A South Georgia linebacker who made his debut into the rankings this spring, Thornton is a small-town pass-rusher who could likely move into the top-100 by the end of the summer. He brings promising 6-foot-5 200-pound frame and dominated last season as a sophomore, making 91 tackles, 20 TFLs and eight sacks. He’s explodes off the snap and can beat opposing tackles with both speed and power. He’s still raw, so he should get better over time as he continues to add good weight and perfect his technique. He’s one of the top returning defenders in the region for the 2028 class and is now ranked as the No. 33 LB prospect in the state. Look for his ranking to climb more and more over time.

One of the more underrated pass-rushers and overall outside linebackers across the state, Thornton didn’t play like your typical junior last season for Cairo. The small-town defender explodes off the snap and knows how to hunt down the quarterback in the backfield. He already looks like a Power Four player at 6-foot-5 200-pounds who should continue to put on more weight and muscle over time. He’s coming off an outstanding junior season where he tackles everything in sight, securing 91 tackles, 20 TFLs and eight sacks. His recruitment will take off soon and he’s likely bound for an even bigger season as a senior in 2026.