{"id":67862,"date":"2024-08-27T13:36:34","date_gmt":"2024-08-27T18:36:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/?p=67862"},"modified":"2024-08-27T13:36:34","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T18:36:34","slug":"tory-horton-colorado-states-best-offensive-player-is-a-threat-the-longhorn-defense-is-well-aware-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/tory-horton-colorado-states-best-offensive-player-is-a-threat-the-longhorn-defense-is-well-aware-of\/","title":{"rendered":"Tory Horton, Colorado State\u2019s best offensive player, is a threat the Longhorn defense is well aware of"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whatever Colorado State<\/a><\/strong> wideout Tory Horton<\/a><\/strong> was allegedly offered by intermediaries from other schools wasn\u2019t enough to lure him into the transfer portal and out of Fort Collins during the offseason.<\/p>\n

[Join Inside Texas and get 50% off using code KICKOFF24]<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really important \u2026 that you have an open line of communication with your players,\u201d Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell<\/a><\/strong> said in July<\/a>. \u201cAnd Tory just tells me. \u2018Hey, this guy just called me last night and asked me this and offered me,\u2019 and I just laugh. Just thank God we\u2019ve got Tory Horton because he\u2019s an amazing kid. A lot of kids wouldn\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a result of CSU retaining the star 6-foot-3, 185-pound wideout who followed Norvell from Nevada<\/a><\/strong>, the Longhorns<\/a><\/strong> will have to face Horton this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in No. 4 Texas\u2019 season-opener against the Rams. Both UT head coach Steve Sarkisian<\/a><\/strong> and his players know not to underestimate what Horton can do on the football field. <\/p>\n

Last season, Horton notched a 87.9 offensive grade according to Pro Football Focus along with an 86.9 receiving grade. 2023 was also his second consecutive 1000-yard season. After hauling in 71 catches for 1131 yards and eight scores in 2022, he recorded 96 catches for 1136 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023. A two-time first-team All-Mountain West selection, Horton is undoubtedly quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi<\/a><\/strong>\u2018s top target and a player that can threaten the Longhorn defense on Saturday. <\/p>\n

\u201cWith him, first of all, where is he lining up?\u201d Sarkisian said about keys to covering Horton. \u201cThey move him around a fair amount. Then, having the ability to win at the top of routes against him. He\u2019s got good length. Then, you\u2019ve got to get him on the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

It isn\u2019t just the Longhorn defense that has to take care of business against Horton. Jeff Banks<\/a><\/strong>\u2018 special teams will have a job to do as well. Horton is listed as the No. 1 punt returner on Colorado State\u2019s depth chart<\/a>. He returned 11 punts for 147 yards and a touchdown last year after a 2022 where he brought back 11 punts for 171 yards and another touchdown. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs much as getting him on the ground when we\u2019re on defense, we\u2019ve got to get him on the ground when he\u2019s returning kicks, too,\u201d Sarkisian said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get him on the ground because when he can open his stride up and get in the open field, he can run away from you. I think it\u2019s important that we get multiple hats to the ball not just with him, but with everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

That said, most of Horton\u2019s opportunities are going to come on standard downs. Colorado State had 868 total snaps last year. 555 of them were pass plays, 313 were run plays. The Rams will look to get the ball out through the air, and they\u2019ll look to Horton early and often.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. 14, he\u2019s long, he\u2019s fast, he\u2019s got really good routes, and then he goes up and gets the ball,\u201d safety Michael Taaffe<\/a><\/strong> said Monday. \u201cThe quarterback places it where he needs to place it, where the receivers can make a play on the ball. It\u2019s a really good challenge for us as a secondary.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do-it-all defensive back Jahdae Barron<\/a><\/strong>, who will probably see a lot of Horton on Saturday, also noted how the Longhorns can\u2019t let Horton get the best of them in individual battles.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s good,\u201d Barron said. \u201cHe\u2019s good in one-on-ones. The quarterback loves him in 50-50 balls and in things like that. They have a lot of plays that can get him open, or he\u2019s going to get himself open. He\u2019s competing at a high level, so it\u2019s a good matchup for everybody. \u201c<\/p>\n

Taaffe made an astute observation when discussing the Rams offense. Norvell is the play-calling head coach and no assistant on his staff has the title of offensive coordinator. Norvell\u2019s main influence comes from his time at Oklahoma when Kevin Wilson<\/a><\/strong> ran the Sooner offense that maintained many of Mike Leach<\/a><\/strong>\u2018s Air Raid principles in Bob Stoops<\/a><\/strong>\u2018 OU program. <\/p>\n

Leach learned the Air Raid from Hal Mumme<\/a><\/strong>. Who\u2019s on Colorado State\u2019s staff? Quarterbacks coach Matt Mumme<\/a><\/strong>, Hal\u2019s son.<\/p>\n

\n\n

Michael Taaffe: \u201cThat guy that runs that offense, I think his dad invented that air raid offense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hal\u2019s son Matt is CSU\u2019s QBs coach. pic.twitter.com\/uK8DlwJgA6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) August 26, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

Colorado State was 5-7 last year, splitting its six one-score games with a 3-3 record. Sarkisian reiterated several times on Monday he believes the Longhorns are welcoming a quality opponent into Darrell K Royal \u2013 Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday and that the under .500 2022 record doesn\u2019t indicate the type of team the Longhorns will open the 2023 season with.<\/p>\n

Though the overall team talent of the Rams is nowhere near that of the Longhorns, Horton presents a challenging assignment for members of the Texas secondary.<\/p>\n

For players like Barron, Saturday\u2019s challenge can\u2019t get here soon enough.<\/p>\n

[Subscribe to the Inside Texas YouTube channel and help get us to 10,000 subs!]<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re a DB, you live for these matchups,\u201d Barron said. <\/p>\n

The post Tory Horton, Colorado State\u2019s best offensive player, is a threat the Longhorn defense is well aware of<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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