Seminoles offer Horton

It took time for West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West four-star running back Mikel Horton to start a run of offers, but the 6-foot-1, 228-pound back has been hot during the last month, with an offer from Florida State coming down Monday.

"The head coach called my coach and told him," Horton said. "He wanted to speak to me, so we talked and just had a great conversation about what my future could be there. It was a great experience talking to them, and it definitely got me deep in thought."

The first thought Horton had was making a visit to Tallahassee, and plans for that trip are in the works.

"Me and my family are actually going to Destin, Fla., because that's where my high school goes for spring break," Horton said. "My coach is going to be down there with his family, so me, my dad and my coach are going to get connected while we are down there and drive over to Florida State."

Horton and his family will make their trip to Florida during the first week in April. Seeing the campus will be the focus of that visit, but the big back also is taking stock of the offense the Seminoles run.

"I know that they are a multi offense and they can run anything," Horton said. "They do like the big back set because their running backs coach was a big back in college. He doesn't love a back who is just big and physical, though; he wants the complete package, and he said that I have that. I have the wiggle on me to make people miss, plus I have decent speed. I am more of a back who can do all the offensive schemes."

The offer from Florida State comes just over a week after Horton made a visit to Alabama. He did not leave Tuscaloosa with an offer from the Crimson Tide, but he left with a stronger appreciation for the program.

"It definitely met my expectations," Horton said. "It was a great experience as far as meeting the coaching staff. What really attracted me and what I am going to have to find at other colleges is the strength coach. They have one of the best strength coaches I have ever met. I feel that is going to help me in college."

While Horton was impressed with what he saw of Alabama's program, he also received straight talk on where he stands in the eyes of its coaching staff.

"It was an eye opener as far as me getting better and putting in more work," Horton said. "It showed me that I wasn't the best and that they are recruiting people who are better than me, so that gave me the drive to make me better as an athlete.

"The running backs coach sat me in the office with just a couple other recruits. It was a select group, so I felt pretty proud about that. I met Coach (Nick) Saban and a lot of people didn't get to do that, so that was an opportunity. They want to see me in camp and I have no problem with any camp situation, so I feel I can go in there and dominate and hopefully God blesses me with that offer."

The visits will not stop for Horton this month. He is headed to Louisville this coming weekend and Arkansas the weekend following. A trip to Michigan State is also in the works.

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