As Seattle Seahawks rookie Tory Horton spoke to reporters after Monday's practice, veteran cornerback Riq Woolen jaunted by yelling, "Jerry Rice Jr.! Jerry Rice Jr.!" at the young wideout, turning heads during training camp.
Horton has been the buzz of Seahawks camp, making plays every day that have him pushing for a regular role.
"I'm seeing the same thing you guys are," coach Mike Macdonald said over the weekend when asked about Horton, via the team’s official website. "A wise man, Steve Smith Sr., once said, 'Rookies need to make a play a day to make a name for themselves.' He's doing that. He's making multiple plays every day. So, it is great for the Seahawks, great for him, and great competition in the receiver room. We are two weeks in, but let's keep it rolling."
A knee injury cut short Horton's final college season at Colorado State and forced him to miss spring offseason work. But since camp opened, he's climbed the depth chart by making play after play.
Building on his momentum, last week Horton reportedly made the leap to getting first-team reps, pushing to leapfrog fan favorite Jake Bobo in the pecking order.
The Seahawks revamped their wideout room this offseason, trading DK Metcalf to Pittsburgh and releasing longtime veteran Tyler Lockett. The club signed Cooper Kupp and field-stretcher Marquez Valdes-Scantling to complement Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They selected Horton in the fifth round and added Ricky White III in the seventh round of the draft.
Fellow rookie teammate, safety Nick Emmanwori, called Horton the "steal of the draft," but the wideout isn't letting the attention get to him.
"I stay away from the media," Horton said. "I've just been focusing on myself. Me hearing that (about being the steal of the draft), it's a little bit of motivation for me. At the end of the day, God had his plan for me and I'm happy I ended up in Seattle. There were a lot of teams who knocked me because of the injury and it's a hard pill to swallow. I'm blessed I'm here now, and I just want to make the best of my opportunity. So me hearing, 'The steal of the draft,' now I just want to go out there and capitalize on it. Let those people know that I'm back and I'm full go. I'm ready."
Horton went from battling for a roster spot to a virtual lock to make the initial 53.
There are snaps to win in the Seahawks' receiving corps, even before considering Kupp's injury history. If Horton continues to shine in the preseason, he'll earn those reps.
