Jay Horton (5’9/170) of Mallard Creek High School, in Charlotte, N.C. is part of the Mavericks strong junior class. He has been busy this off-season and recently was in San Antonio, Texas for U.S. Army All-American National Combine.
“It was a good experience for me, because I got to go see the competition around the country,” said Horton. “I felt that I stacked up pretty well with the other kids and think I performed pretty well in the one-on-ones. I also enjoyed going to the Alamo Dome. I watched the Alamo Bowl the week before to try to see what it was going to be like, but it wasn’t anything like what I thought it would be. It was humongous and I was kind of star-struck at first.”
Colleges are beginning to show interest in Horton.
“I have gotten letters from Alabama, Georgia Tech, Marshall, UNC-Charlotte, and Missouri,” he said. “I have also heard from Duke. Alabama and Georgia Tech are sending me the most mail.”
The junior running back will have a busy spring and summer.
“I plan on going to the Nike Combine, The VTO Elite 100 Combine, and one of the FBU Camps,” Horton said. “I will probably camp at North Carolina and Duke for sure, but as I get further into the spring I will probably decide on where else I will be going.”
When it comes time for Horton to choose a school, he will be looking at more than just the football program.
“First of all, education, because I want to major in communications,” he said. “The school will need to have a good communications program and a good football program. I will always put my education first, because I will always have that degree. I know that I will not always have a football career.”
Horton, whose father played at North Carolina, will likely be the primary running back for the Mavericks’ next season. He bench presses 240 pounds, squats 365, and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds.