Not long after Shedeur Sanders was taken 144th overall, his Colorado teammate Jimmy Horn Jr. was selected by the Panthers with the 208th pick. Though picked late, Horn Jr.’s journey to the NFL tells a powerful story, and the Panthers’ GM, Dan Morgan, was impressed by it.
Morgan, during his appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, made it clear that Jimmy’s personal story was a solid deciding factor for the Panthers. “Just getting to know Jimmy as a person, just kind of what he’s been through, where he grew up,” Morgan said, pausing as if replaying Jimmy’s journey in his mind.
“And just the adversity that he’s been through, you know, I really wanted him.” It wasn’t about flashy stats or combine numbers; it was about grit.
Jimmy’s past showed up in the way he carried himself, the way he handled pressure for Morgan, which mattered. It painted a picture of a guy who wouldn’t give up when things got tough.
And when draft day rolled around, Morgan got the opportunity to welcome that resilient attitude in his team. Someone who’d already fought uphill battles and kept going. The front office didn’t just see a football player; they saw a fighter, a resilient player who could lead from experience, because Jimmy didn’t have it easy life.
Jimmy Horn Jr.’s Struggles
His father, Jimmy Horn Sr., was incarcerated on drug-related charges in 2021, right as Horn Jr. was beginning his college career at USF. It was a pivotal moment in his life, but instead of folding under pressure, he kept going.
After two seasons at USF, he hit the transfer portal and found a new opportunity under Deion Sanders at Colorado. Deion, who was shaking up the college football scene, saw something special in Jimmy, and he thrived under that spotlight.
Despite the weight of a difficult upbringing, Horn Jr. continued to show resilience and maturity. His ability to shine in the face of adversity made him more than just another prospect. It made him an inspiring pick for a team looking for toughness and heart.
Jimmy Horn Jr.’s attitude toward adversity might be exactly what the Panthers’ locker room needs right now. Ever since the highs of the Cam Newton era, Carolina’s been stuck in a cycle of rebuilding, frustration, and unmet expectations. They’ve even been labelled a “locker room of losers” in the past.
But bringing in a guy like Jimmy, who’s faced real-life struggles and never backed down, can shift energy fast. He’s the kind of player who leads by example, showing that fight and perseverance can make a difference.
His resilience could spark something bigger, helping to reshape the Panthers’ culture from the inside out. For a franchise hungry for identity, that’s priceless.