Former Tennessee wide receiver Dont’e Thornton posted the second-best 40-yard-dash time among all wide receivers at the NFL Combine on Saturday and was just two one-hundreths of a second away from the best time in the group.
Thornton posted a 4.30 40-yard-dash time as he got out of his first 10 yards in just 1.51 seconds.
The two-year Vol made a habit out of using that speed on breakaway skinny post routes for the Vols last season and was able to show league scouts and executives just how fast his straightaway speed is on Saturday.
Thornton had the second-best time among the wide receivers behind Texas WR Matthew Golden at 4.29 seconds and was fourth overall in the combine this weekend:
- Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston – 4.28 seconds
- Texas WR Matthew Golden – 4.29 seconds
- Iowa State CB Darien Porter – 4.30 seconds
- Tennessee WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. – 4.30 seconds
- Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten – 4.32 seconds
Dont’e was sliding.
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— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) March 1, 2025
More from RTI: Former Tennessee DE James Pearce Posts Insane Results At NFL Combine
Had this been the 2024 NFL Combine, Thornton would have been the fastest wide receiver at the combine and the third-fastest player overall. Thornton also beat out former Tennessee teammate and current Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright, who posted a 4.38 40-yard dash at the 2024 Combine.
Overall, NFL Network gives Thornton a 6.1 grade at the combine this weekend, which also equals a 72 grade for a “good” rating. NFL Network’s grade sees Thornton as a “good backup with the potential to develop into starter.”
Thornton also posted a 33-inch vertical and a 10-foot, 6-inch broad jump.
The former Oregon transfer was Tennessee’s best wide receiver in 2024 with quarterback Nico Iamaleava at the helm for the first time. Thornton led Tennessee in receiving yards (661) and receiving touchdowns (6), using his speed on the outside to get between safeties and split them for big gains.
In early February, Pro Football Network’s Jacob Infante slotted Thornton at No. 250 to the Green Bay Packers. With the speed that he showed on Saturday, though, Thornton may have upped his interest heading into the spring.
Tennessee DL James Pearce Jr. also showed off some speed over the weekend with the fastest 40-time among all defensive linemen at a wicked 4.47 seconds.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more insight on the Vols’ draft hopefuls at the Tennessee Pro Day on March 11 in Knoxville.
put on a show
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— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) March 2, 2025
