Ourlads' Profile:
2025 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about DONT'E THORNTON JR.:
Tennessee | Hometown: Baltimore, MD | HT: 6045 | WT: 205 | 40 time: 4.30 | Hand: 0958 | Arm: 3214 | Wing: 7900
One-year starter. Spent two seasons at Oregon prior to transferring to Tennessee in 2023. A height/weight/speed threat who ran a limited route tree but proved to be a vertical threat. Has the burst and final gear to get over the top and with his frame, will be a hard guy to purely cover. There is not a lot of variety to his tape, but the one constant is the creation of explosiveness. Over a third of his catches for the past three seasons went for over 20 yards. Long and wide frame put together with functional strength and power. Excels with straight line movement and burst. Build up speed continues to find another gear as he runs away from defensive backs. Averaged just under 22 yards per catch over his career with excellent efficiency metrics. Physical at the catch point. Struggles to elude defenders post-catch. Slow decision maker and lacks feel. Lateral athleticism does not match up with the vertical traits. Starting from a low point of route running skill set. He is a blank-canvas type to try and develop, but it will take time and there is not much he can do on specials. There is untapped potential that a team will certainly need to develop, but if he gets anywhere near his ceiling, he will be a dangerous weapon at the next level.
2024 Stats: 26-661, 25.4 ypr, 6 TD. OSR:7/42. VJ-33. Draft projection: 6th-7th round