Texas A&M’s passing game has been searching for a spark all season, and Isaiah Horton has been one of the bigger disappointments inside that struggle. The transfer receiver came in with real expectations, especially around the red zone, where he had already scored three touchdowns on targets through the first two games. Since then, the end zone production has disappeared.
The latest example came against The Citadel, when Horton had a ball hit him in the hands on third down and couldn’t secure it. The incompletion forced Texas A&M into a field goal attempt instead of turning the play into six. It didn’t matter much in the final score - the Aggies beat The Citadel by 41 and shut them out in their final non-conference game - but the standard still matters, and Horton was not living up to it.
Former Aggie Jordan Pugh pointed that out in a breakdown of the game, saying Horton’s effort showed up early and not in a good way. His critique centered on more than just the missed catch. The receivers as a group have plenty to sort through, but the passing game isn’t going anywhere if the dirty work isn’t there, especially in blocking and effort when the ball isn’t going your way.
What makes this even more striking is that Horton’s own father appears to be on the same page. In a comment on Pugh’s breakdown, he agreed with the evaluation of his son’s effort and didn’t sugarcoat it:
"Love your film break down and commentary from an X's and O's perspective. You are absolutely correct on my son Isaiah.
I am so upset with him and his effort in that game. He knows his effort was piss poor and feels embarrassed as he should.
Told him he needs to show resiliency real quick and help his QB and team over these next tough few weeks of the season."
Isaiah Horton's dad
The account doesn’t carry Horton's father’s name, but it is clearly presenting itself that way, and a quick look at the identifying details of the account appears to support that.
For Texas A&M, that kind of accountability is a good sign. A player having someone close to him who will call him out when he’s not giving enough is a lot better than the alternative. It suggests Horton has support around him, but not blind support.
That matters for a team dealing with offensive problems. The bigger fear would be a locker room that stops caring altogether.
That doesn’t seem to be the case with the Aggies, even if there are clearly some individual issues showing up along the way. Mike Elko and his staff, the source material notes, have also done a good job bringing in players with strong family support behind them.
Now Horton gets another chance to respond in a spot that means something to him personally. Texas A&M heads to Tuscaloosa this week, and Horton played there last season.
Every player has rough patches. What counts is the answer.
If Horton brings his game back up to his standard against the Tide, it could help the Aggies make a big push in an upset attempt this weekend.
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For Texas A&M, the matchup gives both players a chance to factor into one of the seasons biggest stages with extra motivation attached. Horton has already produced 20 catches for 280 yards and three touchdowns through seven games, and Formbys versatility has helped him find a spot in the rotation. Their ties to the coaching staff only add another layer to a game that will be watched closely on both sidelines. [Read more 🡒]