Tag: Dont’e Thornton

2024 SEC receiving yard leaders after Week 1

A look at SEC receiving yard leaders after Week 1 of the 2024 college football season.

Week 2 of the college football season will begin on Thursday.

Week 1 featured Tennessee defeating FCS opponent Chattanooga, 69-3, at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols totaled 414 receiving yards in Week 1, led by wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. (105). He also scored two touchdowns.

Bru McCoy recorded 89 receiving yards for Tennessee last week.

Below are top five receiving yard leaders in the Southeastern Conference entering Week 2.

  1. Tre Harris, Ole Miss (179)
  2. Ryan Williams, Alabama (139)
  3. Dont’e Thornton Jr., Tennessee (105)
  4. Jordan Mosley, Mississippi State (104)
  5. Karen Lacy, LSU (94)

2024 SEC football power rankings after Week 1 can be viewed here.

Tennessee will face North Carolina State in Week 2 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina (7:30 p.m. EDT, ABC).

Dont’e Thornton Jr. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Tennessee totals 700-plus offensive yards versus Chattanooga

Tennessee football totals 700-plus offensive yards in win versus Chattanooga.

No. 15 Tennessee (1-0) defeated Chattanooga (0-1), 69-3, Saturday in the season opener for both schools at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols led, 45-0, at halftime.

Tennessee redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 22-of-28 passing attempts for 314 yards and touchdowns in the first half of the contest against the Mocs.

Dylan Sampson was the Vols’ leading rusher as he totaled 124 yards and three touchdowns on 12 attempts.

Dont’e Thornton recorded three receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns.

In his return from a season-ending injury suffered in 2023, Bru McCoy recorded six receptions for 89 receiving yards.

Tennessee tight end Ethan Davis totaled two receptions for 20 yards and one touchdown.

DeSean Bishop and Khalifa Keith also scored rushing touchdowns for Tennessee.

The Vols scored a special teams touchdown after Jordan Ross returned a blocked punt to the end zone.

Tennessee’s offense totaled 718 yards in the contest.

Jordan Ross. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Vols have three top 75 draft eligible wide receivers in 2024

Three 2024 Tennessee football players are ranked as top 75 draft eligible wide receivers.

Southeastern Conference media days will take place July 15-18 at Omni Dallas Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

Fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel will meet with media on July 16.

Ahead of the 2024 college football season, “Phil Steele’s College Football Preview” was released. Phil Steele ranked the top 75 draft eligible wide receivers (seniors, juniors and redshirt sophomores).

Three Tennessee wide receivers were ranked in the top 75: Bru McCoy (No. 10), Squirrel White (No. 24) and Dont’e Thornton Jr. (No. 54).

McCoy suffered a season-ending fracture-dislocation of his right ankle in the second quarter versus South Carolina on Sept. 30, 2023. He appeared in five games for the Vols last season, recording 17 receptions, 217 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.

White recorded 67 receptions for 803 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games for the Vols in 2023.

In his first season at Tennessee after transferring from Oregon, Thornton Jr. totaled 13 receptions, 224 yards and one touchdown.

READ: Tennessee football’s projected 2024 offensive starting lineup

Squirrel White. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Josh Heupel updates status on wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr.

Josh Heupel updates the status on wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr.

Junior wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. left Tennessee’s game at Missouri due to injury.

Tennessee third-year head coach Josh Heupel updated Thornton’s status entering Week 12.

“Dont’e will be out for the remainder of the regular-season,” Heupel said. “We’ll see where we’re at as we get into postseason play.”

Thornton Jr. appeared in nine games for the Vols during the 2023 regular-season. He totaled 13 receptions, 224 yards and one touchdown.

Tennessee will host Georgia on Saturday and will conclude regular-season play against Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Week 13.

Both contests against the Bulldogs (CBS) and Commodores (SEC Network) will kick off at 3:30 p.m. EST.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Missouri ends losing streak to Tennessee

Missouri ends losing streak to Tennessee.

No. 15 Missouri (8-2, 4-2 SEC) defeated No. 12 Tennessee (7-3, 3-3 SEC), 36-7, Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri.

Missouri’s win was the first against Tennessee since 2018.

Missouri led, 3-0, after Harrison Mevis kicked a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Tennessee led, 7-3, after Joe Milton III completed a 46-yard touchdown pass to Dont’e Thornton with 12 minutes, 25 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

The Tigers scored 33 unanswered points.

Tennessee missed an opportunity to score when the Tigers recovered a fumble by Jaylen Wright. After the turnover, Missouri extended its advantage to, 13-7, when Mevis kicked a field goal on the final play before halftime.

In the third quarter, Tigers’ quarterback Brady Cook rushed for a 3-yard touchdown and Mevis kicked a field goal to make the score, 22-7.

In the fourth quarter, Luther Burden recorded a 21-yard touchdown pass from Cook. Missouri’s defense returned an interception for a score.

Schrader had 205 rushing yards and one touchdown on 35 rushing attempts. He also had five receptions for 116 receiving yards.

Milton III completed 22-of-34 pass attempts for 267 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also had 36 rushing yards on 10 rushing attempts.

Ramel Keyton had four receptions for 57 receiving yards.

Dont’e Thornton Jr. working in different spots during fall camp

Tennessee wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. is working in different spots during fall camp.

Tennessee practiced for the seventh time during fall training camp on Wednesday.

Wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope met with media following practice and discussed Dont’e Thornton Jr.

The 6-foot-5, 214-pound wide receiver transferred to Tennessee from Oregon on Jan. 9.

“We are working him in different spots,” Pope said of Thornton Jr. “We are doing a good job of trying to use his skill set to put him in some different situations. Just his growth, the most was getting in here and learning what we do, learning how we operate on the field and in the building.

“There is a work ethic I think that has been brought on by the players. It is expected here now, so with him learning to play ball, with him getting in here and creating habits, he’s fit right in with these guys and has done a great job so far.”

Thornton appeared in 25 games at Oregon from 2021-22. He recorded 26 receptions, 541 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns, while totaling six rushing yards on two attempts.

Vols’ most intriguing offensive skill position players in 2023 fall camp

Tennessee’s most intriguing offensive skill position players in 2023 fall camp.

Tennessee kicked off fall training camp Aug. 2 at Haslam Field in preparation for the 2023 season.

The Vols will open its 2023 season versus Virginia on Sept. 2 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff between Tennessee and the Cavaliers is slated for noon EDT and will be televised by ABC.

The 2023 season will be Tennessee’s third under head coach Josh Heupel.

Heupel guided Tennessee to a 18-8 (10-6 SEC) record and two bowl appearances from 2021-22.

Tennessee’s 2023 football schedule

Offensive skill position players can be defined as quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends and wide receivers.

2023 will be quarterback Joe Milton’s sixth and final collegiate season. Freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava enters his first collegiate season after being the Vols’ highest-rated recruit in Tennessee’s 2023 signing class.

Following Tennessee’s first week during fall training camp, Vols Wire looks at the most intriguing offensive skill position players ahead of the season. Offensive skill position players, including running backs, tight ends and wide receivers, and excluding quarterbacks, are listed below.

Josh Heupel discusses first impressions of Dont’e Thornton

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discusses first impressions of wide receiver Dont’e Thornton.

Dont’e Thornton transferred to Tennessee from Oregon in January.

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Thornton appeared in 25 games from 2021-22 for Oregon. He recorded 26 receptions, 541 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns, while totaling six rushing yards on two attempts with the Ducks.

Following Tennessee’s first spring practice on Monday, third-year head coach Josh Heupel discussed his first impressions of Thornton.

“He’s long, he’s got great speed, he’s got experience, he’s mature and he’s got great work habits,” Heupel said of Thornton. “He’s a guy that is constantly up here in the meeting room, but also doing things in the indoor and trying to become the best he can be. He’s got some position flexibility, can play inside, can play outside.

“How quickly he grasps what we do offensively is going to be one of the keys for him as we go through the spring. I’m really excited about who he is and what he’s brought to the table so far.”

PHOTOS: Tennessee football kicks off 2023 spring practices

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Dont’e Thornton can provide position flexibility to Vols’ offense

Oregon transfer wide receiver Dont’e Thornton can provide position flexibility to Tennessee’s offense.

Joey Halzle was promoted as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jan. 5.

He met with media Feb. 8 and previewed Tennessee ahead of spring practices.

Halzle discussed Oregon transfer wide receiver Dont’e Thornton being part of Tennessee’s offense in 2023.

“With Dont’e, really big guy that can run,” Halzle said. “He’s 6’4-plus, the day he steps on the field he might always be the fastest guy on the field. That guy can really roll. He does a great job of giving you position flexibility with what he has done and his ability to get in and out of breaks.

“He’s fluid, he can roll over the in-steps, he can do all of that type of stuff. He can read defenses from his time playing college football. He gives you a chance to move him all over the field and create mismatches.”

Thornton committed to the Vols on Jan. 9.

He appeared in 25 games from 2021-22 for Oregon. Thornton recorded 26 receptions, 541 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns, while totaling six rushing yards on two attempts.

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Oregon wide receiver Dont’e Thornton commits to Tennessee

Oregon wide receiver Dont’e Thornton commits to Tennessee.

Oregon wide receiver Dont’e Thornton announced his commitment to Tennessee on Monday.

“Go Vols,” Thornton announced Monday.

The 6-foot-5, 197-pound wide receiver entered the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 5.

Thornton appeared in 25 games from 2021-22 with the Ducks. He recorded 26 receptions, 541 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns, while totaling six rushing yards on two attempts.

Thornton was initially offered by Tennessee on April 25, 2019 under head coach Jeremy Pruitt.

The 2023 season will be the third for the Vols under head coach Josh Heupel.

Heupel has compiled an 18-8 (10-6 SEC) record as Tennessee’s head coach from 2021-22. He was hired in Jan. 2021.

A look at the Vols’ 2023 football schedule

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