Michael Thornton (6-2, 290, 4.8, 28 VJ, 4.8 SH) of Stone Mountain Stephenson, Georgia has been flying under the recruiting radar for the early part of the recruiting season, but he is a phenomenon player and you just knew that he would be a very heavily recruited player before the recruiting season is over.
Great defensive linemen help teams to win Championships and every BCS team in the country that is trying to win a Championship, knows that these Championships start on defense and particularly, the defensive line.
Thornton recorded 95 tackles and four sacks as a junior. These stats sound like pretty modest figures, but he did this from his nose tackle and sometimes as a defensive tackle position. He is so quick, it is very hard for offensive linemen to block him and he is also very strong. He sheds blockers and he uses his hands very effectively in getting to the quarterback or ball carrier.
He was still "Flying Under the Recruiting Radar" a little until he went to the Athens NIKE Super Camp where he was so impressive, he was chosen as the NIKE Defensive Lineman MVP. This was a huge Award, because there were some other great defensive linemen there, including DE Anthony Williams, DE T.J. Stripling, and DE Henry Anderson and they were also very impressive.
I was so impressed with him on his highlight film, I immediately invited him to play in the 2010 All-American Bowl Game Classic.
Right now, while getting ready to start the season with a loaded Stephenson team, Thornton has already received scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Arkansas, Miami, Michigan, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Penn State, NC State, Louisiana Tech, Purdue, and others. |