Former Tennessee wide receiver Dont’e Thornton has had a standout training camp with the Las Vegas Raiders this summer. Thornton was already turning heads back in August, but capped off his impressive training camp run with a Top 10-worthy touchdown catch in Saturday night’s preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals.
With the game scoreless in the first quarter, newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith was leading the Raiders’ offense into the red zone. Thornton was lined up wide to the right with the ball spotted on the 17-yard line, and ran straight to the endzone. Smith found the former Tennessee wideout, who made an unbelievable back shoulder touchdown catch with next to no space to work with in the front corner of the endzone.
It was the first touchdown of Thornton’s preseason run. He ended the drive with two catches for 26 yards and a touchdown.
Former Vol Dont’e Thornton makes a heck of a grab for a Raiders touchdown ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Ed23JPdqOr
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) August 24, 2025
More From RTI: VFLs Joe Milton and Princeton Fant Work Together to Create Big Play for the Dallas Cowboys
Thornton’s strong showing at Raiders training camp this summer has him in line for a starting spot with the Las Vegas offense this season. The fourth-round pick from Tennessee is part of the new arsenal of weapons for the Raiders this season, alongside quarterback Geno Smith and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty.
In early August, The Las Vegas Sun’s Case Keefer gave Thornton high praise after he caught a 65-yard touchdown during a play in training camp.
“The crowd of 1,400 fans erupted, and many of them stayed afterwards to cheer on and seek the autograph of the 6-foot-5, 205-pound revelation out of Tennessee,” Keefer wrote.
In three preseason games for Las Vegas, Thornton has caught three passes on eight targets for 43 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown on Saturday night capped off his best game of the preseason, which isn’t a surprise with the degree of difficulty that the catch presented.
Along with Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson, Tennessee could have some exciting rookies hit the league on the offensive side of the ball this season in the NFL. Sampson also had a highlight play during an exhibition game on Saturday, spinning and winning his way off a defender on his first preseason reception.
Dylan Sampson’s first reception. He pulls a spin move on 3 defenders for 11 yards of YAC plus the first down. Incredible. #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/GZAPLEdqlX
— Roberto Shenanigans (@Rob_Shenanigans) August 23, 2025
Fantasy football players should take note of both players, but especially Thornton. The Raiders seem to be looking for a pass catcher to step up for Geno Smith, and Thornton could reprise his deep threat role that he became known for at Tennessee with Las Vegas.
