Tory Horton Has Been Seahawks Secret Weapon, And He’s Itching to Meet Davante Adams

Tory Horton was a fan of Davante as a child growing up in Fresno. Seattle Seahawks rookie receiver Tory Horton could have the chance to prove his idol wrong when they face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at SoFi Stadium (4:05 p.m. ET). ET on FOX, FOX Sports App and FOX. Horton told me he closely followed Adams’ career in the NFL. He grew up watching Adams play in college and at Fresno State before he was an All-Pro Wide Receiver. Horton is looking forward to meeting Adams, but he admits that it could be an odd moment. “It’s going to be a little weird,” Horton told me about possibly meeting Adams on Sunday. “I hope I can at least say what’s up to him. I’ve been following his journey for a very long time, so that’d be a cool little moment to at least get to say what’s up to him. I’m going to be excited for that. That’s one of my favorite players for sure.” Horton has proven in his first year in the league he is capable of making dynamic plays, like Adams. Horton was chosen in the 5th round from Colorado State. This season, he has 13 receptions totaling 161 yard and five touchdowns. He also has a 95-yard punt return for a score — the longest punt return for a touchdown in franchise history. Horton’s breakout game occurred in Week 9 against the Washington Commanders. Horton, who was a replacement for the injured Cooper Kupp at receiver, finished with four catches for 48 yards and scored two touchdowns. He missed last week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals because of shin and knee injuries. However, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said it’s looking positive and he’s optimistic Horton will play in an important matchup against the Rams, with both teams sitting atop the NFC West at 7-2.Earlier this season, Horton received some lofty praise from Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who said his skill set reminded him of the best receivers in the business, Justin Jefferson.Horton said he appreciated the kudos.Horton told me he had been brought up with the topic. “It’s nice to hear that. Justin Jefferson is at or near the top of his league, and he has an incredible amount of production. It’s nice motivation, but I just come in ready to work and want to get better every day.” At 6-foot-3 and 196 pounds, Horton is a rangy, big target with good speed to serve as a vertical threat in Seattle’s explosive offense. He ran an explosive 4.41 second 40-yard time in February at the NFL Scouting Combine. Horton, who played at Nevada State, Colorado State, and 33 other colleges, has always been a fan of the end zone. “I just feel like the ball finds energy, and I just make sure I’m at the right spot at the right time,” Horton said about his ability to get in the end zone. “I’ve just kind of made the most of the opportunities, and it’s been a blessing. The ball is always moving, so I have to maintain that energy and continue making plays.”Horton said by consistently doing your assignment each play, whether it’s run blocking or running a defender off on a deep route to create a play for your teammate, it allows you to be in the right position at the right time to make a play.As a team, the Seahawks are third in points scored per game (30.6), sixth in passing yards per game (246) and Seattle is tops in the NFL with nine passing plays of at least 40 yards. Jaxon smith-njigba, who leads the league in receiving yards with 1,041 on 63 catches and five touchdowns, has been a standout performer this season. Tory Horton has been a great complement to Jaxon Smith Njigba this season. Smith Njigba leads the league in receiving yardage. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) A free agent addition from the Rams, who’s playing against his former team for the first time, Kupp has 26 receptions for 367 yards and a score. Rashid Shaheed, a New Orleans Saints playmaker, was traded to the Seahawks by the Saints. Seattle now has one of NFL’s most formidable receiving areas. Add Horton into the mix and you have one of the NFL’s best.  Horton said he’s been helped by having a veteran like Kupp in the receiver room, along with one of the most talented receivers in the league in Smith-Njigba. “He’s a guru,” Horton told me about Kupp. He sleeps, eats, and breathes football. And that’s just something you want in a guy like that, especially a vet. He knows the game like the front to the back of his hand, like it’s nothing. It’s great to have him around as a new guy.”A pitcher and outfielder in high school, Horton said his first love was baseball growing up. As a football receiver, those thousands of repetitions chasing after baseballs in the center field helped to improve his tracking skills.Horton said that growing up, the baseballs of the bat taught him how to track them. It can come from a QB or a bat, but you have to look up and track the ball. I found that this helped me grow up. You can use that tracking ability to get the ball at its peak. I feel like that’s played a big role in who I am as a receiver.”  Tory Horton credits his childhood baseball days for helping him track the ball in the air when he was a wide receiver or returner. Horton had to face some challenges in college. He suffered a right-knee injury that ended his season five games into the final season of Colorado State. Horton’s injury caused him to drop out of the draft, but he says it has helped him develop a detailed recovery plan for his body, so that he can remain on the field.Horton stated that the injury “just took my mental game up a notch.” “You can’t do the things you normally do physically, so I feel like it kind of helped my mental game. I upped my film study to study different coverages and things like that, to get a slight edge on the defense or who I’m going up against. It was a big help.”Horton’s new study habits and resilience will be put to the test in a major game against the Rams with Adams, his childhood idol, watching on the opposite sideline. Eric D. Williams is a veteran NFL reporter who has covered the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, and Seattle Seahawks. Follow him on X at @eric_d_williams.Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for a FOX Sports account or create one to follow teams, leagues and players. You’ll receive a daily newsletter! 
2025-11-13 18:11:11