Draft Analysis: Tory Horton

March 17, 2025 /
  • Height: 6’2.5″
  • Weight: 196 lbs
  • College: Colorado State University
  • Tape watched: 2023 Colorado, 2023 Boise State, Texas, Oregon State
  • NFL Comparison: George Pickens

Pros

  • Deep Threat

Horton draws attention with his big play abilities. Not only does he possess field-stretching speed, but he also has high flying acrobatic abilities in the air. 50/50 opportunities quickly sway in his favor when Horton is one on one downfield.

  • Contested Catching

Horton sits right around a 50% contested catch rate receiver for his career. He is excellent at using his body to shield off defenders. He absorbs contact and plays bigger than his frame suggests.

  • Hands

A solid 4.6% drop rate over his last three seasons, Horton has steady hands. He has decreased his number of drops each year at Colorado State, down from eight in 2022 to one in his limited 2024 campaign. Horton can start to run without securing the football. Focus drops tend to plague him more than technique and ability. Horton has really good body control and awareness around the sidelines and back of the endzone.

Midline

  • Blocking

With all the tools to succeed in creating extra opportunities for his running backs, Horton often fails to do so. His stalk phase can be lazy at times. He rarely works inside defenders’ chests with his hands, instead opting to grab outside the shoulders. He does not drive his feet and can be pushed back into the offensive play.

That being said, he offers a ton of upside to the run game. He is a strong, physical receiver when he wants to be. With more attention to detail, Horton could be an asset in the run game, especially from the slot.

  • YAC

A very underrated receiver post-catch, Horton has enough traits to turn this into a pro at the next level. Horton runs with power behind his pads, often opting into contact rather than going out of bounds. He slips the first tackle and tries to get vertical rather than run around defenders. Horton has limited lateral agility but is still a slippery runner.

Cons

  • Route Running

The route tree Tory Horton was asked to support at Colorado State was paltry and limiting. Horton relied heavily on go-routes, hitches, and drags across the field. The most zone choices he had were post-curls and hitch routes from the slot.

Horton’s route stems were uninspiring at times. He was slow to build momentum and failed to threaten the cushion of defenders. His route breaks can be described as lumbering. When Horton is at his best, he leans on defenders through his stem and punishes them at the top of the route.

  • Release

Texas gave Horton fits with the physical play of their cornerbacks. Horton failed to use his hands to combat. He doesn’t have the lateral juice to fake defenders, so he needs to develop into a physical technician with his upper body.

Overview

Tory Horton enters the 2025 NFL draft class with a unique blend of size, speed, and acrobatic style. He can take the top off the defense but also pick up extra yards with his hard-nosed running style. Horton has reliable hands in all situations. He seems to be past a 2024 season ending knee injury, setting him up for a healthy offseason and a potential steal for a team on Day 2 of the draft.

The similarities to George Pickens are almost uncanny for Horton. A highflyer with plenty of speed, Horton could end up as a legitimate number one receiver for a team that develops him.