If you watched the Hall of Fame Game and found yourself looking up the Carolina receiver who kept turning up, the short answer is a sixth-round pick from Colorado that almost nobody wrote about — because in his own draft class, in his own college offence, he was the fourth-most famous player.
The Basics
| Position | Wide receiver |
| Team | Carolina Panthers |
| College | Colorado |
| Drafted | 2025, round 6, pick 208 overall |
| Listed size | 5ft 10in, 170lb |
| Strength | Acceleration; yards after catch |
206 Picks After Travis Hunter
This is the fact that actually explains why you have not heard of him.
Colorado sent four offensive players into the 2025 draft, and three of them arrived with enormous attention:
| Player | Where they went |
| Travis Hunter | Jacksonville — 2nd overall |
| Shedeur Sanders | Cleveland |
| LaJohntay Wester | Baltimore |
| Jimmy Horn Jr. | Carolina — 208th overall |
Hunter went second. Horn went 208th. Two hundred and six picks separate two players who lined up in the same huddle.
That gap is not really a judgement on Horn. It is what happens when a draft class contains a generational two-way player and the most-discussed quarterback of the year: everybody else in that offence becomes a footnote, and the sixth-rounder becomes invisible.
The 170 Pounds
Listed at 5ft 10in and 170lb, Horn is one of the lightest players in professional football. In a league where the average offensive lineman weighs close to twice that, it is the first thing any scouting report mentions and the reason he lasted until the sixth round.
What comes with it is the thing that got him drafted at all: acceleration. Not top speed in a straight line over forty yards — the ability to be at full pace within two or three steps, which is what turns a five-yard catch into a twenty-yard gain. His yards-after-catch ability is the strongest part of his profile.
Why Carolina Is Not a Random Landing Spot
This is the part worth knowing, and it is the least reported.
A sixth-round receiver at 170lb is a long shot on almost any roster in the league. On this one, he is a familiar shape to the man who decides who plays.
What He Did in the Hall of Fame Game
Carolina opened the 2026 preseason against Arizona in Canton and won 33–30, on a five-yard touchdown run with no time left on the clock.
Horn’s night, in order:
- Just before half-time — the moment that will follow him around. He was wide open in the end zone and the quarterback overthrew him. No touchdown, and no fault of his.
- Third quarter — a catch in front of Arizona’s Elijah Culp.
- He also carried the ball, which tells you something in itself: teams give the ball on the ground to receivers they want in space.
Does Any of This Count?
Not in the way people assume. Preseason statistics are recorded but never enter a player’s official career totals, which are regular-season only. The score does not touch the standings.
But for a player in Horn’s position, the game absolutely counts — just not on a stat sheet. Every roster has to be cut to 53 by the end of August. A sixth-round pick at 170lb does not survive that on draft position. He survives it on three or four preseason evenings, and last night was the first of them.
We broke down what does and does not carry over from that game here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is Jimmy Horn Jr.?
A wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers, drafted out of Colorado in the sixth round of the 2025 draft, 208th overall.
What round was Jimmy Horn Jr. drafted in?
The sixth round — pick 208 overall in 2025.
How tall is Jimmy Horn Jr.?
5ft 10in, listed at 170lb — one of the lightest players in the NFL.
Did Jimmy Horn Jr. play at Colorado?
Yes. He was the fourth Colorado offensive player drafted in 2025, alongside Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders and LaJohntay Wester.
What did Jimmy Horn Jr. do in the Hall of Fame Game?
A catch in the third quarter and a carry — plus a near-touchdown, when he was wide open in the end zone before half-time and the throw went over him. Carolina won 33–30.
Draft position, college, listed height and weight, and the Colorado 2025 draft group per Carolina Panthers and draft coverage. Dave Canales’ background as a Seattle receivers coach per team and league reporting. Hall of Fame Game result and Horn’s involvement per NFL.com and match coverage of the 6 August 2026 game. Preseason statistics are recorded by the NFL but are not part of official career totals. Photo: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, home of the Carolina Panthers — US Air Force photo by Capt. Wayne Capps (public domain), cropped; an older image of the venue, not from this game.
