Zach Horton
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Zach Horton
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Detroit Lions
| number =
| position = Tight End
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 251
| high_school = Lord Botetourt High School
(Daleville, Virginia)
| college = James Madison (2021-2023)
Indiana (2024)
| undraftedyear = 2025
| pastteams =
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Undrafted free agent
}}
Zach Horton is an American football tight end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the James Madison Dukes and the Indiana Hoosiers before signing with the Lions as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL Draft.
Early life and high school
Horton attended Lord Botetourt High School in Daleville, Virginia. He was rated as a three-star recruit and committed to play college football for the James Madison Dukes over offers from schools such as Navy, Army, Air Force, Eastern Michigan, and Coastal Carolina.{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Robert |title=H.S. football: Northside DE/TE Zach Horton commits to play at James Madison |url=https://roanoke.com/sports/high_schools/h-s-football-northside-de-te-zach-horton-commits-to-play-at-james-madison/article_6ea5ff60-3866-5c59-a4ca-71622e440bee.html |website=The Roanoke Times |access-date=24 November 2024}}
College career
= James Madison =
As a freshman in 2021, Horton appeared in eight games where he did not record any receptions.{{cite web |last1=Fleischman |first1=Noah |title=Fresh Faces Join Standout Horton In Tight Ends Room |url=https://www.dnronline.com/sports/college/james_madison/fresh-faces-join-standout-horton-in-tight-ends-room/article_f798093d-7b4e-59ee-9eba-fac6b642bc69.html |website=Daily News-Record|date=20 July 2023 }} In 2022, he hauled in 13 receptions for 159 yards and two touchdowns as backup tight end.{{cite web |last1=Fleischman |first1=Noah |title=Horton Looks To Build Off Last Season, This Time In Deep TE Room |url=https://www.dnronline.com/sports/college/james_madison/horton-looks-to-build-off-last-season-this-time-in-deep-te-room/article_f51e1277-e01b-5a91-b12e-d86e184d3d39.html |website=Daily News-Record |date=30 March 2023 |access-date=24 November 2024}} In week 5 of the 2023 season, Horton hauled in three receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-23 win over South Alabama.{{cite web |last1=Hephner |first1=Jackson |title=Zach Horton makes an impact on JMU's offense, on and off the field |url=https://www.breezejmu.org/sports/zach-horton-makes-an-impact-on-jmu-s-offense-on-and-off-the-field/article_0cd13a78-8ae5-11ee-acd1-f7c015811a01.html |website=The Breeze |date=24 November 2023 |access-date=24 November 2024}} He had a breakout 2023 season as James Madison's starting tight end, where he recorded 27 receptions for 275 yards and six touchdowns, earning first-team all-Sun Belt Conference honors.{{cite web |last1=Niziolek |first1=Michael |title=Why Indiana football's new starting tight end Zach Horton is a trusted addition |url=https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/sports/college/iu/2024/05/13/indiana-football-starting-tight-end-zach-horton-offense-curt-cignetti-james-madison-transfer/73638250007/ |website=The Herald-Times |access-date=24 November 2024}} After the season, Horton entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.{{cite web |last1=Harper |first1=Catie |title=JMU Loses Star Tight End, But Has Personnel To Bounce Back |url=https://www.dnronline.com/sports/college/james_madison/jmu-loses-star-tight-end-but-has-personnel-to-bounce-back/article_6f8ca3b6-73ea-530c-a8d6-131344e2242e.html |website=Daily News-Record |access-date=24 November 2024}}
= Indiana =
Horton transferred to play for the Indiana Hoosiers. He entered the 2024 season as the Hoosiers' starting tight end.{{cite web |last1=Browning |first1=Zach |title=Tight end Zach Horton essential to Indiana's B1G-leading rushing attack |url=https://indiana.rivals.com/news/tight-end-zach-horton-essential-to-indiana-s-b1g-leading-rushing-attack |work=TheHoosier.com |publisher=Rivals.com |date=2 October 2024 |access-date=24 November 2024}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 3/8
| weight = 251
| dash = 4.96
| ten split = 1.64
| twenty split = 2.87
| shuttle = 4.69
| cone drill = 7.69
| vertical = 29.5
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 10
| bench = 19
| arm span = 30 5/8
| hand span = 9 3/4
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1054978&DraftYear=2025 |title=Zach Horton College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 17, 2025}}
}}
On April 26, 2025, Horton signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/football/roster/zach-horton/18672 Indiana Hoosiers bio]
- [https://jmusports.com/sports/football/roster/zach-horton/18923 James Madison Dukes bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Horton, Zach}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Players of American football from Roanoke, Virginia
Category:American football tight ends