The 2020 NFL Draft is shaping up to be one of the best and deepest in a long time in the cornerback position. This can be a good thing for the New York Giants – or for any team – looking to shore up their secondary.
The NFL is always eager for possible cornerbacks that may be covering journalists, and cornerback Jaycee Horn of South Carolina may be one of the best journalists to have left college in recent years. He is a big, long, athletic, physical and aggressive corner that is willing to match any receiver who stands in front of him. A perspective under the radar at the beginning of the season, Horn’s size, athleticism and hedging ability can make him the top corner of the draft when all is said and done.
If the Giants want to switch to a more aggressive coverage scheme, they should certainly take a good look at it.
Prospectus: Jaycee Horn (CB, South Carolina)
Watched games: vs. Florida (2019), vs. Alabama (2019), vs. Florida (2020), vs. Auburn (2020)
Measurable
Height: 6010 (6 ft-1)
Weight: 205 pounds
Statistics
Games played: 30
Equipments: 101
Fighting for a loss: 7.0
Bags: 3.0
Forced Fumbles: two
Interceptions: two
Defended passes: 23
2020 Statistics
Games played: 7
Equipments: 16
Fighting for a loss: 1.0
Bags: 0
Forced Fumbles: 0
Interceptions: two
Defended passes: 6
Quick Summary
Best: Size, length, physicality, athleticism, male coverage
Worse: Zone coverage, block elimination, ball skills
Projection: Starting corner in a man covering scheme
Game Tape
Full report
South Carolina’s cornerback, Jaycee Horn, is a great and long physical contact with the press. Horn has a large structure with good thickness to go with long arms, which allows him to combine well in the man’s roof with large physical “X” receptors on the outside.
Horn is in top form playing close to the scrimmage line in the journalist’s coverage. It uses its length well to interrupt receivers at the start of their routes, while using solid body positioning to take advantage of the internal advantage. He shows a good understanding of the field’s position along the course to use the sideline as an extra defender and to reduce the passing windows. Horn has very fast feet and fluid hips for a larger cornerback and is able to stay in phase with most external receivers along their routes, allowing for minimal separation. He is very physical at the meeting point, standing out in the use of his length to close the passing windows and play with the receiver’s hands.
Horn is also a very confident player with a fiery attitude throughout the game. He shows great competitive toughness in his willingness to face any pass catcher and usually sings between plays.
Horn is able to play in the coverage area with a solid discipline in choosing and passing receivers, as well as an understanding of passing concepts. However, he does not look as comfortable as on a man’s cover and his zone drops seem strange at times. He also lacks good ball production, recording his only interceptions in the final season. Part of this is due to its use in covering players, which often prevents him from looking at the defense, but he also needs to improve his ability to track the ball in the air. Horn will also need more discipline in his physicality along the way. Although more contact is allowed at the high school level, Horn has a tendency to be particularly “practical” and could encounter penalty shoot-out flags from NFL officials early in his career.
Projection
Jaycee Horn designs best as an initial external cornerback in an aggressive defense that uses mostly man-cover schemes. Horn is not the type of hawk that offenders are afraid to test, but he has the ability to take most receivers out of the game. His size, physicality, athleticism and competitive toughness allowed him to match almost any receiver and he even did a good job covering Florida’s tight end Kyle Pitts.
Horn has enough skill in zone coverage that a defensive coordinator can use it to disguise blitzes occasionally, but Horn will thrive on a defense that allows him to match a receiver and throw him into tight coverage. Horn’s game is based on interrupting the receivers at the beginning of the routes, then using his size and athleticism to close the pass windows, hitting the passes to the ground – usually followed by a round of small talk. Horn also wants and is able to follow the receivers across the field. While many corners are on one side, Horn can touch the left and right corners, as well as move into the slot if necessary.
Considering the competitive toughness that Horn shows in passing coverage, he could be a better executed defender. Although he is far from a risk, he will need to improve his ability to throw blocks and face runners with more authority.
Horn was not widely discussed as a cornerback prospect before the 2020 season, but his draft stock skyrocketed throughout this shortened season. Horn can be the top corner of the board for any team that favors aggressive coverage on the outside.
Games to watch
Friday, ABC – 12pm
Players to watch
Texas
- Samuel Cosmi (OT)
- Stern chain (S)
- Joseph Assai (EDGE)
Iowa State
Friday, ABC – 3:30
Players to watch
North Caroline
- 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 PM
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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