ESPN completely forgets Tennessee Vols newcomer exists
ESPN ranked the top 50 newcomers (transfers and true freshmen) of the 2023 college football season and they left a key Tennessee Vols player off their list. And I'm not sure how they missed him. To be fair to ESPN, they didn't completely ignore the Vols — they included true freshman linebacker Arion Carter on […]
ESPN ranked the top 50 newcomers (transfers and true freshmen) of the 2023 college football season and they left a key Tennessee Vols player off their list.
And I'm not sure how they missed him.
To be fair to ESPN, they didn't completely ignore the Vols — they included true freshman linebacker Arion Carter on their top 50 list (he came in at No. 44).
Carter certainly deserves to be on the list as he's a player that's consistently received praised during fall camp.
But there should've been another Tennessee player on the list, too.
Oregon transfer wide receiver Dont'e Thornton could be one of the most important newcomers for any team in college football this fall. Which is why his absence from ESPN's top 50 newcomers list is particularly glaring.
Thornton is a big body (6-foot-5) who said last week that he's been clocked as fast as 24.3 MPH via GPS. In addition to his size and speed combination, Thornton also has the ability to line up anywhere on the field, which will give head coach Josh Heupel and offensive coordinator Joey Halzle some unique options this fall.
The Maryland native has been impressive enough this fall that Heupel and wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope have exchanged a few "we got something here" glances with each other during practice.
"There have been a bunch of times this camp where you see him (Thornton) and your eyes get big," said Pope earlier this week. "Maybe I look at Heup and he looks at me. He's a good addition to us."
Pope also pointed out that he thinks Thornton is kind of like a mixture of former Vols wide receivers Cedric Tillman (big receiver with great body control) and Jalin Hyatt (speed threat). That should be a scary thought for the rest of the SEC considering the success Tillman and Hyatt experienced the last two seasons.
Thornton is a perfect fit for Tennessee's offense — which is why he was the Vols' top wide receiver target in the transfer portal — and he has the potential to put up some massive numbers in 2023.
ESPN may have forgotten Thornton exists in early August, but they'll have a hard time forgetting his name by the time December rolls around.
Vols newcomer confirms other programs are using UT’s offense to negatively recruit against Tennessee
A Vols newcomer confirmed that other programs are using UT’s offense to negatively recruit against Tennessee
Featured image via Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
