Tennessee receiver Dont’e Thornton was a transfer last season. He also switched positions from wide receiver to slot receiver. He was also as hyped as any transfer the Vols had signed to that point in the transfer portal era. That might have been just a little bit much.
Dont’e Thornton admittedly was a bit overwhelmed last season. Now, things are a bit easier to adjust to with a year under his belt in Knoxville. That hasn’t gone unnoticed by Tennessee’s starting quarterback, Nico Iamaleava.
“I feel like he’s more confident in the offense, got him (last year) outside and inside, so I feel like it’s just more comfortable being in the offense, getting that first year under his belt,” Iamaleava said. “Just like me getting that first year under my belt. It takes some time to get this offense really down. So I feel like Dont’e’s looked great in the fall, in the spring. He had a great fall camp and can’t wait to watch him go out there and work.”
Said Thornton, “I feel like this might have been one of my best camps my entire college career.”
For the record, this would be three preseason camps for Thornton, who transferred from Oregon after the 2022 season and was expected to replace Jalin Hyatt, who was pretty good that season. He won the Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver in the nation in 2022. Asking Thornton to replace that production, especially with a new quarterback, last season was asking a lot.
Thornton missed the final four games of last season with a leg injury that he has completely recovered from. However, his mental approach to this season may be just as important as his physical health.
“Not to sound cocky, but I have a lot of confidence in my game on the field,” Thornton said. “My skills are going to come to an end and all that type of stuff, but I know I had to develop my mental game knowing that whenever ups and downs happen, I can’t let that take a toll on me and have me on the emotional roller coaster throughout the games or just in life in general.
“So I’ve been really focused on my mental game, meditating a lot, praying a lot more, just being in tune with my faith and then my own mental (state) just to feel like I feel like if I could do that and be mentally stable with everything. It’ll make everything else work smooth.”
Thornton, who is 6-foot-5 and 214 pounds, seems a better fit as an outside receiver. Plus, he said he’s more comfortable there. Hence, he’s seen most of his preseason work at wide receiver. However, there will be times when Thornton may have to play slot receiver due to an offensive shift or injury this season. Despite the disappointment of last season, there was a silver lining to the 2023 season. After last year, he feels comfortable playing both wideout and slot receiver.
“With me making the switch to being an outside receiver after I already learned the slot, it made me know the offense,’ the senior said. “…because once I know what the slot has, I know what my job will have to be for me to accomplish that outside receiver. And I feel like it’s a little bit less stuff when you play outside receiver. Once you know how the whole offense flows, it makes it a lot more easier for you to do your job at a high level.”
When asked what position he prefers to play, the Maryland native said, “For me personally, playing outside is a lot easier because I’m used to playing outside in space because that’s been what I’ve been playing my whole life. So like when I – last year in the Kentucky game – that was my first game playing outside here in the offense. It instantly clicked for me. For some reason it just feels like it’s easier for me.
It certainly sounds like “easier” is better for Thornton this season. It also sounds like he’s in a better position – in more ways than one.
