With all of the playmakers the Tennessee football team had on the roster last season, sometimes it's easy to forget that wideout Dont'e Thornton Jr. was pretty special with the ball in his hands. He didn't put up video game-type numbers by any means, but he was rock solid for the Vols.
The 22-year-old speedster was drafted in the fourth round by the Las Vegas Raiders and he's already looking pretty darn spectacular at camp. Him and Geno Smith are building chemistry, with Thornton proving to a lot of people early on he could end up being one of the biggest steals of the draft. Is a big-time rookie season on the way for him?
Darts to Dont’e 🎯#RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/k8YZkkYRbi
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) July 28, 2025
Former Tennessee WR Dont'e Thornton Jr. is impressing with the Raiders early on
What always made Thornton stand out for Tennessee was his incredible speed. At the NFL Combine, he turned plenty of heads during workouts, especially when he clocked a 4.3 on his 40-yard dash, which was the second fastest for all WRs.
Put the ball in the air and no quarterback is going to overthrow him. Smith is entering his first season with Las Vegas and he's reunited with Pete Carroll. Things are looking good for the Raiders and Thornton is providing the offense with a downfield threat.
This is something the Tennessee faithful knows all about. Last season catching the ball from former UT signal-caller Nico Iamaleava, the 6-5 Thornton caught 26 balls for 661 yards and six touchdowns. His 25.4 yards per reception was nothing short of impressive.
He spent two years in Knoxville after previously suiting up for the Oregon Ducks. Thornton was a lot of fun to watch in the SEC, but now it's time for him to put on a show in the league. The Raiders are loving what they're seeing thus far and he's going to get even more valuable reps and experience once the preseason gets here. It goes without saying, but Vols fans will be following Year 1 for him closely.