USF hasn’t had a player taken in the NFL draft since 2018, and there’s a good chance that streak will continue this year.
However, that doesn’t close the door if no Bull hears his name over the draft's three days.
Teams could offer players like receiver Sean Atkins and running backs Kelley Joiner and Nay`Quan Wright free-agent contracts. Punter Andrew Stokes could get a look.
But there is increasing chatter about one former Bull. Receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., who played two seasons at USF before transferring to Colorado, was pegged to go in the 6th or 7th round by Lance Zierlein, a draft analyst for NFL.com.
The big concern seems to be his size. Horn is 5-foot-8 and 174 pounds. But he also ran a 4.46 at the NFL draft combine.
“Horn is small but competitive and has the speed to make teams pay attention. The target rate and production dipped in 2024, but the hands and catch consistency were vastly improved from 2023. He needs to prove he can uncover against a more athletic and physical brand of coverage in the league,” Zierlein wrote.
“Horn catches in traffic without hesitation and has the wiggle and gas to hit a big play once it is in his hands. The size and durability will concern teams, but he’s fast and fearless, which will appeal to squads looking to stretch the field from the slot.”
Horn can also return kicks and even threw a 30-yard touchdown pass this season.
He signed with USF out of Seminole High School near Orlando, choosing the Bulls over Georgia, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Florida Atlantic, among many others.
He caught 67 passes for 959 yards and four touchdowns in his two seasons with the Bulls. He also rushed 14 times for 107 yards and a touchdown in that span.
Did we say special teams?
Horn averaged 29.9 yards per kickoff return and had a touchdown.
Unfortunately, all that coincided with the Jeff Scott reign of error. The Bulls were 3-21 combined in those two seasons, and the losing clearly got to Horn.
When Deion Sanders went to Colorado, Horn headed west to join him.
That was bad news for the Bulls, but it was the move for Horn.
“Coach Prime, man. We’ve got a good relationship. He has been a great mentor since I've been at Colorado,” Horn said.
“He has always been a man in his word to me, and stood on everything he said he was gonna do. He goes out of his way to do things that you don't gotta do. And I appreciate everything.”