What is in store for Missouri football quarterback and RHP Sam Horn in the 2025 MLB Draft? We looked at the options here.
A Missouri football quarterback could be about to hear his name called in the draft.
The 2025 MLB Draft, that is.
Sam Horn, who is expected to compete for Mizzou’s starting quarterback job with Penn State transfer Beau Pribula this fall, is widely considered a top-150 prospect in this year’s draft. The QB is a two-sport athlete for the Tigers, also competing for Kerrick Jackson’s Mizzou baseball team.
It’s easy to see why his name is in draft circles. He was a top prospect coming out of Collins Hill High in Georgia. He’s 6-foot-4 and lives in the 93-95 mph range on his fastball. After undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the 2024 football season and a significant chunk of the 2025 baseball campaign, his lack of college reps makes for an open canvas for what he could be.
MLB.com has Horn as the No. 128 prospect in this year’s draft. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel has him at No. 94. The Athletic included him among its players to know outside of the top-100 prospects.
That makes him a potential Day 1 pick, with Rounds 1-3 set to be held Sunday and the remainder — Rounds 4-20 — to be held Monday in Atlanta.
It’s not unusual for a football player to hear his name called in the MLB Draft, especially quarterbacks. Kyler Murray is the most notable name in recent years, as he was the No. 9-overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft.
Murray, obviously, did not end up in the MLB, as the No. 1-overall NFL Draft pick, too.
But what does it mean for Mizzou if Horn is selected?
Let’s run through the quarterback and right-hander’s options:
Can Sam Horn return to Mizzou if he is picked in 2025 MLB Draft?
One of the potential outcomes from this weekend is that Horn hears his name called but does not agree to a contract with that MLB organization.
That would make him eligible to play in the 2025 football season and 2026 baseball season. It also would not impact his draft-eligibility status moving forward.
Nobody from the MU football staff seemed overly stressed or concerned about Horn showing up for fall camp this offseason. The Tigers didn’t target an additional quarterback with starting or backup potential. That does seem to indicate they are confident Horn is returning.
If Horn doesn’t sign with an MLB organization this year, then this process appears extremely likely to happen again in 2026. He would be draft eligible again and, depending on how his spring season goes on the bump, may have more to show scouts with additional reps under his belt.
Is it possible that Horn drops out of Mizzou QB race?
It’s possible, but for now seems unlikely.
Horn attended the MLB Draft Combine in June. The interest in a professional baseball career is clearly there.
He could have signed a healthy rookie contract in the MLB coming out of high school, and his professional projections are still high. He’s shown a 98-mph fastball. Here is his MLB.com scouting report, which indicates the interest from pro franchises is likely mutual:
“Horn creates quality extension with his 6-foot-4 frame and athletic delivery, providing deception with a low arm slot and release height. He's still refining his control and command after working just 15 innings in three college seasons, but they should become average as he gains more experience. Clubs are trying to weigh his upside versus his lack of track record, and his desire to turn pro in baseball while continuing to compete for Missouri's starting quarterback job complicates matters.”
Current projections have him as a late Day-1 or early Day-2 pick. That means he’d be looking at a signing bonus in the mid-six-figure or even low-seven-figure range.
If he opts to sign any potential professional contract, which typically needs to be done by around Aug. 1, then Horn could, theoretically, take himself out of the running for MU’s quarterback competition and focus on baseball. In the revenue-sharing and NIL era of college athletics, there's a likely money element on the college end to consider here, too.
It doesn’t seem especially likely that Horn will drop out of the Mizzou QB competition, but it is possible.
Can Horn do both?
Horn technically can play college football this fall and head to the minors in the springtime.
But whether an MLB organization is going to agree to that arrangement is an entirely different story. Just ask Mizzou’s last quarterback, Brady Cook: Being a starting SEC QB comes with its fair share of bumps and bruises.
Horn could, however, agree to join up with the MLB team he signs up for in time for spring training. That would, likely to Mizzou baseball’s chagrin, take him off Kerrick Jackson’s roster in 2026.
Time will tell all about Horn’s future. Pribula is the likely frontrunner in the Mizzou QB race. That could certainly play into Horn’s decision.
For now, it's a summertime storyline to keep an eye on.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: What could be in store for Missouri football QB/RHP Sam Horn in MLB Draft
Category: General Sports