TJ Horton

2026 Preseason All-MAC (third team KOR by Athlon Sports; third team KOR by Phil Steele Football College Preview) Ball State All-Access (Aug. 21, 2026): Catching up with the running backs Expected to receive regular reps in the Ball State backfield again this season, cited by Ball State coaches for improvement over last season and 2026 spring ball ... "He's got good hands and good speed," said Mike Uremovich. "He's really improved, we can use him all over." ... finished his redshirt freshman campaign in 2024 as the Cardinals' fourth-leading ball carrier, then finished 2025 in the backfield rotation while rising as the Cardinals' top kick returner ... finished fifth in the MAC in kick returns last season ... wore #20 during his first two seasons, switched to #4 in 2025. Appeared in 10 of 12 games and carried for 180 yards on 60 carries ... logged 15 receptions for 71 yards ... returned 12 kickoffs for 294 yards including a 90-yard, game-clinching kickoff return for TD in a homecoming win over Akron (10/18) ... finished fifth in the MAC with an average of 24.5 yards per kickoff return ... longest run was 13 yards (twice), longest reception was 19 yards at Northern Illinois (10/25). Emerged in the Cardinals backfield with appearances in eight games ... carried 23 times for 107 yards as Ball State's fourth-leading ground-gainer ... longest carry of the season was for 17 yards at Buffalo (Nov. 12) ... had 36 rush yards on six carries against the Bulls ... 15 carries for 66 yards over the season's last three games, and four catches out of the backfield (six yards) ... three carries for 20 yards, including a long of 12, in his college debut against Missouri State (Sept. 7). Saw no action and earned a redshirt for the 2023 season. A four-year varsity letterwinner at Frederick Douglass High School … played for coach Nathan McPeek … a three-star recruit according to 247Sports, he is also the 13th-ranked cornerback from the state of Kentucky … also a three-star recruit according to Rivals… a two-way player for FDHS, he helped guide the team to a 15-0 record and the Class 5A state championship as a senior … tallied 154 all-purpose yards in the title game … for the season he averaged over eight yards a carry and lead Class 5A in touchdowns scored … also helped guide the program to a state runner-up finish his junior season. Intends to major in business.