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People have often wondered over the course of the past two years just how P.J. Fleck is able to outwork his MAC peers on the recruiting trails, and 2015 WMU commit Donte Horton let us in on a secret of Fleck's that just may be key.
Donte Horton
West Chester, Ohio
Status: Verbally committed to WMU
Commitment Date: 5/24/2014
Height: 6'5''
Weight: 200lbs
Position(s): DE
High School: Lakota West
I like the way coach Fleck puts others before him," Horton told Hustle Belt. "I just like the way coach Fleck holds himself. He told me about his life ... about how he works with people. About how he and the team work with people with disabilities. I've been working with people disabilities my whole life. ... I feel good about going to Western Michigan, and they're doing that, and I've been doing that since I was young."
Horton, a 6-foot-5, 200 pound defensive end out of Lakota West High School in southwestern Ohio committed to the Broncos on May 24 while on an official visit that completely flipped his opinion about WMU.
"When I went I was kind of iffy about [WMU], like 'I don't think I should be going here'," Horton said. "When they say you can't judge a book by it's cover, I really judged it and I was wrong. When I got there I met the coaches, they were really nice. The facilities were really nice. The faculty, everything was just amazing. I felt at home. Even though it's four hours [away] I felt at home."
While on his visit, Fleck and Horton talked one on one about the plans for the Horton, the plans for the program, and personal ideals. Fleck offered Horton, and the deal was done. Horton says he committed on the spot.
"Coach Fleck asked me 'do you really want to go here?' I was like, 'yes. I 100 percent want to go here.'"
A 3-star (247Sports composite) rush end prospect, Horton has spent time between the defensive line and wide receiver corps during his time at Lakota West, but recently made the permanent switch to DE. An explosive athlete by nature, Horton is a high motor player who gets after the passer and possesses the potential to explode off the edge. While he's a bit undersized for defensive line at the FBS level, Horton plans to graduate early and enroll at WMU in January. He plans on using his early enrollment to help him bulk up and get acquainted to the Broncos' defensive schemes.
He said the coaches have said that if he can get his weight up to 230 by the season he could see some time as a true freshman.
"I just can't wait to meet my teammates and see how far we go."
Looking for highlights of Horton's play? Check out his Hudl page.