TJ Horton
TJ Horton
Wins in space out of the backfield. TJ Horton has played for two head coaches in two seasons at Ball State. The receipt: 41 rush yds against UConn — Week 4, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
Career Arc
Coaching Lineage · 2024–2025
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Mike Neu → Mike Uremovich. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Mike Uremovich
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ball State | 60 | 180 | 3.0 | 0 | -- |
| 2024 | Ball State | 23 | 107 | 4.7 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 83 | 287 | 3.5 | 0 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ball State | 15 | 71 | 4.7 | 1 | -- |
| 2024 | Ball State | 4 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 19 | 73 | 3.8 | 1 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 3 · 2025
W 34–29
vs New Hampshire
32 rush yds (8 car)
Edged out New Hampshire at home in a shootout.
How he plays
Play style
Deployed as a receiver as much as a runner. Value is in space, not between the tackles.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Ball State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Ball State
Returning around him
- 8% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
- Transfer portal: +6 net (24 in / 18 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Ball State · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #115 · 2026 recruiting class #113
DNA match
Player DNA
Satellite Back
Deployed as a receiver as much as a runner. Value is in space, not between the tackles.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Dallan Hayden’s 2024 season.
Matches Dallan on
Differs from Dallan on
Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Josh Johnson’s path through UL Monroe.
Matches Josh on
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Clay Ash's sophomore season at West Virginia (2025).
Matches Clay on
Differs from Clay on
Development
Development Trajectory · rushing yards
2024–2025+68%
Up 68% from first season to most-recent.
Background
Expected to receive regular reps in the Ball State backfield this season, after finishing his redshirt freshman campaign as the Cardinals' fourth-leading ball carrier ... wore No. 20 during his first two seasons. 2024 (R-Fr.): Emerged in the Cardinals backfield with appearances in eight games ......