There have been lots of great nicknames in the sport of football. There was Red Grange at Illinois who was famously called “The Galloping Ghost.” Of course, Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch was a favorite of mine as were “Broadway Joe” Namath, Lester “The Molester” Hayes, “Mean Joe” Greene, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, “The Mad Stork” (Ted Hendricks), “Sweetness” (Walter Payton), Andre “Bad Moon” Rison, and perhaps my personal favorite, Randy “Manster (cross between Man and Monster)” White.
I have probably just showed my age there. Anyway, nicknames have been an integral part of football since there has been football.
One of the great nicknames in Kentucky High School football belongs to Martrell Horton from Fairdale High School. He is known throughout the commonwealth as “Night Train.”
“Night Train” is a 5-8, 193-pound, undersized linebacker we believe will get some carries at RB this coming season. Though undersized, this guy will turn out your lights. His next level looks appear to be on the defensive side of the football.
Horton runs the 40 in the high-4’s, reps the high-school, bench press weight (185-pounds) 19-times, and squats 405-pounds. In ’19, when a sophomore and able to play a full slate of games, Horton was second on the team defensively in both TFLs and QB-sacks.
In ’20, a season which would see the Bulldogs go 7-0 before being forced to forfeit the Regional Championship game to Owensboro (Senior) High because of an outbreak of COVID-19 infection, “Night Train” turned in another impressive statistical season. Horton was second on the team in total-tackles and tied for third in interceptions.
Though undersized, this is a prospect who appears to have plenty of suitors vying for his services entering his senior season. Horton has made the recruiting board at Indiana Wesleyan, Lindsey Wilson College, Wilmington College, Endicott College, Thomas Moore University, St. Ambrose University, and Clark Atlanta University just to name a few (and there are more).
Looking over that list, it would appear to us grades and a qualifying test score to achieve either NAIA or NCAA eligibility aren’t going to be a problem. This is another example of how there are tremendous opportunities abound in the game of college football for outstanding performers who just happen to be “undersized” in the opinion of the bigger programs, a deficiency (by the way) outside of the prospect’s control.
We, being a Kentucky publication, are rooting for this prospect to stay in Kentucky and play collegiately in the commonwealth. For us, inking with reigning National Champion (NAIA) Lindsey Wilson or signing with Thomas Moore University, would be pledging to two programs for which there appears to be no downside. Either of them would be an outstanding opportunity and choice.
Until it is time to make that decision, and with the season literally looming, Bulldog fans better show up in droves and support the last run of the “Night Train.” Horton is soon to be pulling out of the station a final time. All Aboard!
This is Coach HB Lyon, reporting for KPGFootball, and we’re JUST CALLING IT LIKE WE SEE IT!
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