Jimmy Horn Jr. showing off speed, and promises he still has another gear

May 10, 2025 at 04:01 PM

Kassidy Hill

The Carolina Panthers hold Rookie Mini Camp on Friday, May. 9, 2025 in Charlotte, NC.

CHARLOTTE — When Jimmy Horn Jr. was a kid, he would challenge anyone to a race. He started in his neighborhood, beating every kid in that area, and then he started bouncing around to other neighborhoods, looking for anyone willing and brave enough to line up against him.

They all quickly learned a lesson: Jimmy Horn doesn't lose races.

"I always just been fast," Horn said Saturday following the second day of Panthers rookie minicamp. "I always knew that I had a different kind of speed."

That speed was evident in Horn's game tape while at Colorado. It flashed at the NFL combine when he ran the fastest gauntlet time of any receiver. And when he ran what he considered a disappointing 4.46 in the 40-yard dash, he vowed to lower it at his Pro Day, which he did, turning in a time that ranged from 4.38-4.40 flat depending on who's stopwatch you trust.

The hundredths of a second are semantics, though. The takeaway? Jimmy Horn Jr. has speed.

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You could almost feel it when he stepped on the field this weekend, even from the sidelines. There was an explosion any time he caught the ball, a tangible acceleration. It was impossible to ignore and caught coach Dave Canales' attention.

"Body control and then that explosive element, you know, bursting into his routes," Canales said of what he noticed about Horn.

"And then on some of the routes, we were able to kind of get him down the field a little bit more. You could see him open up, and that vertical element is going to really give him a chance to bring something to our group.

"We try to look for all of our receivers, you know, it's like what attribute can they add to the group to round it off and he certainly does that."

Jimmy bringing the 🧃@Tooswiftj5 | #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/8qzD1Tt5d7
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) May 10, 2025

Rookie minicamp is about dipping your toe in the NFL more than anything, introducing yourself to teammates and coaches, and letting the latter see how you learn. Fully taking on the playbook will come in time. But for the Panthers to see Horn up close reiterated everything they thought of him during the draft.

"If you look at his body of work and, just as a true receiver, he's got an explosive element to him," Canales said in April, previewing what would come to fruition during rookie minicamp.

"We brought him in, you know, and visited with him and talked to the guy, and I think, you know, we can all say collectively that we fell in love with the guy and just the passion for the game."

The Carolina Panthers hold Rookie Mini Camp on Saturday, May. 10, 2025 in Charlotte, NC.

Echoed general manager Dan Morgan, "He's not the biggest guy, but he has, you know, he has a love for the game, and he plays the game with a chip on his shoulder, and we're looking for those types of guys and, just another guy that we're excited to have."

Horn promised there is still more to be excited about on the way. This weekend on the field is full speed, in theory, but is key in a lower gear. Asked if he'd shown off his real speed yet, Horn quickly answered, "No, not yet. They seen a little bit, but I ain't show it all off."

When it's time to really open things up, Horn said fans will be in for a treat.

"I'm just going to be flying."