Miami transfer wide receiver Isaiah Horton committed to Alabama in late December, and one of the reasons he chose the Crimson Tide was his familiarity with one of its three quarterbacks.
A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Horton attended Oakland High School in Murfreesboro. Three hours to the west was Westview High School, where Ty Simpson starred. Two of the state’s top players in the 2022 class linked up on the camp circuit and are again teammates.
That’s my guy,” said Horton of Simpson in an interview with the Crimson Tide Sports Network. “He was my 7-on-7 quarterback when we were in high school, so when we were younger. We had that little chemistry. But yeah, that’s my guy. It’s kind of one of the reasons I came here, too, just to get back with him.
“He’s a stud. He’s gonna be one of them ones. I just believe in him.”
Simpson was a 5-star recruit and the No. 2 overall player from Tennessee in the 2022 cycle, per the On3 Industry rankings. Horton was the No. 12 prospect from the Volunteer State. Simpson committed to play for Nick Saban and Alabama, and Horton committed to Miami. But four years later, they have an opportunity to share the same field for the Crimson Tide.
Reuniting in Tuscaloosa, Horton sees a lot of the same traits in Simpson from high school.
“Back then, he was a 5-star. He was nice,” Horton said. “And then just coming (here), it’s a full circle coming back. We’re just back together, and you can just feel the chemistry. It’s nice. It’s a good feeling.”
