A three-star recruit according to the 247Sports Composite, Mikel Horton graduated from Lakota West High School a semester early to enroll at Kentucky as part of the highly touted 2014 recruiting class. Horton made an immediate impact for the Wildcats with 13 carries for 70 yards and one touchdown against the first-team defense in the 2014 Blue/White spring game then carved out a role in Kentucky's running back rotation prior to his freshman season. In his collegiate debut, Horton totaled seven carries for 45 yards and two touchdowns vs. UT Martin. He played in all 12 games as a freshman, finishing the season with 59 carries for 306 yards.
