, sharper, and proving that the raw speed Colorado fans had seen in flashes was real. And it’s Deion Sanders Jr. who’s maneuvering the hype train, but of all people, he knew there’s more to the star WR than this. In his X post on March 2, he wrote, “Jimmy still one of the fastest people there, he just doesn’t have the best technique or start.” And most agree with the fact that he’s fast.
Jimmy still one of the fastest people there, he just doesn’t have the best technique or start
— Deion Sanders Jr (@DeionSandersJr) March 1, 2025
One fan commented, “You are right 4.46 is fast.” This led to a real stamp of approval from Deion Sanders Jr. who declared, “Naw but he faster than that… & I’m not just saying this because I know him personally. I’ve seen a lot of football and bro has insane speed.” Who else but the Buffs’ cameraman who knows every strength and weakness of each player on the field!? In one of his previous X posts, he shone the spotlight on the future NFL star saying, “The world finally gets to see what I see in practice DAILY… the greatness of Jimmy Horn Jr.”
The combine performance was the validation Horn Jr. needed. In 2024, he racked up 441 yards on 37 receptions. Not a flashy stat, but fans know better than to let box scores tell the whole story. After all, who could forget his 11-reception, 117-yard, one-TD explosion in the 45-42 TCU stunner in 2023? And that’s not all, beyond the offense, his special teams ability provides another layer of value. Over 30 kick returns averaging nearly 22 yards per return makes him a true dual-threat playmaker. Before the Shrine Bowl, draft analysts had him locked as a fifth-seventh round prospect. But with the buzz growing louder after Indy, that stock is climbing fast. And it’s partly from the solid support that he’s receiving from Deion Sanders Jr.
Deion Sanders Jr.’s role in Jimmy Horn’s breakout
While Deion Sanders coached him up on and off the field, it was Deion Sanders Jr. who helped Jimmy Horn Jr. find confidence off it. As the brains behind Colorado’s media empire, he turned the Buffs’ biggest names into national stars. But Jimmy? He wasn’t exactly built for the spotlight, at least, not at first. Camera made him uneasy. Interviews felt unnatural. Until Bucky stepped in.
Fast forward to the combine weekend, Jimmy Horn Jr. made sure to give his guy his flowers. “I want to give him a shoutout right there. Him right there, shoutout to the cameraman,” Jimmy said during his combine presser. “He helped me out a lot when it comes to moments like this, for real, where there are a lot of cameras and stuff. I was kinda like camera-shy when I first got there. Now, it’s like second nature. Shoutout to my boy Bucky for that.” He’s proving he belongs.
With Jimmy Horn Jr.’s 4.46 speed and growing confidence, it won’t be long before teams realize what Deion Sanders Jr. and Buffs fans already know. He isn’t just fast, he’s the steal of the draft.
The post Deion Sanders Jr. Forced to Make Jimmy Horn Jr. Confession as CU Buffs’ Prodigy’s 40-Dash Turns Heads appeared first on EssentiallySports.
