Colorado State's Tory Horton reaches for a pass during a home game against San Jose State at Canvas Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Fort Collins, Colo.
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: 02/26/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.41 seconds (81%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 02/26/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.41 seconds (81%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 83.5 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| 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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74% |
| Short Receiving: |
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76% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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80% |
| Deep Threat: |
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81% |
| Blocking: |
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65% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#106
Position rank:
#16
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| College Games: 50 College Snaps: 2370 | ||
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) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kevin Austin Jr. - Notre Dame |
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93% |
| Devontez Walker - North Carolina |
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93% |
| Luke McCaffrey - Rice |
|
89% |
Draft Profile: Bio
California native Tory Horton arrived at Colorado State in 2022 with something to prove after two promising but ultimately limited seasons at Nevada. The 6'3", 185-pound wideout made an immediate impact for the Rams, racking up 1,131 yards and 8 touchdowns in his first campaign after following head coach Jay Norvell from Reno to Fort Collins. The athletic pedigree runs deep in the Horton family – his sister Jeane dominated as an All-American volleyball player at UTEP before going pro overseas, while brother Tyler starred as a two-time All-Mountain West cornerback at Boise State.What followed was a masterclass in vertical receiving over the next two seasons. Horton's senior year saw him evolve from deep threat to volume target, hauling in 96 receptions for 1,136 yards and adding another 8 scores while earning First Team All-Mountain West honors for the second straight year. His recognition continued with appearances on the Biletnikoff, Hornung, and Maxwell Award watch lists, establishing himself as one of the nation's most dangerous weapons on the outside. The versatile pass-catcher also showcased his open-field abilities as a punt returner, taking one back for a touchdown against Wyoming in 2022.
The storybook ending wasn't meant to be for Horton, as a devastating knee injury in October 2024 cut short what was shaping up to be another stellar campaign. Through just five games, he had already accumulated 26 catches for 353 yards before being sidelined for the remainder of his final collegiate season. Despite the abbreviated conclusion, Horton's complete body of work – 265 receptions, 3,615 yards, and 27 touchdowns across 50 career games – speaks volumes about his playmaking ability and scoring prowess at the collegiate level.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional ball-tracking ability downfield that allows him to make adjustments on the fly without losing stride or separation from defensive backs.
- Natural hands-catcher who flashes mitts late in routes, consistently creating separation with deceptive gearing and vertical push against press coverage.
- Long strider with impressive build-up speed who stacks defensive backs effectively, giving quarterbacks a clean throwing window downfield.
- Manipulates route tempo masterfully, employing hesitation moves and sudden acceleration bursts that leave corners guessing and recovering.
- Displays impressive spatial awareness along sidelines, consistently maintaining awareness of boundary limits while contorting for difficult catches.
- Creates chunks of yards after catch with slippery open-field movement, vision to find running lanes, and enough wiggle to make first defender miss.
- Versatile weapon who lined up both outside and in slot at CSU, demonstrating ability to win at multiple levels and expanding his NFL projection.
- Shows remarkable body control when elevating for contested catches, contorting mid-air to adjust to ball placement and shield defenders.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- High-cut frame with limited muscle mass raises durability concerns against physical NFL corners who will test him at line of scrimmage.
- Inconsistent hand fighting technique against press coverage that could severely limit his effectiveness against NFL-caliber boundary corners.
- Route tree lacks diversity with over half his patterns at CSU consisting of vertical routes, hitches, and crossers, limiting immediate impact potential.
- Shows occasional concentration lapses with body catching tendencies, particularly on routine throws where focus shifts prematurely to YAC opportunity.
- Blocking effort and technique remain below average despite adequate frame, often appearing disinterested when plays aren't designed for him.
Scouting Report: Summary
Horton brings a specialized skillset that will immediately translate to teams needing vertical juice in their passing game. His tape shows a receiver who thrives when attacking the intermediate and deep portions of the field, particularly when he can stack defenders and track the ball over his shoulder. Smart offensive coordinators will deploy him strategically to stretch secondaries while minimizing his early exposure to complex route combinations and physical press coverage that could stall his development.That October knee injury creates a question mark heading into the draft, but Horton's film reveals a player whose NFL impact centers around his plus ability to threaten defenses vertically and create explosive plays. His special teams value as a returner shouldn't be overlooked – it's not just resume padding but genuine playmaking that could earn him early snaps while he refines his craft. The flashes of brilliance against Mountain West competition suggest untapped potential if paired with a QB who delivers accurate deep balls.
He's not a plug-and-play Z-receiver who can run the full route tree from day one, but rather a specialized weapon whose deep and intermediate capabilities can be weaponized immediately. Landing with a team that employs an established route technician could accelerate his growth curve dramatically.
Written By:
Kev Thomas (MWC)
Tory Horton percentiles vs other Wide Receivers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Tory Horton (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
117.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
17.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*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.
*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.