WVU Football
Julien Horton a Gift From Neal Brown Regime | WVU Football All 105
All 105 is a West Virginia Sports Now series profiling each member of the 2025 WVU Football Roster.
Julien Horton was a surprise flip to WVU Football on National Signing Day in 2024, backing out of his commitment to North Carolina thanks to the recruiting efforts of former co-defensive coordinator ShaDon Brown.
Although new head coach Rich Rodriguez didn’t retain Brown, Horton is here to stay, a three-star safety recruit who stands six feet tall and weighs 175 pounds. The Mountaineers needed to overhaul their secondary after a disastrous performance in 2024, bringing in plenty of veteran transfers — many of them from junior colleges, Division II or FCS.
If Horton doesn’t take a redshirt year, a position group in flux could give him a chance at playing time.
39 • Julien Horton, freshman safety
Last year: N/A
Stats: N/A
Camp outlook: West Virginia did what they could to overhaul their secondary, bringing in a handful of defenders from the lower levels of the sport. If they struggle with the jump to the Big 12, that could open the door for players like Horton.
Projected role: While a developmental year is most likely, Horton can play in up to four games and still retain his redshirt status.
Accolades, highlights: Ranked as a three-star recruit, platforms like On3, ESPN and 247Sports all placed Horton within their top 60 safeties in the Class of 2025.
Coverage Links:
