Tory Horton, Colorado State's best offensive player, is a threat the Longhorn defense is well aware of

Whatever Colorado State wideout Tory Horton was allegedly offered by intermediaries from other schools wasn’t enough to lure him into the transfer portal and out of Fort Collins during the offseason.

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“It’s really important … that you have an open line of communication with your players,” Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell said in July. “And Tory just tells me. ‘Hey, this guy just called me last night and asked me this and offered me,’ and I just laugh. Just thank God we’ve got Tory Horton because he’s an amazing kid. A lot of kids wouldn’t do that.”

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

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‘s top target and a player that can threaten the Longhorn defense on Saturday.

“With him, first of all, where is he lining up?” Sarkisian said about keys to covering Horton. “They move him around a fair amount. Then, having the ability to win at the top of routes against him. He’s got good length. Then, you’ve got to get him on the ground.”

It isn’t just the Longhorn defense that has to take care of business against Horton. Jeff Banks‘ special teams will have a job to do as well. Horton is listed as the No. 1 punt returner on Colorado State’s depth chart. 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.

“As much as getting him on the ground when we’re on defense, we’ve got to get him on the ground when he’s returning kicks, too,” Sarkisian said. “We’ve 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’s important that we get multiple hats to the ball not just with him, but with everybody.”

That said, most of Horton’s 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’ll look to Horton early and often.

“No. 14, he’s long, he’s fast, he’s got really good routes, and then he goes up and gets the ball,” safety Michael Taaffe said Monday. “The quarterback places it where he needs to place it, where the receivers can make a play on the ball. It’s a really good challenge for us as a secondary.”

Do-it-all defensive back Jahdae Barron, who will probably see a lot of Horton on Saturday, also noted how the Longhorns can’t let Horton get the best of them in individual battles.

“He’s good,” Barron said. “He’s 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’s going to get himself open. He’s competing at a high level, so it’s a good matchup for everybody. “

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’s main influence comes from his time at Oklahoma when Kevin Wilson ran the Sooner offense that maintained many of Mike Leach‘s Air Raid principles in Bob Stoops‘ OU program.

Leach learned the Air Raid from Hal Mumme. Who’s on Colorado State’s staff? Quarterbacks coach Matt Mumme, Hal’s son.

Michael Taaffe: “That guy that runs that offense, I think his dad invented that air raid offense.”

Hal’s son Matt is CSU’s QBs coach. pic.twitter.com/uK8DlwJgA6

— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) August 26, 2024

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 – Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday and that the under .500 2023 record doesn’t indicate the type of team the Longhorns will open the 2024 season with.

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.

For players like Barron, Saturday’s challenge can’t get here soon enough.

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“If you’re a DB, you live for these matchups,” Barron said.