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Steve Martin interviews Jeff Horton
Interviewed on: Wednesday, June 21st, 2006 Steve Martin: Hey Jeff, I am really glad to hear back from you. Jeff Horton: Yea... I am sorry it has taken me so long, but I've been extremely busy lately. SM: No problem at all. Just glad we finally connected up. So, let's have you start by giving me a very accurate height and weight. JH: I don't know why they list me as 6' 2" on the website. I am actually exactly 6' 0", and I weigh 195 now. SM: That's actually much better. If you had been 6' 2", I was going to say you should be well over 200. 6' 0", 195 is a nice compact size. What about a safe forty time? JH: 4.60. SM: And bench reps? JH: 12. I was doing 14 before I had my shoulder separation, so I should be at least 15 by the time I get tested again after the year. SM: Is your shoulder 100%? JH: It's close; it was just a slight problem with the AC joint, but I just got total clearance to go full-out with everything again. SM: Great! Any other weight room numbers? JH: My bench max is 325 right now. I also can squat 450. SM: Solid numbers, Jeff. When were you born? JH: January 1st, 1985. SM: So you just recently turned 21... good, good... Where were you born? JH: In St. Louis. SM: Is that where you still are? JH: I'm living with my mom. She's been up in North County (north of St. Louis) for several years now. SM: OK... What are your parents' names? JH: George and Carole Horton. SM: Are they still together, or...? JH: No, they are divorced, but they still live only about two miles apart, and they are sociable to each other. SM: Do you see your dad much still? JH: Oh yea. Almost as much as mom. SM: Do your folks work, or...? JH: My dad is retired military. He was a drill seargent. He was in Vietnam and Desert Storm. SM: Wow... I imagine he could tell some stories. JH: Actually, he doesn't really like to talk about it very much. SM: That's totally understandable. Did he get wounded or anything like that? JH: No thank God. And it's really pretty amazing that he didn't because he was over in Vietnam for a long time. SM: What does he do now? JH: Whatever he wants. He's into a lot of things. He owns his own animal farm for kids to come and play with the animals... SM: What about your mom? Is she still working? JH: Yes. She works for Secular Job Corps. She helps kids who have dropped out of school to go and finish, or to get a GED, or to learn a career. She really loves it. She's been at for 15 years, and has been able to really help a lot of people. SM: That's awesome. Now, I know you have two brothers. Tell me about them. JH: My older brother Jason is two years ahead of me, and he was a wide receiver who just graduated from the University of Louisville.... SM: Right. I know about him. He was like their #4 guy, right? JH: That's right. And my oldest brother George didn't play in college, but he did play at Clayton High School here in St. Louis. SM: OK... Thanks. Now, tell me about when you first started playing, Jeff. How old were you?... what kind of a league was it?... that kind of thing. JH: I was seven when I first started playing. It was in something called the Junior Football League. We were living in Kirkland at the time. SM: What position did you play when you were first starting out? JH: I was always a running back, but once in awhile I played a little bit of linebacker. The second year in that league we won a national championship... SM: Was that league affiliated with Pop Warner? JH: No, I don't think so... it was separate. SM: So how long did you play in that league? JH: All the way up until my freshman year of high school. I could have even stayed in it when I was 14, but it was better to get started as a freshman in our school's program then. SM: Were you still a running back in freshman ball? JH: Actually, they switched me to quarterback. I actually played JV quarterback my freshman year, but I didn't like it as much as running back. I was still running the ball a lot anyway, and had like over 1000 yards, so the next year they decided to let somebody else hand off. Our school won the state 2A championship that year though, so it was great being involved in that. SM: What did you do as a sophomore then? JH: I was the starting running back for the varsity that year. We made it to the state semis. My brother was the starting wingback on that team, so it was cool to be playing with him. But he got hurt heading into the playoffs and he tried to play in the last game, but he just wasn't really ready. We only lost by a touchdown too, so I am pretty sure if he'd been healthy it would have made the difference in that game. SM: That's cool that you got to play a year with Jason. Tell me about your next two years, Jeff... JH: My junior year I rushed for over 1000 yards and I also did well as a safety... We lost in the districts that year... SM: Oh, you were playing both ways then? JH: Yes. Throughout those last couple years I played all the time, both ways. SM: OK... and your senior year. What were your stats like that year, and what kinds of awards did you receive? JH: I rushed for over 2000 yards, and I ended up breaking most of the school records, except one that I missed by like 80 yards... I had 28 rushing TDs. I also had 90 tackles as a safety, and I was named first-team 2A all-state for both offense and defense. I was the MVP of our league that year too. SM: So when did you start getting recruiting attention? JH: It was midway through my senior year, when it really started strong. I heard from a lot of the Division II schools in our area conference, like Central Missouri, Missouri Western, Emporia State... I also was being pretty heavily recruited by Northern Illinois, which was my only serious IA offer... but then they backed off after they signed a guy named Garrett Wolfe... SM: We know Garrett well. No shame in that... he's a great little back. So how did Valpo end up getting involved in the picture? JH: Well, they really weren't involved at all early on. I heard they thought I was definitely going to be going to play Division I, so they never really pursued me until late. One of our other guys from Lutheran North High School who was in my same class (Travis Davis) was signed up there, and they just kind of asked him how things were working out for me. He told them what had happened with Northern Illinois, and I knew they were a good academic institution--which was important to me--and so that is how I got in touch with Valpo. Travis stayed two years and then he transferred to Central Missouri State because he got up to like 260 pounds as a linebacker and they wanted him to switch to defensive end. They didn't realize that he always lost weight during camp and wanted to stay at linebacker, so he left. SM: So, you never redshirted, right? JH: That's right. In '03 I came in and was able to handle the kick returning right away. We had a good team that first year, and we won the PFL (Pioneer Football League) championship. SM: And then it looks like you have started every game since that year, huh... 22 straight? JH: Uh... yea, I think that's right. That should be right. SM: And what impressed me is that you have gotten so much better every year running the ball, but what really stood out to me is that you catch the ball a lot! JH: Yes. My brother, Jason, always used to work with me on running routes, and I am bulit so I can be like a receiver too. I feel like I could really play either position if needed. SM: Man... 1358 yards rushing and 38 catches for almost 300 yards. That's what pro scouts always want to know about small school guys who are very effective running the ball... "can he catch." You've certainly answered that question. JH: Thank you. It's something I really take pride in doing well at. SM: Have you done anything in the return game? JH: Actually last year for the first time, I did return punts. I had a 15-yard average doing that. I expect to be returning both punts and kicks this fall. SM: That's great. It's always good to pad your resume with that kind of versatility. JH: I know. I am looking forward to that. SM: Describe your running style. JH: Well... ummm... It varies really. I am not afraid to pound it up the middle or break to the outside. I can go out in pass routes like a receiver. SM: Do they talk about YAC there... do you know what that is? JH: "Yards after contact"... yea, of course, I know about it, but I don't think they keep stats like that at Valpo. I can tell you that the first guy is not going to usually take me down by himself. I have to be already tripped up or something before that can happen. You are going to need two or more to get me down. SM: What about your blocking? JH: Ummm... yea, I can do that. I really don't get the chance to do much of that because if I am not running the ball, I am probably going out for a pass, but I can do it. SM: Well, that would definitely be something to think about and work on this fall. because that is the second question the scouts are going to ask, after they ask about your pass catching. JH: Oh, I'm sure I can block. I just don't get a chance to show that very much. SM: What do you see as being some of the unique strengths in your game? JH: I would definitely say my ability to catch the ball. SM: And, what about something you are working to improve at, Jeff? JH: I would say everything... my top end speed... I really want to improve that. You aren't going to catch me in short areas because of my quickness, but I do need to work on my long speed. SM: Would you play anywhere to get started in football, or would you jump right into a different career if you didn't get the call from the NFL? JH: I will do anything to play this game at the next level... whatever it is... AFL, CFL, Europe... SM: Even AF2? JH: What is that? SM: It's like the developmental league for the Arena League. They only pay you like $200-300 a week plus room and board, but... JH: Sure... I mean, I will play this game as long as I can. SM: Are you the kind of guy who sets personal goals heading into a season? JH: Not specific numbers, but I always want to do better than I did the year before. I look at a lot of film to try to see what I can do better... to see what kind of things the various defenses are doing to try to stop me... things like that. SM: Which defensive units are you most concerned about next year. San Diego probably, huh? JH: Oh yes, San Diego... always... but also Dayton, Drake, and Davidson were good. St Joe's also game-planned against me very well last year. Sometimes these teams even put 8 in the box to try to stop me. But what it really did was just make me mad (laughing)... SM: St. Joe's? That a Division III school isn't it? JH: I'm not sure if they are DII or DIII, but they did a nice job last year on defense. SM: What's the teams goal for the fall? JH: Well, to win the PFL... but it's always about beating Butler... they are our big in-state rivals every year. SM: What is your backup plan in case football doesn't work out at all, Jeff? JH: Well, I am an education major, and I do expect to graduate on time next spring. So, I would probably teach high school phys ed and health, and then try to get into coaching as well. Later, maybe I'd like to try coaching at the college level. SM: Well, Jeff. It's been great getting to know you, and I wish you and James (Riker) good luck next year. JH: Oh man, I want to thank you for this opportunity. It's really nice of you to do this. SM: You're very welcome, Jeff. We'll stay in touch, OK? JH: Definitely. |