Tory Horton WR Colorado State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Tory Horton WR Colorado State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 10/17/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.45 seconds (69%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 10/17/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.45 seconds (69%*) | |
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| Overall Rating: | 82.0 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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72% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 93.9 | |
| Hands: |
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73% |
| Short Receiving: |
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76% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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80% |
| Deep Threat: |
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80% |
| Blocking: |
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64% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#168
Position rank:
#22
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| College Games: 50 College Snaps: 2369 | ||
ESPN RATING: 71/100
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247 RATING: 82/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.2 (85%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Malachi Carter - Georgia Tech |
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84% |
| Cornelius Johnson - Michigan |
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84% |
| George Pickens - Georgia |
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82% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Tory Horton, hailing from Washington Union High School in Fresno, California, was a three-sport athlete excelling in football, basketball, and baseball. He led his high school team to a league championship and earned league MVP honors. Horton’s family has a strong athletic background, with his sister playing professional volleyball and his brother being a two-time All-Mountain West cornerback.
Horton began his college football career at Nevada, where he recorded 72 receptions for 995 yards and 10 touchdowns over two seasons. He transferred to Colorado State in 2022, following head coach Jay Norvell. In his junior season at Colorado State, Horton had 71 receptions for 1,131 yards and eight touchdowns, earning First Team All-Mountain West honors. His senior year saw him further improve with 96 receptions for 1,136 yards and eight touchdowns, leading the team in receptions and receiving yards.
Throughout his college career, Horton earned several accolades including being named Team Captain in 2023 and making the All-Mountain West First Team twice. He was also listed on the Fred Biletnikoff Award, Paul Hornung Award, and Maxwell Award watch lists in 2023.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Strong ball-tracking skills and hand-eye coordination to adjust to underthrown balls and back-shoulder throws.
- Consistently generates vertical separation on outside releases versus press coverage.
- Excellent mid-route acceleration to win deep, showcasing impressive speed.
- Effective route speed variance, using double moves and stutter steps to freeze defenders.
- Quickly stacks defenders playing press coverage with long strides and solid built-up speed.
- Shows good vision and creativity in the open field, utilizing blockers well.
- Reliable hands with the ability to make acrobatic catches and high-point the ball in contested situations.
- Versatile player with experience both in the slot and out wide, as well as contributing as a punt returner.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lean build with a high cut, lacking high-end agility and twitch to create consistent separation.
- Struggles with concentration drops and tends to make too many body catches.
- Limited route tree with insufficient execution of sharp cuts on short to intermediate routes.
- Inconsistent blocking effort in run plays and screens, despite having the size to lock out defenders.
- Needs to diversify his release package and be more aggressive at the catch point in contested situations.
Scouting Report: Summary
Tory Horton possesses the physical tools and on-field production to make an impact at the NFL level. His ability to stretch the field vertically, combined with his size and speed, makes him an enticing prospect. However, to reach his full potential, Horton needs to refine his route running and improve his concentration to eliminate drops.
Horton's versatility in playing both outside and in the slot, along with his experience as a punt returner, adds value to his draft stock. While his lean build and lack of elite agility may limit his immediate impact, his work ethic and commitment to improvement suggest he has the upside to develop into a reliable NFL receiver.
Projected as a mid-round pick, Horton could rise up draft boards with a strong showing in pre-draft workouts and the combine. Teams looking for a receiver who can contribute on special teams and develop into a starting role will find Horton an appealing option.
Written By:
Kev Thomas (MWC)
How other scouting services rate Tory Horton (Overall Rank)
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.