Jaycee Horn (CB, South Carolina) Scouting report - and games to watch this weekend

The 2020 NFL Draft is shaping up to be one of the best and deepest in a long while at the cornerback position. That could be a good thing for the New York Giants — or any team — that is looking to shore up their secondary.

The NFL is always hungry for cornerback prospects who are able to play in press-man coverage, and South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn could be one of the best press man corners to come out of college in recent years. He is a big, long, athletic, physical, and aggressive corner who is willing to match up on any receiver who lines up across from him. An under the radar prospect at the start of the season, Horn’s size, athleticism, and coverage ability could make him the top corner in the draft by the time all is said and done.

If the Giants want to move to a more aggressive coverage scheme, they should certainly take a long look at him.

Prospect: Jaycee Horn (CB, South Carolina)
Games Watched: vs. Florida (2019), vs. Alabama (2019), vs. Florida (2020), vs. Auburn (2020)

Measurables

Height: 6010 (6-foot-1)
Weight: 205 pounds

Stats

Games Played: 30

Tackles: 101
Tackles For a loss: 7.0
Sacks: 3.0
Forced Fumbles: 2
Interceptions: 2
Passes Defensed: 23

2020 Stats

Games Played: 7

Tackles: 16
Tackles For a loss: 1.0
Sacks: 0
Forced Fumbles: 0
Interceptions: 2
Passes Defensed: 6

Quick Summary

Best: Size, length, physicality, athleticism, man coverage
Worst: Zone coverage, block shedding, ball skills
Projection: Starting corner in a man coverage scheme

Game Tape

Full Report

South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn is a big, long, physical press man corner prospect. Horn has a big frame with good thickness to go with long arms, which let him match up well in man coverage with big, physical “X” receivers on the outside.

Horn is at his best playing close to the line of scrimmage in press-man coverage. He uses his length well to disrupt receivers at the start of their routes, while also using solid body positioning to seize inside leverage. He shows a good understanding of field position throughout the route to use the sideline as an extra defender and shrink passing windows. Horn has very quick feet and fluid hips for a larger cornerback and is able to stay in phase with most outside receivers throughout their routes, giving up minimal separation. He is very physical at the catch point, excelling at using his length to close passing windows and playing through receivers hands.

Horn is also a very confident player with a brash demeanor throughout the game. He shows great competitive toughness in his willing to match up against any pass catcher and will often chirp in between plays.

Horn is capable of playing in zone coverage with a solid discipline in picking up and passing off receivers, as well as an understanding of passing concepts. However, he doesn’t appear as comfortable as in man coverage and his zone drops look awkward at times. He also lacks good ball production, recording his only interceptions in his final season. Part of this is due to his use in man coverage, which often keeps him from looking in the backfield, but he also needs to improve his ability to track the ball in the air. Horn will also need more discipline in his physicality throughout the route. While more contact is allowed at the collegiate level, Horn has a tendency to be particularly “handsy” and could find draw penalty flags from NFL officials early in his career.

Projection

Jaycee Horn projects best as a starting outside cornerback in an aggressive defense which primarily uses man coverage schemes. Horn is not the kind of ballhawk which offenses fear to test, but he has the ability to take most receivers out of the game. His size, physicality, athleticism, and competitive toughness let him match up on almost any receiver and he even did a good job of covering Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.

Horn has enough ability in zone coverage that a defensive coordinator can use it to disguise blitzes on occasion, but Horn will thrive in a defense that lets him match up on a receiver and play him in tight coverage. Horn’s game is predicated on disrupting receivers early in routes then using his size and athleticism to slam passing windows shut, batting passes to the ground — usually followed by a round of trash talking. Horn is also willing and able to follow receivers across the field. While many corners stick to one side, Horn can play left and right corner, as well as move into the slot if necessary.

Considering the competitive toughness Horn shows in pass coverage, he could be a better run defender. While he is far from a liability there, he will need to improve his ability to shed blocks and tackle runners with more authority.

Horn wasn’t widely discussed as a top cornerback prospect prior to the 2020 season, but his draft stock has skyrocketed over the course of this abbreviated season. Horn could be the top corner on the board for any team which favors aggressive coverage on the outside.

Games to watch

(13) Iowa State at (17) Texas

Friday, ABC - 12 PM

Players to watch

Texas

• Samuel Cosmi (OT)
• Cade sterns (S)
• Joseph Assai (EDGE)

Iowa State

• Charlie Kolar (TE)

2 Notre Dame 19 UNC

Friday, ABC - 3:30

Players to watch

North Carolina

• Chazz Surrat (LB)
• Dazz Newsome (WR)
• Sam Howell (QB)

Notre Dame

• Liam Eichenberg (OT)
• Robert Hainsey (iOL)
• Jerimiah Owusu Koramoah (LB)
• Ben Skowronek (WR)

(1) Alabama vs. (22) Auburn

Saturday, CBS - 3:30 p.m.

Players to watch

Alabama

• Mac Jones (QB)
• Patrick Surtain II (CB)
• Dylan Moses (LB)
• Devonta Smith (WR)
• Alex Leatherwood (OT)
• Deonte Brown (iOL)

Auburn

• Seth Williams (WR)
• Anthony Schwartz (WR)
• Big Kat Bryant (EDGE)

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