Jimmy Horn Jr. opens up on final conversation with his father before incarceration

Colorado wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr.‘s father was incarcerated on multiple drug-related charges, stemming from an incident on November 2, 2021. Less than a month before Colorado’s season opener, the sentencing for these charges was finalized.

Although Jimmy Horn Jr.’s father wasn’t able to cheer him on from the stands, the senior wideout still put on a show. In Colorado’s 31-26 win over North Dakota State, Horn erupted for a career-high 198 receiving yards and a touchdown.

On Thursday, Horn pulled back the curtain on his last conversation with his father before his incarceration.

“I was able to talk to him,” Horn said. “That was my last time talking to him before — so you just got to go even harder, you feel me? And it just felt good to talk to him. That just pushes me even more. It’s a lot of adversity that go on through life.

“You just got to keep thriving and pushing through it. Like that game, man, that was a career-high game for me. And I ain’t going to let that get to me. I’m gonna just keep going, keep grinding. I’m hungry for real.”

After spending two seasons at South Florida, Horn transferred to Colorado ahead of the 2023 campaign. He made an instant impact for the Buffaloes, tallying 58 receptions for 567 receiving yards and six touchdowns, the most on the team.

Deion Sanders supports Jimmy Horn Jr. through difficulty

He was one of only two players on the roster to start and play in every game in 2023. Now, Horn is off to an even better start this season. Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is largely to thank. Sanders has stood by Horn’s side through all of the off-field turmoil.

“Jimmy’s gonna give you every darn thing he has and with the burden that he has on his shoulders; I mean, Jimmy’s playing for pop, man,” Sanders said after the win against NDSU. “Jimmy just came back from court seeing his father’s sentence, man. He’s gonna turn around and flip it and come out there and get you that?”

Horn hasn’t taken Sanders’ kindness for granted.

“That means a lot, man. He’s just another good father figure, you feel me?” Horn said of Sanders. “So that’s a lot to me. That means a lot to me just to have him have my back, and then the people around too, like the coaching staff.”