Oregon transfer wide receiver Don’t Thornton Committed to Tennessee on Monday afternoon, he publicly announced on social media his official visit with the Vols last weekend.
Tennessee left a strong impression on Thornton who also made visits to Miami, Auburn and Arkansas while in the transfer gate.
“I felt like it was the best fit for me overall,” Thornton told GoVols247 of his decision. “Just the fact that they’re a heavy passing offense and they have a great quarterback with a strong arm. I know that as long as I go out there and play football in the scheme and the attack they have, I’ll be good.
A former top-100 prospect graduating from Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, Thornton has three years to play his two remaining seasons of eligibility. He should enroll in the school of his choice this month.
Thornton is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 49 overall transfer and No. 10-transfer wide receiver for the 2023 cycle.
“They’re on track to go to the Nationals and I feel like I can help that,” Thornton said. “My goal is to be the best receiver possible, but my goal is also to win the Biletnikoff.
“I’m excited to play in the SEC because it’s like the big league in college football. Every week is going to be good competition and if I can play well here, I can definitely go into the league.
Tennessee receivers coach Kelsey Pope played a key role in helping the Vols land Thornton, who took note of Biletnikoff Award winner Jalin Hyatt’s comments about Pope throughout the season. It doesn’t hurt how well Josh Heupel’s attack kicks off the football as well.
“Being on an offense that’s going to pass the ball a lot and be efficient passing the ball and then, two, being in a receivers room with a receivers coach who’s going to help all these guys develop as Jalin HyattThornton explained. “If you watch one of his interviews he raves about Coach Pope, so knowing that not only his receivers feel that way, his other coaches feel that way, I feel like be in a great situation.”
Thornton could instantly tell that Hyatt’s comments about Pope throughout the season were genuine and not lip service.
“He’s a stand-up guy,” Thornton said of Pope. “The way he grew up and how I grew up is kind of the same even though we come from different backgrounds. I could instantly see exactly where Jalin (Hyatt) was coming from when he was talking about Pope. help and be the determining factor in my performance.
This season, Thornton has caught 17 passes for 366 yards and a touchdown in 11 games. He finished the year as the Ducks’ fifth-largest receiver, but averaged a team-best 21.5 yards per catch, and his longest reception was 58 yards.
While his production was inconsistent throughout the season, he began to get more involved in Oregon’s offense later in the season. Nine of his catches this season have come in his last four games, including a four-catch, 151-yard performance in the Ducks’ 20-17 win on Nov. 2. 19 against Utah.
As a true freshman, Thornton has appeared in all 14 games for Oregon in 2021, making two starts and catching nine passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. He had four catches for 90 yards and a touchdown in the Ducks’ 47-32 loss to Oklahoma in the 2021 Alamo Bowl.
“The fact that I’m a big, fast receiver is going to be a game issue,” Thornton said when asked what Tennessee likes about his game. Inside and out. Very versatile. They like that I can play inside and outside.
Thornton, who was rated a four-star by 247Sports, began last week’s five-day visiting window for transfers by traveling to Arkansas on Wednesday for an official visit with the Razorbacks. He returned home before heading to Tennessee on Friday. He visited Auburn and Miami last month.
Tennessee has now added five transfers so far this offseason. He also added BYU linebacker Keenan PiliTexas offensive lineman Adrej Karic, Indiana kicker Charles Campbell and the tight end of UC Davis McCallan Castles.
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