'A big play waiting to happen' – Former Tennessee Vols standout receives big praise from PFF ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft
Former Tennessee Vols wide receiver Dont'e Thornton didn't put up huge numbers in college, but he could still be a target for numerous teams in the 2025 NFL Draft. Thornton, who tested extremely well at the NFL scouting combine earlier this offseason (he ran a 4.30 in the 40-yard dash), caught 65 passes for 1,426 […]
Former Tennessee Vols wide receiver Dont'e Thornton didn't put up huge numbers in college, but he could still be a target for numerous teams in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Thornton, who tested extremely well at the NFL scouting combine earlier this offseason (he ran a 4.30 in the 40-yard dash), caught 65 passes for 1,426 yards and 10 touchdowns during his college career (two seasons at Oregon and two seasons at Tennessee).
The Maryland native averaged 25.5 yards per reception (best among qualified wide receivers per PFF) for the Volunteers in 2024, highlighting his elite ability to stretch the field.
Pro Football Focus actually pointed out Thornton this week as the prospect who has the "best long speed" in the 2025 NFL Draft, noting that the former Vol is "a big play waiting to happen".
From PFF: Between the big play ability he’s shown at Oregon and Tennessee along with his 4.30-second 40-yard dash time at the combine, Thornton is a big play waiting to happen. He just hasn’t gotten the requisite volume to put up big numbers. His 25.5 yards per reception mark and 99.9 deep receiving grade led all qualified wide receivers in 2024. That level of speed in a player who stands at 6-foot-5 is sure to tantalize a team into selecting him at some point in the draft.
With the draft about a month away, Thornton is currently being projected as a day three selection.
Thornton is still just 22 years old and he's continuing to improve as a player. He could be one of the rare players that puts up far better numbers as a pro than he did at the collegiate level. In other words, Thornton could be a major steal in the later rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
