Horton embracing his chance to play two sports
NORMAN — Cade Horton was sporting a blue jersey as he scooped up the low snap and fired a perfect strike to a Norman receiver to little fanfare from those on the field.
He was a normal high school quarterback opening practice Monday morning like hundreds of others around Oklahoma. But the Tigers’ young star has recently earned extra attention.
Horton is a junior at Norman High School, a supremely gifted shortstop blessed with a golden arm that carries over well on the football field. He has been committed to Ole Miss for baseball since his freshman year, but he wants to play both sports.
Less than two weeks ago, that became closer to reality.
He was sitting across from University of Oklahoma football coach Lincoln Riley learning he has the chance to join the football team should he accept a scholarship offer from the baseball team. He could become the Sooners’ next Kyler Murray or Cody Thomas, quarterbacks and baseball stars.
“It’s a weird feeling looking up to them and being compared to
them,” Horton said during a break Monday in Norman’s first practice of the fall. “It’s a good feeling. I don’t know. It’s weird, to be honest.”
Horton has embraced the opportunity, though for the time being he remains committed to Ole Miss.
“I don’t know. We’ll see what happens,” Horton said. “There’s no time to rush. I’ve still got two years of high school left.”
Horton had a breakout sophomore season in just seven games. He threw for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for five more. But he also threw 11 interceptions before an illness prematurely ended his season and the Tigers finished 1-9 overall.
That was still enough to show his abilities.
At 6-foot-1, Horton has deceptive size and speed on the football field. So much that even Norman coach Rocky Martin had to find reassurance following the year that he wasn’t thinking too highly of his quarterback.
He reached out to Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead, a longtime friend from their days together at Akron. Moorhead watched film knowing Horton was committed to play baseball at Ole Miss and immediately told Martin that he wanted Horton at a summer football camp.
“I thought after about Week 4 he could play both sports,” Martin said. “He’s that special.
“Obviously, baseball is in his future. So is football. I always said I want kids to play multiple sports. That’s what I want. I’m not a guy who wants them to specialize in one sport. He’s done a really good job of balancing it out.”
Horton has been playing both sports since he was 5 years old, managing his time well as he’s developed. He’ll continue that for two more years, but then it’s likely he attempts to continue that in college, even if it’s not at OU.
“There’s no pressure for me just because I played sports my whole life,” Horton said. “I think it’s good. It’s really busy, it’s hard, it’s tough on your body, but I think it’s good for you. Not many people get to say they can play both in college.”