Scouts covered the sideline, the temperature dropped and the snow started to fall.
The conditions were good news for his audition, Horton felt.
What better way to showcase a fully healthy knee and a competitive mindset than to run in the cold, wind and snow in front of NFL scouts?
That’s what Horton did Thursday at his NFL pro day with scouts from 29 NFL teams in attendance at Canvas Stadium.
"I feel really confident in my cuts and getting in and out of my breaks," Horton said.
Horton ran routes, caught punts and did the broad jump. He’s been fully cleared for work like this for just a few weeks coming off a knee injury that curtailed his 2024 season.
Horton was at the NFL combine in February and wasn’t expected to run there as he recovered from the knee injury. But, just a few weeks after being cleared for running, Horton ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash. It was the 15th-best 40 among receivers.
That high-level effort meant he didn’t run the 40 again at his pro day. He did execute a 10-foot, 6-inch broad jump (which would have been 12th at the combine).
Thursday was mostly to showcase ability to cleanly execute in-and-out of pass breaks on a now-healthy knee. The wet, cold conditions just helped emphasize the point.
"I feel great in the spot I’m in health-wise. Physically and mentally I feel great. No worries about the knee at all," Horton said.
Horton had 2,620 receiving yards at CSU (sixth in program history). Horton had 17 receiving touchdowns at CSU, also scoring on three punt returns and throwing one touchdown.
His CSU and Nevada receiving yardage combined was 3,615, leaving him 35 yards from breaking the Mountain West all-time receiving yardage held by CSU great Rashard Higgins.
The NFL draft is April 24-26. Horton is projected as a mid-round pick by most sites, with most projections having him in the 3-4 round range.
"Somebody is going to get a steal when they pick him," CSU coach Jay Norvell said.
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Receiver Tory Horton fully healthy at NFL pro day at Colorado State
