Jaycee Horn

Jaycee Carrington Horn (born November 26, 1999) is an American professional football cornerback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected eighth overall by the Panthers in the 2021 NFL draft. His father, Joe Horn, played wide receiver in the NFL.

Horn attended Alpharetta High School in Alpharetta, Georgia. As a senior, he had 44 tackles and five interceptions. He played in the 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He signed to play college football at the University of South Carolina.

As a true freshman at South Carolina in 2018, Horn started 10 of 11 games and had 45 tackles with two sacks and was named freshman All-Southeastern Conference. As a sophomore in 2019, he started all 12 games, recording 40 tackles and one sack. Horn returned to South Carolina as a starter in 2020.

On November 16, 2020, following the dismissal of former head coach Will Muschamp, Horn opted out of the remainder of the season, turning his focus to preparation for the 2021 NFL draft.

Pro Football Focus ranked Horn as the second best cornerback in the draft (18th overall) on their big board. Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranked him as the third best cornerback prospect in the draft. Lorenz Leinweber of Sports Illustratedand NFL analysts Bucky Brooks and Daniel Jeremiah had him ranked as the second best cornerback in the 2021 NFL draft. Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN ranked him third (18th overall) of his position group.

The Carolina Panthers selected Horn in the first round (8th overall) in the 2021 NFL draft. Horn was the first cornerback and defensive back to be drafted in 2021. As the 8th overall pick, Horn was the highest draft pick from South Carolina since Jadeveon Clowney in 2014 and the highest drafted cornerback from South Carolina, overtaking Dunta Robinson (2004) and Stephon Gilmore (2012) who were both respectively drafted 10th overall.

On June 15, 2021, the Panthers signed Horn to a fully guaranteed four–year, $21.11 million contract that includes an initial signing bonus of $12.71 million. Throughout training camp, Horn competed to be one of the starting cornerbacks against veterans Donte Jackson and A. J. Bouye. Head coach Matt Rhule named Horn and Jackson the starting cornerbacks to begin the regular season.

On September 12, 2021, Horn made his professional regular season debut in the Carolina Panthers' home–opener against the New York Jets and had a season–high three combined tackles (two solo) during a 19–14 victory. On September 19, 2021, Horn had one pass deflection and made his first career interception on a pass thrown by Jameis Winston to wide receiver Juwan Johnson as the Panthers routed the New Orleans Saints 26–7. On September 23, 2021, he made two combined tackles (one solo) before exiting in the third quarter of a 24–9 win at the Houston Texans after injuring his foot. On September 27, 2021, the Carolina Panther placed Horn on injured reserve after it was discovered he had fractured his foot. He finished his rookie campaign during the 2021 NFL season with a total of five combined tackles (three solo), one pass deflection, and one interception in three games and three starts.