Deion Sanders Reacts to Reunion Between Shedeur Sanders and Jimmy Horn Jr.

From Boulder Beginnings to NFL Draft Day

After two decades as one of the most electrifying two-sport athletes in history and a Hall of Fame career (including two Super Bowls and a World Series appearance), Sanders undertook his latest challenge in December 2022: turning around a 1-11 Buffaloes program.

Using an aggressive transfer-portal approach and bringing standouts with him, most notably his sons, Sanders guided Colorado to a 4-8 finish in 2023 and then a breakthrough 9-3 regular season in 2024, highlighted by a Big 12–tying record before falling in the Alamo Bowl.

Shedeur followed his father from Jackson State to Colorado, immediately becoming the focal point of "Coach Prime’s" offense.

Across two seasons (2023-2024), Shedeur:

• Started and played in 11 games in 2023, completing 298-of-430 passes (.693) for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and just three interceptions, adding four rushing touchdowns on the ground.
• Threw for a Colorado single-season record 37 passing touchdowns in 2024 along with 4,134 passing yards, a 74% completion percentage and a 168.2 passer rating.
• Earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors.
• Selected First-Team All-Big 12 by both coaches and media.
• Selected Second Team All-American.
• Awarded the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation’s top senior quarterback.

Horn, meanwhile, arrived in Boulder via South Florida, transferring in 2023 and quickly establishing himself as one of Colorado’s leading receivers.

In his first year as a Buffalo, he hauled in 58 passes for 567 yards and six touchdowns, ranking second on the team in receptions and leading in scores.

Last year, in 11 games, Horn hauled in 37 catches for 441 yards (11.9 YPC) and one touchdown, but also contributed on special teams with seven punt returns for 72 yards and 10 kickoff returns for 210 yards.

When the 2025 NFL Draft concluded, both young stars found themselves on opposite coasts: Shedeur to Cleveland (selected No. 144th overall) and Horn to North Carolina (selected 208th overall).

Even as the Panthers and Browns wrap up joint practices ahead of their preseason opener on Friday, all eyes remain on what Deion has built in Boulder.