Three-star OL Mike Horton commits to Florida

By Adam Silverstein
July 31, 2014

Still replenishing its 2015 recruiting class after losing four commitments in a 10-day span earlier this month, the Florida Gators on Thursday received a verbal pledge from three-star offensive lineman Mike Horton (Atlanta, GA).

Horton (6-foot-4, 320 pounds), a big-bodied blocker sporting an impressive offer list, was being pegged by most schools as a guard but will also have the opportunity to play defensive tackle for the Gators.

“[Head coach Will Muschamp] tells me every day that he wants me in the program. Before, he said they were recruiting me for offensive line, but then, we got a chance to talk,” Horton told Jake Reuse of UGASports.com back on June 9 ($).

“He said, ‘We’ll take you on defense, too.’ I told him I didn’t know exactly where I wanted to play yet, but he said he just wants me in. The biggest thing he’s emphasizing is that they have slots open, and I will have a great opportunity to play early.”

Horton, who ESPN rates as a four-star prospect and the No. 246 overall player in the 2015 class, chose Florida primarily over Georgia, though he also had scholarship offers in his back pocket from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and LSU, among others.


He is the third offensive lineman to commit to the Gators – second in the month of July – joining four-star George Brown, Jr. (Cincinnati, OH) and three-star Tyler Jordan (Jacksonville, FL). UF also has three-star Andrew Ivie (Dade City, FL) committed as a defensive tackle.

Fellow Peach State native Adonis Thomas (Lawrenceville, GA), a four-star linebacker prospect and friend of Horton’s, is set to announce his decision on Friday. He is set to choose between Florida, Alabama and Georgia.

Horton’s commitment was first reported by Rivals.com‘s Woody Wommack.

20 Comments

  1. Dave Massey says:

    Another ESPN250 commit, and everybody was worried, BAH. Hey Adam, I noticed you tend to use the Rivals ranking on recruits when you write about them. Is that because you think the Rival rankings are better than ESPN or is there an affiliation?

      • Ken (CA) says:

        not complaining, but conflict of interest? full disclosure? I know you aren’t required to, but just curious what the affiliation with rivals is and why you think better than ESPN?

        • I worked there for three years. There’s nothing to disclose. And I don’t see how there could be a conflict of interest?! They have a history and are more accurate with their rankings. I’ve used them since the day I started the site. I also always list ESPN rankings and have them side by side on the recruiting tab.

          • Ken (CA) says:

            Thanks for explaining. The full disclosure/conflict of interest was a joke that didn’t come across well in the typing. It was a play on the news all doing backgrounds when they talk about specific stories nowadays to try and appear more credible due to all of the agendas.

  2. Michael J. says:

    I hope he can play defense. Florida is weak in the middle with the departure of Easley. This guy certainly seems big enough to demand a double team. Whether he’s quick enough to play defense is the question.

  3. Ken (CA) says:

    “we have spots open” lol! of course we do with 9 commits and some of the top tier talent we thought we were going to get have committed to others and many of the rest are in “wait and see” mode. Nice to see WM can at least lock in the 3 stars, oh wait…..

    • Michael Jones says:

      There’s an indicator of talent from these prospects that IMO trumps Rivals or ESPN, and that is when Bama, LSU, FSU, Auburn, and Georgia have all offered the kid. That makes him higher than a 3 star in my book and a great get.

      • Ken (CA) says:

        Yep, I have to agree with that. You don’t get the best of the best offering just anyone, and a 3 star lineman may just need a year of redshirting because isn’t quite ready yet for the next level

    • Richard says:

      History has shown that these stars really just mean the kid is more ready now. The stars have nothing to do with how the player will be three to four years from now. A lot of great players come from 3 and 4 star ratings and like the other guy said, the fact that all of our rivals offered the kid makes me think he is really talented regardless of his star rating. These guys shape the class and build depth for years to come. Plus he is a two way player making him more valuable.

  4. Richard says:

    This site keeps listing Jerome Baker as am OL. He is a LB and should be a great one. But this kid is going to be big in the run game, offense or defense. And it’s also great to score a recruit over UGA, FSU, Bama, and Auburn. Shows we are still relevant. Lol

  5. Matt says:

    Do you know what time OLB Thomas decides between UF and Bama today?

  6. jerabaub says:

    we lose 4and 5 star recruits(cook, prince), and people go ecstatic when we get a 3 star athlete.

    something wrong here.

    it is muschamp, and foley.

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