LSU has received a ton of good news this offseason in terms of players making the decision to return to Baton Rouge for another season but Ed Orgeron’s program was never going to get everyone to return in 2021.
That looks to be the case regarding senior linebacker Ray Thornton, who entered the NCAA transfer portal on Tuesday. News of Thornton’s decision was first reported by Matt Zenitz of AL.com.
Thornton, a senior from Killeen, Texas, registered five tackles for the Tigers in 2020. He signed with LSU as a four-star prospect out of Shoemaker High School in the 2016 recruiting cycle.
Here is Thornton’s bio from the LSU team page (which has not been updated to show his 2020 contributions to the team):
JUNIOR SEASON (2019)
Played in 14 games with no starts … Registered nine tackles, one quarterback hurry and recovered a fumble … Fumble recovery came in first quarter against Alabama that halted a Crimson Tide possession inside the LSU 10-yard line … His fumble recovery led to a 92-yard LSU drive as the Tigers took a 7-0 lead and rode that momentum to the victory … Credited with a quarterback hurry on Alabama’s next possession on 3rd-and-6 that forced a Crimson Tide punt … Had season-best four tackles in win over Arkansas.SOPHOMORE SEASON (2018)
Played in 12 games with two starts … Starts came in the Fiesta Bowl win over UCF and in the home-opener against Southeastern Louisiana … Had career-best five tackles against Southeastern Louisiana and Ole Miss … First career sack came in win over Southeastern … Added four tackles against Florida and Alabama.REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON (2017)
Played six games and started the final two games at outside linebacker … Finished the season with 10 tackles … Recorded a season-high three tackles against Texas A&M and in the Citrus Bowl against Notre Dame … Also finished with two tackles against Tennessee and one tackle against both BYU and Chattanooga.FRESHMAN SEASON (2016)
Redshirted as a true freshman in 2016.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
