DT Joshua Horton to report in June, has eyes on immediate impact for Miami Hurricanes: Lance Guidry’s defense `supports my play style’

The Miami Hurricanes were missing quite a few linemen this spring, with DT Leonard Taylor, DT Jared Harrison-Hunte and DE Jahfari Harvey out all 15 practices and DE Akheem Mesidor missing about half of the drills. That could be a starting line right there.

Another guy that was missing who could be a big contributor this coming season?

True freshman DT Joshua Horton.

The Hurricanes are thin at the position with Darrell Jackson transferring to FSU, and Miami brought in Branson Deen and Thomas Gore as portal additions this spring. Neither really stood out. So enter Horton, who at 6-4 and 285 pound has the strength, size and quickness to be one of those rare interior defensive line standouts in Year 1.

Horton says he’s preparing for a big immediate role, training with former NFL DL Chuck Smith from January through March until Smith was hired by the Ravens, and following the workout plan sent by Miami coaches.

Horton says he spends up to three hours daily working to get ready to make a 2023 impact.

“I’ve been doing a little bit of everything, lifting every day, running every day,” Horton said. “(From Smith) I learned a lot, he taught me a lot of little keys you can use to make you better at your game.

“From the end of my season to now my body has changed. I’m still 285, but the weight looks different. I’m at 285 and it’s way more fit now than in high school.”

He says the Miami workouts “are broken up in stages, you go through the stages and they all come easy to you.”

Horton says he’ll report June 18 for the start of Summer B (classes begin June 20).

“I think the hardest thing will be the conditioning in the Florida weather compared to Georgia,” Horton said. “The sun in Florida, the sun is hotter. Here it’s the humidity, in Florida it’s the sun also.”

As for his on-field transition, Horton says that “You have to just play football, go out and adapt to the strength and speed of it. Once you do that you’ll be fine.”

Horton says Miami coaches “said you have to be ready, have to come in ready to play,” and he visited Miami at the end of March for a spring practice session.

While there he spent time with new coordinator lance Guidry.

“His defense supports me, my play style, I can thrive in that defense, play freely,” Horton said.

Horton will be a 3-tech and is excited to have not only Joe Salave’a helping tutor him but also Jason Taylor as DL coaches.

“It’s going to be easier to grasp with those two guys, they both are successful at what they do,” Horton said.

Horton says he spoke with some of his fellow signees during the spring and that “they said to come in ready to work, that it’s not hard, just get to work.”

Horton’s goal for himself in Year 1 at Miami?

“All-ACC,” he says.

He’s optimistic the team will turn things around from last year’s 5-7 season, but says there’s a couple of key areas that have to come through.

“It all depends on the front,” Horton said. “The offensive line and defensive line. To me those are some of the best groups on the team, so that makes a difference. The team should be straight.”

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