Dont'e Thornton expected to be a 'matchup problem' for Tennessee

Tennessee’s offense has plenty of production to replace after being No. 1 in the nation in scoring last season. That’s especially true in the passing game considering what they lost at quarterback and wide receiver. To On3’s J.D. PicKell, that’s where transfer receiver Dont’e Thornton comes in for the Vols.

While at SEC Media Days last week, PicKell named Thornton as a potential breakout player in the conference in a segment of ‘The Hard Count’. He pointed out how the incoming junior has all the tools to come right in and make an impact immediately for the Tennessee offense.

“Dont’e Thornton is a guy who is just a one-on-one nightmare,” PicKell said. “What wins one-on-ones in college football? Especially at the wide receiver position? Size and speed. Dont’e Thornton is six foot five. That’s real tall playing the wide receiver position. He’s been reported to run a 4.4 40-yard dash. That’s real fast.”

That size and speed worked out for him at times during his two seasons at Oregon. He left after a pair of campaigns in Eugene with 26 catches for 541 yards and a trio of touchdowns overall to his name.

His frame and his jets are now Josh Heupel’s to eventually utilize through the air for the Volunteers. Considering the holes left at wide receiver beyond players like Bru McCoy and Squirrel White, PicKell believes all these things make Thornton a player that will make plays instantly upon the start of his season on Rocky Top.

“The Tennessee offense creates more mismatches than Tinder. And so Dont’e Thornton is going to get a lot of one-on-one coverage. They’re going to split him out wide and let that dude eat,” said PicKell. “That 4.4 speed? That six-foot-five size? He’s going to be a matchup problem Saturday in and Saturday out in this offense under Josh Heupel.”

“Expect him to do numbers like Good Will Hunting with that production left by Jalin Hyatt and the size left by Cedric Tillman. And all the things they want to do with the big body that he has? I’m telling you now. Big things are coming from Dont’e Thornton,” PicKell said. “Expect him to eat greedy in Knoxville this coming season.”

Thornton has the potential, the skillset, and the size to flourish as an option for Joe Milton to throw to this fall. That’s why PicKell is very high on him as a weapon now that he’ll be wearing orange and white for the first time in just over a month.