A pair of former Tennessee Volunteers who played together in the College Football Playoffs are now reunited in Las Vegas after one year apart. The Raiders have brought back together Tennessee receiver Dont’e Thornton and cornerback Jermod McCoy after selecting them with fourth-round picks in the respective 2025 and 2026 NFL Drafts.
McCoy recently spoke about the opportunity to get matched back up with Thornton, which found its way to social media courtesy of a Las Vegas Raiders fan account.
“We’ve got a good relationship,” McCoy said about Thornton. “He had just texted, ‘me reunited again, back in the same locker room.’ Be cool with each other again and all that. Getting to go against him again in practice, I feel like me and Dont’e, me and him would battle every day. We made each other way better, I feel like, throughout that season. He’s part of the reason why I had the season I had, just guarding him every day and making me better. And then, I feel like the same with me. Him having to go against me, I’m making him also better. I think doing that again is just going to improve both of our games.”
Thornton played in 15 games with the Raiders during his rookie season, racking up 135 yards on 10 receptions. He’s still looking for his first touchdown catch, but he did move the sticks on seven of his 10 receptions. If Thornton is still being worked into the game plan for this upcoming season, he could see a production tick with Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza in the quarterback room instead of Geno Smith.
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Thornton and McCoy were two important parts of Tennessee’s run to the College Football Playoffs during the 2024 season, both on the practice field as McCoy mentioned and with their production during games. But there’s still a question as to when those practice battles will happen again, whether it be in the near future during training camp or sometime in the future after a potential medical procedure for McCoy.
The Tennessee cornerback fell to the fourth round of the draft after some medical red flags spooked teams away. Based on multiple reports, it’s not the ACL recovery that had teams worried, but another future procedure that could be needed. McCoy spoke about his knee health and his willingness to do what the team needs after being taken by the Raiders last weekend.
“All my doctors that did my surgery, they told me I’m good,” McCoy said. “I feel like I’m good, but I mean, if there’s something that they’re wanting me to do for the longevity of my career, I’m willing to do that. I’m going to listen to the team, because I feel like they have my best interest for me. So, honestly, just whatever the team’s plan for me is, I’m going to do that.”
During the Vols’ 2024 season, Thornton racked up 661 yards and six touchdowns on 26 receptions. McCoy, meanwhile, tallied 44 tackles, seven pass deflections, and four interceptions.
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New Raider Jermod McCoy on current Raiders teammate WR Dont’e Thornton Jr
“We got a good relationship, he texted me ‘reunited again’ me and him would battle everyday. We made eachother way better. He’s part of the reason I had the season I had” @IamDTJ11 @Jermodmccoy https://t.co/5BMfhpPLQs pic.twitter.com/RKfJtwD79M
Advertisement— ShifftttyyyQB1🏴☠️ (@raiders1022) April 28, 2026
