Silver And Black Pride
Rookie wide receiver has the size and speed offensive coordinator Chip Kelly must take advantage of
How does a wide receiver prospect who stands nearly 6-foot-5 and runs a 4.3-flat 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine not get taken until the fourth-round of the 2025 NFL Draft?
When said prospect is viewed as a one-trick pony.
Despite measuring in at 6-foot-4 5/8 inches (nearly 6-foot-5) and 205 pounds and running a blazing 40, Tennessee wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. didn’t hear his name called until Day 3 of the draft. But he went to a team where a prospect of his nature would’ve been a much higher selection in eras past: The Las Vegas Raiders.
By The Numbers:
Don’te Thorton Jr., Wide Receiver, Tennessee
At his size and speed, Thornton is a prototypical throwback to a point in history where those two attributes were the primary job requirements to sport Silver & Black. So much so that current Raiders owner Mark Davis quipped the selection was the “Al Davis” pick.
“Yeah, Mark joked that was the Al Davis pick of this draft, the height, weight, speed, raw traits, athleticism, speed, and I think it’s just focusing on what he can do and what he can be,” Las Vegas general manager John Spytek said of Thornton during a post draft press conference. “I mean, he’s a 4.3, low 4.3 guy. He’s 6’4”-plus 200-something pounds, big-time five-star recruit, goes to Oregon, then goes to Tennessee. You watch his target tape, I think it’s pretty impressive. And we think he hasn’t hit his ceiling yet. We think he can still refine and improve under our coaches, but he definitely has physical traits that are outstanding.”
While Thornton is viewed as single-skilled specialist coming out of Tennessee, that singular trick is one hell of a bang. He averaged a nation-leading 25.4 yards per catch in his final season for the Volunteers hauling in 26 passes for 661 yards and six touchdowns. It was a low-volume but electrifying senior season at Tennessee.
It’s Thornton’s “scare you death” jets that offensive coordinator Chip Kelly must take advantage of — in any shape or way possible.
Whether it was your standard fly/go routes or deep posts, Thornton’s instant acceleration and breakaway speed were ever present this past season. The 2024 campaign was a season of career-high marks as Thornton was targeted 34 times with his production all being his collegiate career best.
Thornton spent his first two years as an Oregon Duck before transferring and becoming a Tennessee Volunteer from 2023-24.
As a field stretcher who tests a defense’s athletic ability and discipline, Thornton is the type of receiving option the Raiders sorely missed. He’s a unique blend...
