When Tory Horton was one-on-one with nearly any defender during his collegiate career, it usually proved to be a favorable matchup for Colorado State.
CSU was taking on Nevada in a Mountain West clash in 2023, and the Rams had the ball eight yards from the end zone on first down late in the first quarter.
The ball was in quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi’s hands for less than a second, and he already knew where he was going with the ball – to Horton in the end zone.
The star wide receiver, lined up near the right sideline, juked toward the boundary at the snap of the ball. That forced the defender near him to follow for just a moment, and that gave Horton enough of a window to cut back to the left and then toward the goal line.
From there, Horton had enough separation. Fowler-Nicolosi floated a pass up and over Nevada’s defense and into Horton’s hands for an easy touchdown.
Horton has often made spectacular plays look effortless. And he has the skills to continue thriving, even in the NFL.
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Tory Horton NFL Mock Draft Projection In 2025
I project Tory Horton will be selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
This is roughly where Horton was projected to be drafted before his knee injury that kept him from playing most of the 2024 season. But following his participation in the NFL Combine, and now that enough time has passed, I believe those concerns should nearly diminish by the time the draft rolls around.
And I expect at least one team will think Horton could provide enough impact that he’ll be off the board during Day 2 of the draft.
What Was Tory Horton’s 40 Time At The NFL Combine?
Tory Horton ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds at the NFL Combine. That was the 15th-fastest time among 39 receivers who participated.
Horton was also fourth among eight receivers in the 20-yard shuttle with a time of 4.39 seconds and was 15th among 36 wideouts with a 37.5-inch vertical jump.
Tory Horton’s Height & Weight
Tory Horton was measured at 6 feet, 2.5 inches and 196 pounds at the 2025 NFL Combine.
Tory Horton’s Stats & Highlights
Horton was widely regarded as the best wide receiver in the Group of Five going into the 2024 season. But that campaign ended early for him, as he endured a knee injury. He caught 26 passes for 353 yards and one touchdown in the first five games of the season.
But he was superb before that, which is why he’s getting draft consideration now.
In 2023, he totaled 96 receptions for 1,136 yards and eight touchdowns. He also threw for 72 yards and a score while returning 11 punts for 147 yards and another TD.
Horton was in the top 15 among FBS receivers who were targeted at least 75 times in Pro Football Focus’ grades for pass routes. He was also 11th in the country with 575 yards after catch and tied for 21st with 2.74 yards per route run.
He caught 71 passes for 1,131 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022 en route to first-team All-Mountain West honors. He was also an all-conference honorable mention punt returner as he returned 11 punts for 171 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown.
Horton transferred to Colorado State from Nevada where he played in 21 games in two seasons, recording 72 catches for 995 yards and 10 touchdowns during that time.
Where Is Tory Horton From?
Tory Horton’s hometown is Fresno, California. He played football at Washington Union High School.
Tory Horton’s NFL Comparison & 2025 NFL Draft Profile
I believe some elements of Tory Horton’s game are comparable to Courtland Sutton of the Denver Broncos. Sutton is a fantastic receiver, so it’s tough to say Horton will ever reach the same level of production, but I do believe Horton could bring a similar level of consistency to a franchise.
Horton has excellent hands, both along the sidelines and in traffic. He, in 2023, was in the top 25 in the FBS with a contested catch rate of 57.1% and tied for sixth with 57 first downs gained.
He also was in the top 30 with a drop rate of just 4%. After 379 targets and 264 receptions, he dropped just 16 passes in his career.
Horton is explosive, which helped him win on short routes and when he had the ball in space on screen plays. He also has great balance, which made him tough to take down in the open field.
Horton is also smart. He often knew how to find open areas in a defense. And when the ball is in his hands, he showed impressive vision, which helped him as a punt returner as well. He’s also versatile, as he made plays on short, intermediate, and deep routes, was a fantastic returner on special teams, and could even pass once in a while on trick plays.
If Horton’s knee injury from last year doesn’t lead to long-term issues, I could see him being a great addition for an NFL team.
