Tennessee’s revolving door at receiver finally contains someone walking into the program.
Dont’e Thornton, a former top-100 national prospect who spent the past two seasons at Oregon, announced Monday afternoon via social media that he would be continuing his college career with the Volunteers.
Thornton’s revelation was quite succinct, as the 6-foot-5, 199-pounder from Baltimore posted “GO VOLS!!!!!” on Twitter. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel responded to the news with a “#GBO.”
The Vols are losing at least five receivers from their Orange Bowl championship team, with Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman off to the NFL and with Jimmy Calloway, Jimmy Holiday and Walker Merrill having entered the same NCAA transfer portal that has produced Thornton in Knoxville. Tennessee’s 31-14 downing of Clemson in Miami Gardens transpired with Ramel Keyton and Bru McCoy playing every snap at receiver and Squirrel White playing almost every snap.
Keyton, McCoy and White are returning, but the Vols went through a lesson in depth this past season when a high ankle sprain kept Tillman out of action for more than a month.