Requested to go to the rostrum for a post-practice interview Monday, Colorado’s Jimmy Horn Jr. missed a chance to work with an all-time nice.
Fortunately, Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame receiver Terrell Owens is planning to spend the entire week in Boulder to hold with the Buffaloes.
“Having T.O. right here, he truly will get to take a seat and observe and watch us play after which he will get to criticize our sport, however in a great way and assist us out in a great way,” Horn mentioned.
A six-time Professional Bowler, Owens is third in NFL historical past in profession receiving yards and receiving touchdowns and eighth in receptions. He’s additionally a buddy of CU head coach Deion Sanders, a Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame cornerback.
For Horn, having Owens round shall be a chance to construct on what has already been offseason.
“Love Jimmy Horn,” CU receivers coach Brett Bartolone mentioned. “He’s a professional in regards to the sport similar to (Xavier Weaver) is. Soccer could be very, very, essential to him. He research the sport nicely. Clearly you see him on the market, he’s a type of guys he’ll take a brief one after which he’ll end and he’ll burst. He’ll separate from the protection and rating a landing for us. I do know he’s gonna carry it each day. His effort is there. … He’s going to do quite a lot of good issues for us this yr.”
One of many many speedy receivers recruited by the Buffs this offseason, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Horn got here to CU after two seasons at South Florida. After catching 30 passes for 408 yards and a landing in 2021, he caught 37 passes for 551 yards and three touchdowns final yr.
Horn bought to CU in January and was one of many stars of spring earlier than a foot damage in April. In YouTube movies of apply this month, Horn has routinely been seen making huge performs.
“It’s nonetheless bothering me a little bit bit however it ain’t nothing to it as a result of I’ve been getting remedy and stuff on it,” he mentioned. “I’m gonna come again. I’ll be good by TCU week. I’m about 95 (%) proper now; making an attempt to get to 100 however you’ll by no means play a university sport 100%.”
Horn would possibly nonetheless really feel his damage a bit, however general he has settled into life as a Buff.
“From the spring, I’m extra comfy out right here,” he mentioned. “I can categorical myself on the sphere higher. In spring, I used to be extra tensed up, like I simply needed to show a degree. However actually, all I gotta do is to be myself on the sphere and play how I play as an alternative of making an attempt to do greater than what I have to do. Simply do what I do.”
It has helped that Horn has Weaver by his facet once more. The 2 had been teammates at USF the previous two years, with Weaver truly being the Bulls’ main receiver. Now each are aiming to make their mark with the Buffs.
“We all know what we’re right here for,” Horn mentioned. “After I first met Zay, it was my freshman yr. We simply clicked then and each time I play with him, we complement one another within the sport in sure methods. It’s simply arduous to cease us on the sphere collectively. Having Shedeur (Sanders) as our quarterback, we each will get a chance to shine much more.”
Horn is aiming to shine from the slot, the place his velocity can create issues for the protection — even when he’s not getting the ball.
“We’re going to draw consideration at a few spots and with the tempo that we play at and with the house that we align out on the sphere, it forces the protection to decide,” Bartolone mentioned. “They’ve bought to defend both the run or the cross, however they’ve additionally bought to decide on, OK, is it Jimmy Horn this week or is it Xavier Weaver on the opposite facet? Or perhaps it’s Travis Hunter over right here outdoors. There’s quite a lot of weapons that now we have, and people are powerful conversations for the protection to have.”
Horn can’t wait to see the group come collectively. Along with himself, Weaver and Hunter, the Buffs have 6-foot-4 Javon Antonio, 5-9 speedster Willie Gaines, athletic freshman Omarion Miller and extra.
“We’ve bought SRTs, Hellcats, we’ve bought all that; no matter you’re in search of, we’ve bought it,” he mentioned. “Our entire receiving room, everyone’s bought their very own sport and all of us complement one another in a great way. So it’s arduous to cease us.”
Nonetheless, Horn mentioned he gained’t miss his subsequent alternative to study extra from an NFL legend.
“I’m gonna catch (Owens) for the remainder of the week,” Horn mentioned, “and get some work in after apply.”
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