University of Tennessee Athletics

CAREER

A speedy transfer wide receiver with incredible athletic ability and big potential … Originally signed with Oregon as a member of the Class of 2021, playing two seasons with the Ducks before enrolling at Tennessee in January 2023 … Made his presence known during 2023 spring practice with the Vols and owns two seasons of remaining eligibility … Can play on the outside or in the slot … Played in 25 games in his two seasons at Oregon, totaling 26 catches for 541 yards and three touchdown catches … Played in 34 career games (nine at UT) and made eight starts (three at UT).

2023 – JUNIOR

Missed the final two games of the season after sustaining a lower-body injury at Missouri (11/11) ... Started for the third consecutive week and hauled in a 46-yard touchdown reception, his first as a Vol, for UT’s only score of the game in loss at No. 14 Missouri (11/11) but was injured on the play and did not return to the game ... Started in Homecoming win over UConn (11/4), finishing with two receptions for 26 yards ... Notched his first start at UT in road win at Kentucky (10/28), finishing with three catches for a season-high and team-leading 63 yards, including a season-long 47-yard reception to convert a second-and-19 midway through the third quarter ... Returned from injury and played 18 offensive snaps in win vs. Texas A&M (10/14) ... Did not play vs South Carolina (9/30) due to injury ... Made two catches for 24 yards in win over UTSA (9/23) ... Had his most productive game as a Vol with three catches for 53 yards, including a 43-yard reception in the third quarter of his SEC debut at Florida (9/16) ... Made two catches for 12 yards in his Tennessee debut during season-opening win vs. Virginia (9/2).

2022 – SOPHOMORE (OREGON)

Played in 11 of Oregon’s first 12 games, making three starts, before opting to enter the transfer portal … Caught 17 passes for 366 yards and a touchdown, averaging a team-best 21.53 yards per catch … Owned 13 receptions of 10-plus yards, seven of 20-plus yards, four of 30-plus yards and two of 50-plus yards … One of 10 Pac-12 players and one of three Ducks with multiple 50-plus yard catches … Matched career-high with four catches for 60 yards vs. Eastern Washington (9/10) … Hauled in his third career touchdown on a 46-yard reception vs. No. 25 Washington (11/12) … Tied career-high with four catches for a career-high 151 yards, including 101 in the first half vs. No. 10 Utah (11/19) … Became the first Duck to surpass 150 receiving yards in a game since 2019 … Logged two catches of 50-plus yards in the game, including a season-long 58-yard catch in the second quarter.

2021 – FRESHMAN (OREGON)

Played in all 14 games for the Ducks as a true freshman … Made two starts at wide receiver … Caught nine passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns, headlined by four catches for 90 yards and a score in the Valero Alamo Bowl … Impressed in first offensive playing time, catching two passes for 60 yards and his first career touchdown vs. Stony Brook (9/18) … First TD came on first collegiate touch, a 54-yard catch-and-run from fellow freshman Ty Thompson … Caught two passes for 16 yards at No. 23 Utah (11/20) … Closed the season with the best game of his freshman year, setting season-highs with four catches for 90 yards and a touchdown vs. No. 16 Oklahoma (12/29) … TD came on a 66-yard pass from Anthony Brown.

HIGH SCHOOL

A consensus four-star recruit and top-100 player nationally by 247Sports Composite … Prepped at Mount St. Joseph in Baltimore … Ranked the No. 72 overall player by 247Sports.com, No. 56 by Rivals.com and No. 88 by ESPN.com for the Class of 2021 … The No. 1 rated wide receiver in Maryland and was No. 6 in the 247Sports Composite and No. 10 by 247Sports.com at the position … Selected to play in the 2021 All-American Bowl and the 2021 Polynesian Bowl … Finished his high school career with 78 receptions for 1,881 yards and 26 touchdowns while averaging 24.1 yards per catch despite his senior season being postponed due to COVID-19 … Owned 11 100-yard receiving games over his final two seasons … Caught multiple-TD passes in seven career games, including three with a career-high three TD receptions … As a junior, helped lead Mount St. Joseph to the 2019 MIAA Class A state championship with a 10-2 record … Finished his junior campaign with 38 receptions for 1,021 yards and 16 touchdowns in 11 games played … Also a standout in track and field … Earned a spot on the honor roll in five separate semesters.

PERSONAL

Full name is Dont’e Terrell Thornton Jr. … Born on Nov. 30, 2002 … Father is Dont’e Thornton Sr. and mother is Taria Felder … Majoring in communication studies … Twitter handle is @IamDTJ11 and Instagram handle is @mac11___