Jaycee Horn NFL Draft Overview
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 205lb
School: South Carolina Gamecocks
Pro Day Measurables
Vertical Jump: 41.5in
Broad Jump: 133in
Bench Press: 19 reps
40-yd Dash: 4.39 sec (Unofficial)
Shuttle: N/A
Three Cone: N/A
Jaycee Horn Draft Profile
Seeing the name ‘Horn’ on the outside will be no surprise to NFL fans. Former Pro-Bowler and New Orleans Saints legend Joe Horn lined up in the league for twelve years. Now, his son, Jaycee Horn, looks to rewrite the Horn legacy as one of the top cornerback prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft.
A four-star recruit out of Alpharetta, Georgia, Horn garnered All-American honors in high school before heading to South Carolina. At South Carolina, Horn made 10 starts in 11 appearances for the Gamecocks as a true freshman as his talent was quickly realized. His performances in his maiden season in college football earned him All-SEC and All-American honors.
Heading into his sophomore campaign, Horn had established himself as a starter in college football’s elite division. As a starter, in 12 games, he led the team in pass breakups with nine, as well as demonstrating his overall impact through a series of sacks, tackles and tackles-for-loss.
In every season of his college career, Jaycee Horn got bigger and better. From a 190 pound impactful defensive back as a freshman, to 205 pound dominant cornerback as a junior, Horn’s rise in the SEC is a credit to his physical and technical ability. Against Auburn in 2020, Horn showcased the very best of his coverage abilities in the finest performance in his college career. Credited with three tackles, four pass breakups and the first two interceptions for the Gamecocks, Horn put on an exemplary performance that attracted National and SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Although his final year in college football ended prematurely, following the dismissal of South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp, Horn’s performances in the 2020 season cemented him as a potential first-round talent.
Strengths
- Good ball instincts;
- Twitchy and responsive;
- Exemplary press-man skills;
- Good speed;
- Aggressive at the line of scrimmage;
- Unafraid of contact, especially in jump ball situations;
- Demonstrates a particular ability to dislodge the ball from receivers; defends throughout the process of the catch;
- Sharp and powerful closer.
Weaknesses
- Aggression, although a key strength, can also let Horn down in some instances;
- Can lack fluidity in the open field;
- Affinity for contact may be liable to penalties in the NFL;
- Sometimes can be over-confident in mirroring routes; has a tendency to guess routes;
- Physical gifts sometimes make up for lack of discipline in coverage;
- Despite displaying an ability and willingness to play the ball, must work on creating turnovers, having only two interceptions in his time at South Carolina;
- Possesses some tackling ability, but has a number of missed tackles on his resume.
Teams With Need At Position: Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals
NFL Comparison: Jalen Ramsey
The Bottom Line On Jaycee Horn
Jaycee Horn is somehow the sleeper amongst the consensus top three corners in the 2021 NFL Draft. He may not be as refined as Patrick Surtain II, or be as electric as Caleb Farley, but Horn offers a rare brand of coverage ability for the NFL. As a press-man corner, Horn can thrive at the pro level. He has the physical attributes to take on the NFL’s best one-to-one because his hands are his greatest asset, whether they’re on the ball or the man. He demonstrates aggression in every facet of his play, from the release to the point of the catch. His proficiency at dislodging otherwise caught balls is a underrated part of his arsenal, and is a testament to his tenacious style of play.
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Unfortunately, players of Horn’s style are a dying breed in the NFL. NFL offenses are designed to take away the physical nature of corners like Horn, whose ability in the open field doesn’t exactly match his dominance up close. In that regard, he is potentially limited in terms of a schematic fit. When able to assert himself upon his opponent, Horn is a gamechanger as a cover corner, but has a skillset that can be exploited.
Horn had a terrific pro day performance, where, pitted against fellow top prospect in Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II, Horn’s numbers exhibited the range of his athletic talent. He posted an unofficial 4.39sec 40-yard dash, proving his ability where some had criticized him. He has been projected in the top-12 on the back of his pro day and his potential as a lockdown corner heading into the draft. However, there are questions about his schematic flexibility and ability in space and, as a result, he is more regularly projected anywhere between 10-20.
Jaycee Horn is a secure first-round talent with an attractive skillset for aggressive, man-heavy schemes in the NFL. Therefore, in the right situation, he can be dominant at the NFL level.
