With two out of two wins in the Big 12 and a 4-1 start to the season, things are shaping up nicely for the Colorado Buffs. Wide receiver  Jimmy Horn Jr. has been an integral part of the team during their impressive start having registered 23 receptions for 327 yards so far with one TD. However, in the middle of an encouraging campaign, Horn Jr. shared a somber update with the Buffs nation.

With Travis Hunter and Sheduer Sanders leading the way, Jimmy Horn Jr. has enjoyed a good start to the season. But on a personal front, things haven’t been easy for the 22-year-old. His father was incarcerated on multiple charges, stemming from an incident in November 2021, just a month before the new season. While he has been dealing with that challenge, the WR was dealt another blow after his friend passed away.

On October 1, Horn Jr. posted a photo of her friend Destinie Diaz on his Instagram story with the caption, “Rest up, Des.” Both Diaz and Horn Jr. had been fond of each other, with the late friend often sharing her support for the Buffs players through her IG stories. Horn Jr. also would show his love to her through various posts, but sadly he has to bid goodbye to Diaz.

According to an obituary and several reports, Diaz tragically lost her life in a car accident on Interstate 4 in Orange County. The incident which took place around 12:20 a.m. on Tuesday, October 1, involved Diaz’s car colliding with a pickup truck, resulting in her untimely death.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Destinie was driving a Hyundai Elantra and was navigating through an active construction lane closure on I-4 westbound near mile marker 72 when the accident happened. Diaz was a resident of Kissimmee, Florida, and in her obituary, she was defined as a “vibrant 25-year-old woman.”

She was also described as a “beloved member of her community.” The obituary also mentioned that she attended Osceola High School in Kissimmee and was deeply connected to her local community. Here is a further excerpt from the obituary:

“She was known for her determination and spirit, always striving to achieve her goals while uplifting those around her. Whether volunteering in community events or simply being a supportive friend, Destinie was dedicated to making a positive impact in her community. Her commitment to helping others reflected her compassionate nature, and her loss will be felt by all who had the privilege of knowing her.”

The Kissimmee community has come forward to help Destinie Diaz’s family cope with the emotional and financial burden of their loss. “The emotional toll of losing Destinie is compounded by the financial burden associated with her unexpected passing. In light of this, community member Jules Helligar has taken the initiative to organize a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral expenses,” the obituary mentioned.

As the news of her demise spread, fans flocked to her Instagram handle to mourn her tragic passing. Under one of her posts, a fan wrote, “Damn n RIP.” Another remembered her energy and commented, “OUR HYPE GIRL FOR LIFE!!! YOU WILL BE SO MISSED❤️”

Under her last Instagram post, a user commented, “Rest easy babygirl,” while another shared their disbelief writing, “Rip I still can’t believe it bby.” Duke City Gladiators wide receiver Tamorrion Terry also expressed his sadness at the incident writing, “Damn D,” with a teary-eyed emoji.

The obituary also raised concerns over road safety and late-night driving on busy highways like Interstate 4 and urged the need for awareness and education to avoid such tragedies from being repeated. Another user, shaken by the news wrote, “this world is so scary. at 25. so young, full of life. rest easy gorgeous girl.” One more fan wrote, “Rest in peace.”

The news will hit Jimmy Horn Jr. hard after having to deal with the news of his father’s incarceration. The young wide receiver opened up to the press about what transpired and his final words to his father before his incarceration.

Jimmy Horn Jr. talked about the final conversation with father before he was taken away

During Jimmy’s second year, he successfully made a huge impact on Sanders and his staff. He racked up 198 yards and scored one touchdown, helping his team secure a 31-26 victory against North Dakota. Notably, that performance came days after the news of his father’s incarceration.

Horn Sr. had been serving time on a separate drug charge, but he was sentenced to 87 months in a Florida state prison facility for another charge on August 14. Speaking to the press on September 5, his son said, “I was able to talk to him. That was my last time talking to him before — so you just got to go even harder, you feel me? And it just felt good to talk to him. That just pushes me even more. It’s a lot of adversity that go on through life.”

He also mentioned how he didn’t let the ordeal affect his game. “You just got to keep thriving and pushing through it. Like that game, man, that was a career-high game for me. And I ain’t going to let that get to me. I’m gonna just keep going, keep grinding. I’m hungry for real.”

Since that day, he has become a valuable player for Deion Sanders and his offense team. When he is on the ground, he leaves a lasting impression. He is an asset for Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter’s offensive lineup.

While he mourns the loss of a friend, we wish him strength in this difficult time and our thoughts remain with Destinie Diaz’s family.