2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tory Horton (WR – Colorado State)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Colorado State wide receiver Tory Horton. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tory Horton

Tory Horton (WR – Colorado State)

6-foot-3 | 185 Pounds

Background

Troy Horton was a two-star recruit who originally attended Nevada, where he spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career. Caught 20-336-5 (16.8) as a freshman and 52-659-5 (12.7) over his two seasons there, being a part-time starter in the latter. Transferred to Colorado State and immediately became the Rams’ go-to receiver, with a 71-1,131-8 (15.9) line in 2022.

Made the following year his most productive with a line of 96-1,136-8 (11.8) before sustaining a season-ending knee injury just six games into 2024. Ended the year with a 26-353-1 (13.6) line.

Positives

Was a highly productive starter for the Rams before sustaining his injury. A tall, lanky receiver who typically lined up on the right side of the formation in school, but would occasionally come down into the slot. Long-strider with a good burst off the line of scrimmage when playing off-coverage. Horton runs routes to all three levels of the field, often operating near the sidelines on things like comebacks, but also working on screens, hitches, crosses, posts/overs/deep ins (often from the slot) and shots off of double-moves.

Shows clean footwork and good hip sink into the stem, especially for a bigger receiver. When working from the slot, Horton can freeze defenders at the stem for short, quick completions over the middle. Runs away from opponents on man-beaters like crossers. Sells double-moves well, allowing him to stack defenders and threaten downfield. Settles into soft spots against zone coverage. Tracks the ball very well over his shoulder when working down the sidelines.

Horton’s length, flexibility and body control give him an excellent catch radius to bring in throws away from his frame. Does a nice job of working back to the ball to prevent defenders from getting in-phase. Shows good awareness, footwork and balance when working near the sidelines.

For a thinner receiver, Horton is surprisingly effective in contested catch situations because of his length and high-pointing ability. Can be dangerous after the catch, with good creativity, flexibility and vision (lots of jump-cuts/back-jukes). Consequently, Colorado State tried to get him the ball with room to work, whether on screens, underneath routes or occasionally as a return specialist. Has three career punt return touchdowns on just 26 attempts. Surprisingly effective stalk blocker.

Negatives

A season-ending knee injury will require further medical evaluation. Wasn’t having his most productive season before the injury. Has added significant bulk since high school, but his frame is still thin. Benefitted from a lot of off-coverage and might struggle to mix things up at the line and stay on track against stronger, more disruptive pro corners. This makes his release package more difficult to evaluate.

Horton is not the most explosive receiver, nor is his long speed top-tier. Relies primarily on his quickness, flexibility and route-running skills. Guilty of the occasional focus drop. Can struggle to hang onto throws through contact. Ball security has been a minor issue after the catch and as a returner.

Summary

A tall, lanky receiver with a very natural feel for the game, and who offers an impressive combination of quickness, solid route-running chops, excellent flexibility, ball skills and dangerous run-after-catch ability.

While Horton might have to add a bit of additional bulk and adapt to working against more physical press coverage, he otherwise looks like a pretty versatile, pro-ready wideout. Looks like a clear second-day value pick to me, but might end up slipping into Day 3 if teams have concerns about his knee.

Projection: Round 3

Check out all of our 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports

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Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)

A very big, smooth, savvy receiver with an incredible catch radius and a graceful game, McMillan established himself as one of the best wide receivers in college football over the past two seasons. May never be the fastest or most explosive wide receiver, but has a great understanding of how to use tempo, nuance and technique to create separation.

Is capable of coming down with contested catches even in tight coverage, with rare size that makes him a mismatch for most cornerbacks. May not have quite the same strength and physicality as Mike Evans did coming out, but is a similar prospect and should go similarly high in the first round, likely within the first five or 10 picks.

Projection: Round 1

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Tetairoa McMillan

Luther Burden III (Missouri)

A dynamic player with the ball in his hands, Burden’s combination of speed, quickness, vision, balance and physicality led the Tigers to scheme up ways to get him the ball, whether on underneath throws, sweeps, screens or otherwise. He also offers some impressive traits as a receiver, with good stop-start quickness to create separation, impressive tracking and body control and a strong pair of hands.

As it currently stands, he doesn’t have a ton of recent experience playing outside and will need to continue diversifying his route tree and polishing his route-running technique, but that doesn’t look like it will stop him from being a first-round pick.

Projection: Round 1

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Luther Burden III

Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)

Another highly-polished Buckeyes receiver prospect, Egbuka’s excellent combination of acceleration, quickness, route-running savvy, hands and toughness should make him a highly reliable pro receiver.

Likely would have been a first-round pick last year had he stayed healthy. Coming back to put together the season he did gives him a very good chance of going there this year if everything checks out medically during the pre-draft process. A nice reliable, pro-ready big slot option.

Projection: Round 1

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Emeka Egbuka

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