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The Tuscaloosa News
Why the Alabama football offense 'is built' for Miami transfer WR Isaiah Horton
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Why the Alabama football offense 'is built' for Miami transfer WR Isaiah Horton
Ty Simpson knows what Isaiah Horton could become with Alabama football.
Simpson would know. The Crimson Tide quarterback and the Miami wide receiver came up together in Tennessee high school football. The pair were two of the top players in the state. Both played on the same 7-on-7 team.
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When Horton entered the transfer portal after three seasons with the Hurricanes , Simpson received a phone call.
"(Horton) was like, 'Hey, Alabama hit me up. What do you think?'" Simpson told the Tuscaloosa News. "And I was like, 'Dude, you're crazy if you don't come visit and come here. … This offense is built for guys like you.'"
Who are "guys like" Horton?
To Simpson, Horton is a "big, strong receiver" who can "go up and get the ball," a 6-foot-4, 205-pound red zone threat to pair with Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard.
It's all Simpson could ask for in a wide receiver out of the transfer portal.
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It's the wide receiver Horton has always been.
What Isaiah Horton brought to Oakland High School
Kevin Creasy did not run a pass-first offense at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. There was no need to, with Jordan James, a four-star running back and eventual Oregon star, at his disposal.
But when Horton transferred to Oakland ahead of his junior season, it became clear that Creasy's offensive scheme was not going to limit a receiver like Horton.
"We knew what we had," Creasy said.
In two seasons with the Patriots, Horton had 71 catches for 1,345 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns. He was a former all-area and all-state receiver, one who left high school with a state championship on his résumé.
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More: Ty Simpson's journey from QB prodigy to Alabama football: Has his time finally arrived?
Horton had the attention of programs like Tennessee, Alabama and Florida along with Miami. Creasy remembers then-Miami coach Manny Diaz being "secretly in love with him," and downplaying his affection so Horton wouldn't be noticed elsewhere.
At Oakland, Creasy described Horton as a competitor, a "guy that is going to make some crazy catches that the normal receiver won't be able to make," someone who "plays with no fear," who is an "unselfish, willing blocker."
In Horton, Creasy sees a receiver ready for Alabama.
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"I think, with the DBs at Alabama, it's kind of like when he was in high school. He's going to be challenged every day," Creasy said. "That's kind of something he likes. He's never been a guy who's been bored at practice. He's going to get in there and compete every day on a high level with some really good DBs. And he knows, ultimately, that's going to make him better."
What Isaiah Horton brought to Miami football
Nov 9, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Isaiah Horton (2) celebrates after a touchdown catch against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the third quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Horton was not a typical receiver to Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo .
Horton was dynamic, a deep threat who's not scared of contact, Arroyo said. Horton was a smart, detail-oriented player who dominated his redshirt sophomore season for the Hurricanes.
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But that is not what set Horton apart for Arroyo.
"That's my guy," Arroyo said at the 2025 Senior Bowl. "Great guy off the field. He cares about other people. A lot of people say that receivers are kind of selfish, prima donnas. He's not that at all. He cares about us, he cares about the team. Very selfless."
Miami offensive tackle Jalen Rivers remembers Horton as consistent, a receiver who's never satisfied.
"He wants to get better," Rivers said. "He doesn't want to settle. To be great, you have to think that, to have that mindset. And he has that."
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After recording 14 catches in his first two seasons with Miami, Horton broke out for 56 catches 616 yards and five touchdowns in 2024.
Xavier Restrepo , the Hurricanes leading wide receiver, called Horton explosive and a receiver that can "move like one of us" despite being five inches taller than his counterpart.
Horton is a receiver, Restrepo said, who has all the advantages in the world with Alabama.
"He's a one-on-one nightmare," Restrepo said. "He understands football really well as well. He's learned this past year. Honestly, he's a great dude. He's contagious to be around."
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This is the receiver Simpson could see Horton becoming at Alabama with two seasons of eligibility left.
It didn't take long for Horton to buy in on what Simpson was selling.
"(Horton) told me that night… 'I'm coming,'" Simpson said. "And I was like, 'Yeah, you'd be stupid not to.'"
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama offense 'built' for Miami transfer WR Isaiah Horton
