Re-examining Oregon's recruiting targets to finish out the 2021 cycle: Offense

What are the Ducks getting in Dont’e Thornton?

Recruiting / Tuesday, October 20th, 2020

Since Mario Cristobal was elevated to head coach at the conclusion of the 2017 season, there hasn’t been much for Duck fans to gripe about, particularly for those who closely follow the year-round recruiting intrigue.

However, if there has been one nit to pick, it would be the fact that Oregon hasn’t quite figured out a way to consistently attract top flight talent to the wide receiver position despite the program’s tremendous success on offense the past few decades. Yet, even that narrative feels like it’s being turned on its head, especially considering what Cristobal and company have accomplished thus far in addressing the position on the recruiting trail.

With four-star prospects Kyron Ware-Hudson and Isaiah Brevard, plus five-star prospect Troy Franklin, already verbally committed to play receiver at Oregon in 2021, the Ducks added perhaps the final piece to their star-studded collection of highly-touted pass catchers Tuesday with the commitment of Baltimore (Md.) Mount St. Joseph four-star wide out Dont’e Thornton.

With the addition of Thornton, the Ducks now boast the highest rated quartet of receivers to commit to a single Pac-12 school in the modern recruiting era. Using 247Sports’ Composite Rankings, Oregon’s average Composite score for the four receivers they have currently committed is .9594, which barely edges out USC’s 2006 class of wide outs which included Vidal Hazelton, David Ausberry, Jamere Holland (who eventually transferred to Oregon), and Travon Patterson (.9575 Composite average). Thornton’s inclusion in the Ducks’ 2021 recruiting class also speaks to the impressive level in which the Ducks have recruited nationally, as Thornton is the eighth recruit from east of the Rocky Mountains to pledge a commitment to Oregon this cycle.

After compiling 26 offers from major programs from coast-to-coast, Thornton chose the Ducks from a final group of schools that featured Texas, Florida State, Arizona State, Notre Dame, USC, and Virginia. Ranked as the nation’s no. 6-ranked wide receiver and no. 51 overall player in the 2021 class, Thornton’s commitment further solidifies Oregon’s third-ranked recruiting class nationally.

Below we take a closer look at Thornton’s game, examining his weaknesses and strengths, as well as projecting how he may make an impact for the Ducks when he ultimately arrives on campus.

Notable weaknesses:

  • Needs to refine route-running: Finding quality route-runners at the high school level can be a difficult thing, as most highly-recruited receivers are often good enough to get by on pure athletic traits. Thornton is one of these kinds of players, and though his route-running ability shows promise, it is currently an underdeveloped aspect of his impressive overall game.
  • Needs to get stronger: Thornton’s tall, sinewy build projects quite nicely to the next level, but there’s plenty of weight training work that needs to be done in order for the Baltimore product to reach his tremendous potential. Adding strength will not only help Thornton more effectively defeat press coverage, but also enable him to be a more effective blocker and a tougher guy to corral and bring to the turf when the ball is in his hands.

Notable strengths:

  • Breakaway speed: For a receiver who is 6-foot-5 and 185 pounds, Thornton has the burst and long speed of a player who is much smaller. His 39 catches for 1,074 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior proves his big-play potential, but it’s worth noting that Thornton often did much of his damage in the passing game after the catch. His ability to threaten from all areas of the field makes him one of the best wide receiver prospects in the 2021 class.
  • Prototypical size: The Ducks have made it clear that they are in the market for pass catchers with size during the 2021 recruiting cycle. And of the commitments that Oregon has reeled in to this point, Thornton may be the one with the most impressive combination of athleticism and size. He’s a player with clear NFL potential and someone who could quickly prove to be a nightmare matchup once he adjusts to the college game.
  • Makes plays in traffic: Though he currently lacks the strength to be even more effective in this area of his game, Thornton shows the ability to be an effective playmaker in confined areas. Thornton has a good feel for using his body to shield defenders away from the ball and the concentration to make contested catches in traffic. For such a young player, he flashes a very well-rounded game.

Overall outlook:

Though Thornton may be the fourth and final receiver the Ducks add to their deeply talented 2021 recruiting class, he was arguably the receiver who had been the strongest Oregon lean for the longest period of time. Dating all the way back to the summer of 2019 and his presence at Oregon’s annual “Saturday Night Live” camp which is held for some of the Ducks’ most highly coveted prospects, Thornton had been a player who showed tremendous interest in the Oregon program despite living nearly 3,000 miles away from the campus in Eugene.

His addition to this recruiting class this cycle gives Oregon perhaps the nation’s most talented incoming group of pass catchers (tight ends included) entering 2021, and certainly one of, if not, the most talented receiver class in the Pac-12 Conference during the modern recruiting era. Thornton’s size, skill-set, and recruiting profile is reminiscent of current Duck and former USC transfer Devon Williams, who figures to have a notable role on offense for the Ducks in 2020 as Cristobal and company look to replace Juwan Johnson.

With that, the opportunity for Thornton to make an instant impact as a true freshman in 2021 may be somewhat limited. Not only do the Ducks expect to have Williams on the roster at that time, but Oregon is also expected to have veteran Bryan Addison vying for playing time at the same position. Add in other players such as Isaah Crocker, Jaron Waters, and Lance Wilhoite, alongside other 2021 recruits like Ware-Hudson, Franklin, and Brevard, and you see how difficult it might be for Thornton to make an early mark. However, if given a year to mature physically and refine the fundamentals of his game, it would be no surprise to see Thornton hit the ground running in 2022 as one of the most tantalizing young talents for Oregon on the offensive side of the ball.

Top Photo: Baltimore (Md.) Mount Saint Joseph WR Dont’e Thornton (247Sports)

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