Dont’e Thornton could turn out to be one of Tennessee’s most effective x-factors on the offense during the 2023 season.
But let’s back up a bit first.
Coming out of the 2022 college football season, Tennessee knew they were going to be replacing two unique and critical pieces in the wide receiver room with Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman. The Vols were set to return Bru McCoy, Squirrel White, and Ramel Keyton, while also possessing up-and-comers such as Kaleb Webb and Chas Nimrod.
Despite the returning talent, though, the Vols went into the transfer portal and picked up rising junior wide receiver Dont’e Thornton from the University of Oregon. The Baltimore native spent two years with the Ducks’ program before making his way over to Rocky Top this past offseason.
The 6-foot-5 pass catcher totaled 175 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman before catching 17 passes for 366 yards and a touchdown a season ago.
“He has great length, natural hands and (is) a great route runner,” head coach Josh Heupel said on Tuesday. “He had one of the fastest GPS speeds in the transfer portal. I’ve loved how he’s approached coming into our program by wanting to earn it.”
While he didn’t always achieve the production he was capable of during his first two years in Oregon, Thornton brings a “rare” set of skills to the Tennessee wide receiver room. Not only does Thornton have breakaway speed but also stands tied with Jack Jancek for the Vols’ tallest player in the wide receiver room. For comparison, Thornton is the same height as quarterback Joe Milton at 6-foot-5.
“He does, to use your word, he has freaky talent,” offensive coordinator Joey Halzle said about Thornton on Tuesday. “A guy of his size that can run like that is rare. There are good players and (then there are) guys that have rare traits. That guy is extremely rare in what he can do on the football field.”
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When Thornton first arrived for spring workouts on Rocky Top, his natural athleticism was on display all over the field. The offseason goal for Thornton was to learn the Tennessee system, which he has done by being committed to his team and teammates according to the coaching staff.
“Whenever we come in and it’s completely different from what most people do, there’s a learning curve,” Halzle said about Thornton’s adjustment. “He spends as much time with the quarterbacks as anybody.”
During SEC Media Days in Nashville this past July, Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton spoke about the advantage he has in 2023 by having closer relationships with his receivers compared to just having met before the 2021 season. While Milton and Thornton won’t have that prior experience that the quarterback was talking about, the duo has been working hard to get on the same page before the season.
“[Dont’e Thornton is] always with Joe (Milton III) as well, like ‘Alright, how do you want that, how do you see that? Do you see it the way I’m seeing it?’ He’s once again not an older guy that’s coming in, like I got it, kind of trying to be a mercenary. He’s trying to learn too and trying to do it the way we do it. Really happy with where we are.”
Thornton did not start with the 1s during Tennessee’s first practice on Wednesday but was quickly working in the rotation of players. Thornton primarily worked at the slot position but did get some outside runs, too.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider throughout the month of August for more continued coverage from the Tennessee football fall camp. The Vols will open the season on Sept. 2 in Nashville’s Nissan Stadium against Virginia.
