Courtesy of Colorado State
Add Tory Horton’s name to the list.
The Colorado State wideout became the latest Ram to be selected in the NFL Draft when the Seattle Seahawks selected the Fresno, Calif., product in the fifth round with the 166th overall pick.
This is the second consecutive year a Ram has been selected in the draft, following Mohamed Kamara’s selection last year. Since 2016, seven CSU players have been picked.
Horton joins an impressive list of Colorado State wideouts who have been drafted in recent memory, most recently Olabisi Johnson in the seventh round in 2019. A year prior, Michaell Gallup went in the third round, with Rashard Higgins selected in the fifth round in 2016.
It’s a list filled out with names in the program’s record book, but Horton’s focus is on securing his spot on the roster and making a name for himself.
“It was great. Of course there’s a little bit of bittersweet, seeing a bunch of receivers go before me, but at the end of the day the ultimate goal is getting your name called,” Horton said. “That’s something I can be proud of and I’m happy with it.
“For sure I have some fuel now. I’m ready. I’ve got to let them know the injury was nothing and I’m ready to compete. I’ll be good by camp.”
Horton’s collegiate career was cut shot by a midseason injury which limited him to just six games, yet he still made his mark at Colorado State and within the Mountain West.
The two-time first-team All-Mountain West selection caught 193 passes as a Ram, good for 2,620 yards and 17 touchdowns. The receptions stand fourth at the school, the yardage seventh, the touchdowns tied for eighth. With his first two seasons played at Nevada, he made a serious run at the conference record book.
His 3,615 career yards rank third, slotting in behind CSU legends David Anderson and Rashard Higgins. His 265 career catches ranked seventh in the league.
Adding to the equation, Horton was an electric punt returner, averaging 14.1 yards on his 26 returns at Colorado State, scoring a touchdown on a return in each of his three seasons. He was also crafty enough to hit on 4-of-5 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Horton’s family is tight-knit, so spending the weekend – and ultimately, the moment – with them, made it that much better.
“They kept me leveled. I felt it was a great time as the time rolled by and they kept my spirits up,” Horton said. “When the call came, it was a big release. There could have been no better team to take a shot on me. I’m excited. It’s a great program, great coaches. I’m ready to get to work.
“I had a pretty good feeling about Seattle after taking my visit out there. I felt confident. Now it’s just get to work. There’s nothing else to it. You go out and get ready to get on the team.”
Seattle’s wide receiver room is led by Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who had 1,130 yards receiving a year ago on 100 receptions, good for six touchdowns. The Seahawks added veteran Cooper Kupp in the offseason, but behind them there are slots to fill, which Horton is intent on doing.
Always known as a leader in college, Horton is ready to jump at the chance to learn from veterans on his new team. For the past three seasons, he has been the one leading by example and through motivation to cultivate the next wave of CSU receivers. He’ll be listening, just as he did as a young player at first, finding the ways in which he can make an impact.
