Jaycee

Horn

Just by the distance of the leap this would be a difficult one, as the Saints do not pick until No. 28 in the first round as things currently stand. And, we will note, it does not appear that a trade up would be for a quarterback. Maybe a cornerback instead? While all eyes are on the signal-callers and skill-position talent (as is the case every draft) there has been much rumbling around Patrick Surtain and Jaycee Horn as trade-up targets. Whether New Orleans can actually pull off something from way down near the end of the first round is a storyline to monitor once we hit the draft proper.

Horn (6'0/205) has really seen his stock rise this offseason, as the Gamecocks’ shut down corner has the size, coverage chops, tape and measurables that NFL teams covet from their top CB. He ran a blazing 4.39 40-yard dash at his pro day, which eclipsed consensus CB1 Patrick Surtain’s 4.46. In addition to his impressive 40 time, Horn also recorded a 41.5-inch vertical jump, 19 reps in the bench press and a broad jump (133 inches) that was two inches longer than Surtain’s. With Caleb Fairley sustaining an injury in training, Horn is likely to be the second corner taken in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Horn (6'0/205) may have closed the perceived gap between he and Alabama CB Patrick Surtain Jr. in the race to be the first cornerback selected in next month’s draft. In addition to the 40 time, he also recorded a 41.5-inch vertical jump, 19 reps in the bench press and a broad jump (133 inches) that was two inches longer than Surtain’s. It’s worth noting Surtain, who ran a 4.46-second 40, was measured to be two inches taller than Horn. Surtain is still considered to be the favorite to be the first corner selected, but Horn may have given NFL decision-makers something to think about between now and late-April.

Mukuamu (6'4/205), a second team all-SEC performer who was used at both cornerback and safety this season, is the second South Carolina defensive back in as many days to opt out. Jaycee Horn announced his decision on Monday, and both will commence preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft. In total four South Carolina players have opted out since Will Muschamp was fired on Sunday. The Gamecocks are scheduled to host Missouri Saturday night.

The news comes one day after the dismissal of former South Carolina HC Will Muschamp. Horn, the son of former NFL receiver Joe Horn, probably figures he did enough this season to lock himself into the first-round. Hard to argue with that. He leads South Carolina with two interceptions and six pass breakups in 2020, showing himself to be one of the SEC’s elite cover corners. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Horn No. 6 on his list of draft-eligible cornerbacks, just outside his top-25 overall prospects.

It is not as though Horn and the Gamecocks defense have faced a bunch of slouches, either. South Carolina has faced Florida, Auburn, and LSU, all of which have talented wide receivers, yet Horn (6'1/205) still remains nearly unbeaten. Horn was heralded as one of the top cornerback prospects entering the season and has only strengthened his case since the start of the year. In addition to the low completion percentage allowed, Horn has six pass defenses and two interceptions on the year.

Of course, this comes with the caveat that LSU star CB Derek Stingley will just be a true sophomore in 2020, therefore ineligible for the NFL Draft. However, Horn (6'1/205) does not need to prove himself the best cornerback in the country. He just needs to be the best cornerback in his class in order to be drafted in the first-round, and Fennell believes he can be just that. Fennell rattles off a number of other talented CBs such as Ohio State’s Shaun Wade and Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II as fellow contenders for the No.1 CB spot alongside Horn.

Horn may have injured his shoulder or collarbone while making an open field tackle in the second half. The 2018 four-star had 27 solo tackles, 12 assists, one sack, and eight pass deflections. The future for Horn is bright after seeing plenty of playing time in year one.

Horn will be announcing his choice on July 15. He visited both programs during the spring and indicated that he has developed strong relationships with the coaching staffs of each. The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder ranks as Scout.com’s No. 259 overall prospect for the 2018 cycle. The outlet notes that Horn feels comfortable with both man and zone concepts on defense. While they would like to see improved technique and increased strength over the next year-plus, they see him as “one of the premier defensive backs in the country and poised to be a star at the collegiate level.”

Horn (6'1/170) took a visit to South Carolina on Saturday before subsequently moving to reexamine his options. He initially committed to the Vols in August. We’ve seen several decommitments from Tennessee since the team parted ways with HC Butch Jones earlier this month. Horn ranks as Rivals’ No. 174 overall prospect in the 2018 class. Scout.com believes that the Alpharetta, Georgia, native has the upside to develop into a “star” at the collegiate level.