Lauding Horton

New Vanderbilt running backs coach Tim Horton, a former University of Arkansas player and assistant coach, has coached 13 players at the position who became starters for NFL teams.

Horton could have another NFL starter in Commodores’ senior Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who has made several preseason All-SEC teams after rushing for 1,244 yards.

“Coach Horton is a great coach,” Vaughn said. “You go in his office, and all he’s got are pictures of all these running backs. When you see a coach that has so much experience with great running backs, you don’t want to do nothing but listen.

“So I’m paying attention to everything that he says, even the smallest detail, and making sure I’m coachable.”

Horton coached running backs at Arkansas and Auburn the last 12 seasons. His players have included Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis at Arkansas and Tre Mason, Cameron Artis-Payne, Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson at Auburn.

“There’s nobody more excited about Tim Horton than Ke’Shawn Vaughn,” Vanderbilt Coach Derek Mason said. “I thought it was special, magical, to see those two work together as we went through spring practice. You could tell, it was teacher to student. You could tell that Ke’Shawn was invested and bought into everything Coach Horton had to say.”

Mason said he was excited to add Horton, a two-time all-state running back at Conway, to his staff.

“I’m looking to get great teachers, great guys that can build relationships,” Mason said. “That’s what Coach Horton brings to the table. “He’s been around. He’s got lots of experience, but more than that, he loves teaching and he loves building young men.”