Tennessee Vols offensive coordinator explains why WR Dont'e Thornton didn't have a bigger game against Virginia
Tennessee Vols wide receiver Dont'e Thornton was one of UT's most talked about additions during the offseason. Thornton, who transferred to Tennessee from Oregon after the 2022 season, is a 6-foot-5 wide receiver who has elite speed (he said that he hit 24 MPH on GPS at one point during his time with the Ducks). […]
Tennessee Vols wide receiver Dont'e Thornton was one of UT's most talked about additions during the offseason.
Thornton, who transferred to Tennessee from Oregon after the 2022 season, is a 6-foot-5 wide receiver who has elite speed (he said that he hit 24 MPH on GPS at one point during his time with the Ducks).
Despite the offseason hype, Thornton wasn't much of a factor — at least in the box score — in the Vols' 49-13 win against Virginia.
The junior wide receiver caught just two passes for 12 yards while being targeted four times.
Before fans panic, there was a reason why Thornton wasn't more involved in the passing game (beyond the fact that Tennessee's running game was working well).
Vols offensive coordinator Joey Halzle explained on Tuesday while speaking to reporters that the plan was to take it slow with Thornton in his first game to allow him to settle into UT's offense.
"With Dont'e, I think whenever someone makes their first start or first true real game experience in this kind of offense, no matter how many scrimmages or anything you do, it's just different," said Halzle. "So, getting him settled in and going — you saw him get the ball — like some quick touches in his hand right now to just get him going in that first game was what we were expecting to do. He took the top off a couple plays. He could've gotten a couple (but) we weren't to his side for whatever reason. Sometimes games just roll that way."
It sounds like the tape showed that Thornton was open down the field a couple of times against the Cavaliers, but the ball just didn't go his way on those particular plays.
Thornton's quiet day was likely the calm before the storm. Once he settles into the offense, which could be as soon as this weekend against Austin Peay, Thornton should have no issues showing off the elite skills that made him a coveted player in the NCAA transfer portal last winter.
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Featured image via Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
