It’s been a long time since Jimmy Horn Jr. had a Jimmy Horn Jr.-type game.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders certainly isn’t worried about the big receiver.
Horn had a brutal season opener, catching seven passes for 198 yards and a touchdown in CU’s 31-26 win over North Dakota State on August 29. In six games since, he has caught 21 passes for 158 yards and no touchdowns. Last week in Arizona, he caught just two passes for nine yards.
However, as CU (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) prepares to host Cincinnati (5-2, 3-1) on Saturday at Folsom Field (8:15 p.m., ESPN), Sanders said Horn’s impact goes beyond stats.
“Everyone, including (professional) scouts, knows the value of Jimmy Horn,” Sanders said. “Just because he’s not getting 10 balls at a time, doesn’t mean he’s not valuable.”
Sanders said a lot of the short passes the Buffs complete are “because Jimmy has just cleaned house and he runs (the deep route) up to the sideline, to make it available for all the other players. So Jimmy does a lot of hard work.”
CU also had some plays that were designed for Horn but were not executed correctly.
“I promise you it’s in every game plan,” Sanders said. “We want to give him the ball.”
Sanders described Horn as a “professional football player just playing at the college level at the moment,” and added that he believes Horn has explosive ability as a returner. The Buffs started using Horn as a punt returner and he averaged 12.8 yards on five punt returns. He also averages 33.0 yards on three kickoff returns.
“Jimmy is exceptional,” Sanders said. “I love everything about him. I love who he is as a man: he doesn’t drink, he doesn’t smoke; he doesn’t party or catcall too much. I mean, he’s a good kid, and I love him for life, and I’m going to make sure he gets to the next level.”
Horn, who played two seasons at South Florida before coming to CU in 2023, caught 153 passes for 1,875 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career. Dating back to 2022, he has caught at least one assist in 27 straight games.
Central Florida quarterback KJ Jefferson (1) scrambles for yardage as Colorado defensive lineman Shane Cox (99) defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/ Phelan M. Ebenhack) Coca-Cola constant
Senior defensive lineman Shane Cox remains “consistent” with the Buffs, Coach Prime said. Cokes recorded 16 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack for the Buffs while starting each game.
“Shane will probably see the most film of any defensive lineman,” Sanders said. “Shane will be where he’s supposed to be. He’ll do what he’s supposed to do. He’s rallying all the guys up front and making sure they’re doing the necessary things they need to do to be successful. That’s who he is.”
However, Coach Prime does have one complaint about Coke. In two seasons with the Buffs, Cokes has been penalized just once, and that came more than a year ago, during a Week 3 win over Colorado State in 2023.
“What I’m hoping for is that he’ll be a little tougher and a little more selfish,” Coach Prime said. “A little more than that, go get it and leave everything you got out there on the field. Not that he’s not, but I just want him to get a little bit nastier, you know? Go get a penalty for me every now and then. Everyone is, and maybe he’ll join in.” To them too.
Note
Cincinnati is the only team in the Big 12 to have a player on both the offensive and defensive lines earn preseason All-Big 12 honors. Right guard Luke Kandra and defensive lineman Dontae Corleone were both honored. … Saturday’s game will be CU’s seventh straight game in a sold-out stadium. This is the second-longest streak in program history, behind last year’s 10-game streak. … Horn played against Cincinnati twice while in the NFL. He caught five passes for 108 yards and a touchdown against the Bearcats in 2021, but was caught for two yards in the 2022 game.
Originally Posted: October 23, 2024 at 5:29 p.m
