Big day for hard working linebacker
Malik Horton's offer list grew from 10 to 16 in one day. The versatile 6-foot-3, 228-pound linebacker prospect turned heads at a satellite camp in Georgia on Thursday morning, prompting interest from a number of new colleges, including Colorado.
What did he do at the camp to catch the attention of those coaches?
“Well, since I am so underrated and I am very humble, I just grind,” Horton said. “I don't play down to competition, I go hard every play. I use a lot of fundamentals because talent is nothing without fundamentals. Every rep, every down, I do a lot of communicating, helping people in their zones. And when they see my highlight tape, they see I can play inside, outside. I can even get down and blitz off the edge, so I am a very mobile guy. I can do it all on defense, really. They just love me for that.”
Horton added new offers from Colorado, West Georgia, Western Carolina, Samford, Tulane and Eastern Kentucky on Thursday to go with earlier offers from Austin Peay, Arkansas State, Old Dominion, Kentucky Christian, Liberty and South Carolina State.
“It was really huge, I almost broke down,” Horton said of receiving an offer from the Buffaloes. “It was my biggest offer. It just meant so much talking to their coaches and getting an opportunity to play for that University. I know it is a great school academic wise and football wise so I just can't wait to get up there to check it out.”
Horton plans to visit Boulder this summer, either on June 18 or at the end of the month. Cornerbacks coach Charles Clark was the CU assistant that evaluated him at the camp.
"He liked how physical I was off the line. I was jamming tight ends and wide receivers," Horton said. "He also said he likes how I can move, almost like a strong safety. I am about 230 pounds but I look like I am 215 pounds. I am very in shape. He thought I would be a good outside linebacker at Colorado. He likes how I was very mobile and communicating, I wasn't letting anything slide. And I was helping my teammates out."
As of now, Colorado is the only college Horton is set to take an unofficial visit to. He will continue to be receptive to interest from other colleges moving forward, though.
“I am just sitting back, laying low and seeing where the recruiting process takes me. This is all planned from God,” he said. “I am going to see how coaches communicate with me. I am not going to force anything. I am very grateful for the opportunities. ... I probably wouldn't commit as early as this summer. But maybe by mid-season?"
An all-region selection as a junior at Westwood High School in Blythewood, S.C., Horton recently moved back to Atlanta to live with his mother because his father is going overseas to Kuwait. Horton will play at Langston Hughes High School this fall.
“I actually grew up with these guys because before I was in South Carolina, I lived in Atlanta,” he said. “They are really cool, laid back people and we all care about each other. I love my teammates already. I don't have any individual goals for this season, I just want to play for the team. Hopefully we stay healthy and we can come out on top.”
