It is difficult not to make hypothetical what ifs regarding Colorado's 2024 roster when you start looking back at it.
Although they had talent all over the field including star players such as Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, they were unable to protect their quarterback up front, in addition to their running game.
One position they didn’t lack at was wide receiver.
The four main receivers from that team are on an NFL roster in some sort of capacity.
Travis Hunter (Jacksonville Jaguars), Will Sheppard (Green Bay Packers), LaJohntay Wester (Baltimore Ravens), and Jimmy Horn Jr. (Carolina Panthers).
Jimmy Horn Jr. came up with a key play in Carolina's critical win over Tampa Bay
In Carolina's 23-20 win over division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Horn Jr. played a key role in the Panthers' first quarter scoring drive that resulted in a field goal.
Dave Canales ignoring Jimmy Horn, Jr., for the last few games only to use him to surprise the Bucs today is a 3D chess move pic.twitter.com/Ddo5S1uOgO
— Edgar Salmingo, Jr. ✌🏽 (@PanthersAnalyst) December 21, 2025
Horn joined Deion Sanders' first year as Colorado's coach after transferring from the University of South Florida. The speedster caught 58 passes in 2023 which was second on the team. He was third in receiving yards with 567 and added six touchdowns.
2024 was an injury-riddled one that potentially plummeted his draft stock.
He suffered a lower-body injury in Colorado’s 31-28 heartbreaking loss to Kansas State in Oct. where he caught three passes for 20 yards. Less than a month later, he would suffer a hamstring strain that lasted the rest of the 2024 campaign.
After missing Colorado's final three conference games, he returned in a limited capacity for the Alamo Bowl against BYU.