A blocking-first tight end who transferred from James Madison to Indiana before grinding his way onto Detroit's roster.
Zach Horton is a 6-foot-4, 252-pound tight end from Roanoke, Virginia, known for his versatility as a do-it-all blocker who has lined up in-line, out wide, and even at fullback. After stops at James Madison and Indiana, he signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2025 and has stuck around Detroit's roster through practice-squad stints and a futures contract.
Path to the league
Horton played three seasons at James Madison (2021-2023) before transferring to Indiana for his final college season in 2024. At James Madison, he broke out as a starter in 2023 with 27 receptions for 275 yards and six touchdowns, earning first-team all-Sun Belt Conference honors. He went undrafted in 2025 and signed with Detroit as a free agent on May 9, 2025.
Career highlights
At Indiana in 2024, Horton appeared in all 13 games with 13 starts, catching 21 passes for 189 yards and four touchdowns while earning praise from head coach Curt Cignetti for his all-around game. Scouts flagged him as a blocking-first tight end with solid grades in both run-blocking and pass protection, a skill set that translates to a depth and special-teams role at the NFL level.
2025 season recap
Horton was waived by Detroit during final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, but was quickly re-signed to the practice squad. He appeared in two games for the Lions as a rookie and signed a reserve/futures contract with the team on January 5, 2026, keeping him in the organization heading into the new season.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Zach Horton
- SI Lions: Lions UDFA Profile: TE Zach Horton
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Tight End
- Group
- offense
- College
- Indiana
- Hometown
- Roanoke, VA, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
