Salaam and A’laam Horne train together, hang together and plan to attend college together. But when they challenge each other at football practice, their sibling bond is tested. “If he beats me,” says A’laam, “he has to get away from me for a while.”
The rising seniors star on offense for the St. Joseph’s (Hammonton) High School football team. Last season, they helped the Wildcats win their sixth straight Non-Public Group 1 title. Salaam is a dual threat at quarterback (1,053 yards passing, 14 TDs; 748 yards rushing, eight scores) and a lethal punt and kickoff return man. A’laam is an explosive running back and receiver (1,180 yards, 26 TDs—five on passes from Salaam).
If St. Joseph’s had not routed so many opponents, each would have even more impressive numbers. “Some of the games, they were done at halftime,” says St. Joseph’s coach Paul Sacco Jr.
The Hornes are third-generation Wildcats. Their grandfather was the first African-American to graduate from the school; their Uncle Timothy played on the 1993 state title team. “Our grandfather set the foundation,” A’laam says.
Heavy graduation losses mean the Wildcats will rely even more heavily on the Hornes this season. The twins are ready. “We usually know what the other is thinking,” Salaam says. “We have signals between each other that even Coach doesn’t know about.”
As for college, Rutgers is among the schools reportedly interested in the twins. For now, the primary goal is a seventh straight title. “A’laam and I have been working hard during the off-season,” says Salaam. “We have big expectations.”