Dont’e Thornton, former Tennessee WR, listed as starter for Raiders in Week 1
By Mark Kern
Published:
Former Tennessee football wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. had a lot of intrigue as he entered the NFL Draft. At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds he has great size while also possessing game-breaking speed with a 4.3 40-yard dash time,
He was drafted in the fourth round by the Las Vegas Raiders, and he put together a really good training camp that had Raiders coaches praising the rookie.
On Wednesday, the Raiders depth chart listed Thornton among the team’s starting wide receivers alongside Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker.
Thornton started his career at Oregon, where he spent the first 2 seasons of his college career. He finished his time there with 26 catches for 543 yards and 3 touchdowns.
In 2023, he transferred to Tennessee and put together his best season last year for the Volunteers, finishing with 26 catches for 661 yards and 6 touchdowns. This was with a less-than-ideal passing attack, too.
During the NFL Combine, Thornton showcased the type of athleticism that gets a team’s attention. He has been impressive during training camp, and the Raiders have rewarded him with a starting spot.
Raiders get the 2025 NFL season started on Sunday when they travel to New England to take on the Patriots.
