EJ Horton Adds a 'Whole Different Dimension' to WVU's Offense

The Mountaineers have been searching for answers at receiver all season long and over the past couple of weeks, they've found some. Devin Carter is finally starting to live up to his preseason expectations and Marshall transfer EJ Horton has flashed with 5 receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown over the last three games.

"He'll continue to play and he played his most snaps in the game on Saturday and he'll continue," head coach Neal Brown stated on Monday. "He had a little shoulder injury that was bugging him but he's practiced for about three weeks in a row and you can tell the reps, he's getting better. He can really run. He gives us a whole different dimension when he's out there."

Two things have hindered WVU's pass game this season - separation and the ability to make plays in space. It's to be determined if Horton is someone who can win consistently in the open field but there's no questioning his speed. He is a true deep ball threat that can blow by just about anyone who lines up across from him. Once he masters the playbook and feels comfortable in his role, you'll start to see Horton do more than just go long. He'll become a more well-rounded receiver who can help Garrett Greene get the ball out quickly and complete more passes underneath. You'd like to think that with his speed, he can do some real damage after the catch in those short to intermediate routes.

As offensive coordinator Chad Scott mentioned in his weekly press conference, if Horton can become a reliable presence on the perimeter, it's going to open up more opportunities in the run game because defenses will be afraid to get beat over the top. Horton is the one receiver who can really change the dynamic of this offense.

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