5/9/2016 football Edit

No. 23: Ethan Horton

Ethan Horton was big, strong, and could carry the mail for the Tar Heels in the early 1980s.

Andrew Jones • TarHeelIllustrated

Publisher

Andrew Jones has covered sports for 26 years, including all major college & professional sports for daily newspapers & national sites. He's done radio and TV & is entering his seventh year at THI.

No. 23

Name: Ethan Horton

Position: RB

Jersey #: 12

Years: 1981-84

Honors: 2-time All-America; 2-time, 1st-team All-ACC; 1984 ACC Player of the Year.

Notable Stats: 3.074 career rushing yards; 5.1 yard average on 604 attempts; 22 career rushing touchdowns; 46 career receptions for 495 yards and 5 TDs; 27 career TDs scored; 2-9 passing for 19 yards and a touchdown; 8 kickoff returns for 164 yards.

In Closing: The Co-MVP of the 1981 Gator Bowl when he rushed for 144 yards and 2 TDs (bowl stats didn’t count toward career stats back then) as a freshman. Ran for 119 yards and a score in a Sun Bowl win over Texas the following season. Horton was reliable, strong, sure-handed and could spring big runs or power in tight situations.

Taller than most tailbacks at the time, Horton ran for 1,000 or more yards twice, finishing his junior season with 1,107 yards and his senior campaign in 1984 with 1,247 yards. He also caught 25 passes for 254 yards and 3 scores that season. Furthermore, Horton, a quarterback in high school, threw a touchdown pass as a senior. The ACC player of the Year in 1984, Horton could have been even more productive had he not shared so many carries with other Tar Heels, who were also worthy.

Prior Ranked Heels

30 - Natrone Means

29 - Jack Merritt

28 - Landon Turner

27 - Chris Hanburger

26 - Jeff Saturday

25 - Bob Lacey

24 - Bracey Walker