Hurricanes’ Isaiah Horton has made ‘big strides.’ He knows there’s more to come this season

Isaiah Horton was all but certain he had his second touchdown of the game. The Miami Hurricanes redshirt sophomore receiver made a catch in tight coverage against USF cornerback De’Shawn Rucker and tumbled into the end zone for what appeared to be a 19-yard touchdown late in the third quarter on Saturday at Raymond James Stadium. After review, though, the referees ruled that Horton’s “backside” was down just outside the end zone. Damien Martinez ran for a 1-yard touchdown one play later.

“I thought I did [have the touchdown]. The ref thought I did, too,” Horton said. “But it’s cool. My running back punched it in for me so it was good.” All ended well on that play and for Horton the entirety of the night in the Hurricanes’ 50-15 rout of USF on Saturday. Horton set single-game career highs with eight catches and 108 yards. He also hauled in a 6-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter for his first score of the season.

It’s was a game Horton has been waiting for his entire UM career. He spent his first two seasons waiting for big moments but was always buried down in the depth chart. This year, with quarterback Cam Ward spreading the wealth to anyone and everyone the Hurricanes have on the field, Horton is already having a career year and the team has only played four games.

“He’s always been a hard worker,” Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said. “Everyone wants things to be like really quick, to happen right away. He has had the natural progression of an excellent college football player where he’s changed his body and he’s changed his mindset. I think it’s neat for him.

Guys like that who got here when things were rough and you had to go through it and you had to endure and you had to learn and had to eat the tough moments, that’s invaluable. I always think those guys, they have their experiences, it’s more valuable for life and all the things that come with it. He’s been through that, and now he’s seeing the benefits of having gone through that, having success. And he’s another guy that’s really, really hungry for more.” Horton’s 19 catches and 278 receiving yards this year are not only more than double his production from his first two seasons with Miami (14 catches, 174 yards) but they are also second on the team only behind fifth-year senior Xavier Restrepo (20 catches, 362 yards).

“He’s made big strides from since I got here,” Ward said postgame Saturday. “The plays that he made [against USF], I’ve see him make better plays in spring ball and fall camp, so I’m not surprised that he made those plays today. He wins versus man coverage. He knows what I like to get to versus zone. … That boy’s a ball player. He lives in the film room with me. That’s all he want to do is go to class, play football and watch film. He makes me want to play better.”

Added offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson: “He’s obviously got that potential. He just gets opportunities, and the more opportunities he gets, the more plays he’ll make. He’s a very talented dude. I go to this all the time with that group: Just do what you do, stay positive, and when you get your opportunity, make a play. There’s going to be games where you catch 100 [yards] and games where you catch 30. Find ways to make an impact and he does he affect the game. He plays hard every snap, and then when he gets opportunities, he can make plays.”

And Horton is on a team with three receivers — Restrepo, Jacolby George and Houston transfer Sam Brown — who were named to the preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Trophy, given annually to college football’s top receiver.

But this team, led by Ward, is unselfish and has oodles of depth. The focus is on maximizing whatever it takes to win and knowing very well a different player might step up on any given night. After four games, the Hurricanes already have six players with at least 100 total receiving yards. All six have caught at least one touchdown. Three receivers have had at least one 100-yard game — Restrepo did it against Florida and Florida A&M, George against Ball State and now Horton against USF.

The internal competition has fueled Horton and the rest of Miami’s receivers. “I want them to push me to the best of my limit, and I just want to push all my teammates to be the best they can be,” Horton said. “I want to work with them. I want to be out there together, and I want us to all shine.” There are plenty more chances for them to shine as Atlantic Coast Conference play begins Friday with the No. 7 Hurricanes hosting Virginia Tech (7:30 p.m., ESPN).

“Just take it day by day and get one percent better every day,” Horton said. “I never want to be satisfied, not even satisfied with tonight. You know, I just want to keep getting better with my brothers this year.”