High School and College Career

From Frisco High School, Dylan Horton joined the New Mexico football program. As a true freshman in 2018, Horton played in 10 games and saw a total of 125 snaps for the Lobos. Despite limited playing time, he managed to record some stats, including four tackles and three total pressures, which included two QB hurries, no QB hits, and one sack throughout the season.

During his sophomore year in 2019, Horton continued to play for the Lobos, appearing in five games and taking part in 253 snaps in total. This time, he contributed significantly more to the team. He recorded 18 tackles, no pass breakups, intercepted no passes, and only had a QB rating of 133.3 when targeted, which was not his best performance. As a pass rusher, Horton achieved ten total pressures, four QB hurries, four QB hits, and two sacks.

After the season was over, Horton transferred to TCU, where he played as a junior for the Horned Frogs in 2020. However, despite the team’s success, Horton saw limited action on the field, only logging in eight games and playing 111 snaps throughout the season.He only recorded four tackles., but he did record eight total pressures, seven QB hurries, one QB hit, and one sack.
As a senior player, Horton featured in 12 games and played a total of 518 snaps for the Horned Frogs. This time he improved his stats, including 37 tackles and 21 total pressures, which included 13 QB hurries, five QB hits, and three sacks on the season.

Finally, in 2022, Horton came back as a fifth-year senior and played in 13 games for TCU, logging a total of 618 snaps. He recorded 26 tackles and 41 total pressures, including 32 QB hurries, two QB hits, and seven sacks on the season.

Dylan Horton Scouting Report Introduction

Dylan Horton is a senior defensive lineman for the TCU Horned Frogs. Prior to the start of the 2020 football season, Horton transferred from the New Mexico football program to TCU. Despite his recent transfer, Horton is a three-year contributor for TCU, making him a valuable member of their team.

One of Horton’s most significant assets is his versatility as a defensive line prospect. He has the ability to align in various positions along the defensive front, and his height and length give him the ideal build for an edge player in the NFL. Upon reviewing his film, it’s evident that Horton has excellent potential against both the run and pass.

Against the run, Horton displays a violent approach, which helps him to contest offensive linemen and keep the line of scrimmage. He uses his hands skillfully to shed any offensive linemen attempting to block him, proving to be an asset in one-on-one situations. Additionally, his high energy levels are particularly impressive, and he’s willing to put his body in unorthodox and potentially risky positions to make plays.

Horton’s athleticism is a core part of his game, and he is more than capable of chasing plays down from the backside. He has a rapid first step, which he leverages to gain an advantage over offensive linemen when attempting to speed rush around the edge to get to the quarterback. One area of potential improvement in his pass rush repertoire is that Horton can sometimes be one-dimensional. When his initial move doesn’t work out, he appears to struggle in continuing his rush for the remainder of the play.

TCU underwent a defensive scheme change at the beginning of the 2021 season. This change resulted in Horton being forced to move to the inside shade of the tackle. As a result, his opportunities to use his speed to win as a pass-rusher were significantly reduced. Based on his natural athleticism, I believe Horton would be best suited and more efficient as an outside edge rusher, where he can utilize his frame and athleticism to become a more productive pass-rusher.

Strengths

Horton can overpower blockers with his leg drive, easily sending them back. He can quickly destabilize opponents and take them to the ground when grappling with them in close quarters. His spin move is particularly efficient, as it is tight and fast, catching blockers off-guard. Furthermore, his closing burst is exceptional, allowing him to chase down runners effortlessly.

One of Horton’s strengths is his strategic use of hand movements, which he uses to gain an advantage over blockers. He can also bend around edges while remaining flexible with his length. Moreover, his defensive play against the run is noteworthy. Despite his height, Horton maintains a low pad level, allowing him to have strong leverage and win at the point of attack.

Horton has made a name for himself in the football world due to his exceptional physical attributes; however, what makes him stand out is his exceptional technique and skill on the field.

Weaknesses

Horton over commits often and neglects run duties. He plays with poor balance and power, leading to potential weaknesses at the point of attack. Additionally, his long physical build may not provide him with the full range of movement and control that he needs to excel in his position truly.

Horton, like many prospects later in the draft, is not a day 1 contributor. A team will see him as a prospect who needs to develop and may or may not have an impact as a rookie.

Dylan Horton is the 107th prospect on our draft big board.