“There aren’t many humans like that”: the nearly 7-foot sprinter who could become the Raiders’ breakout star
The Las Vegas Raiders are banking on this rookie’s size and speed, giving him the opportunity to show off some untapped potential that could take him far.
Former Tennessee wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. didn’t have the best college career. He caught just 65 passes in four seasons of football (two at Tennessee and two at Oregon). But the Raiders are banking on him being a breakout star anyway, and here’s why.
Raiders betting on Dont’e Thornton Jr.
Despite his unproductive college career, the Raiders took Thornton in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Not only is Thornton quite tall - 6′5″ to be exact - but he’s fast.
He caught everyone’s attention at the NFL Scouting Combine back in March when he ran the 40-yard dash in just 4.30 seconds - the tallest player to ever run that speed at the Combine. With speed and size like that, Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly believes Thornton has the potential to be a productive receiver in the NFL.
4.30u!
— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2025
Dont'e Thornton Jr. with an impressive first 40 attempt
📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/f0kJGxWJP5
“I think Dont’e is unique in terms of he’s just a hair under 6-5 and he ran 4.3. There’s not a lot of humans on this planet that do that‚" Kelly said.
“And I think if you had a draw up an outside receiver, you would pick that type of body type, someone that’s got length, someone that’s got a huge catch radius, but also has speed. Sometimes you can get a big guy like that, but he can’t really run, so they can stay with him. So, you add that speed element to him, his ability to sink his hips, his ability to get in and out of cuts.”
The Raiders have a tendency to place value in the physical attributes of their players, and Raiders GM john Spytek agreed that Thornton has something special.
“[Raiders owner] Mark [Davis] joked that was the Al Davis pick of this draft,” said Spytek. “The height, weight, speed, raw traits, athleticism, speed, and I think it’s just focusing on what he can do and what he can be...You watch his target tape, I think it’s pretty impressive. And we think he hasn’t hit his ceiling yet.”
The Raiders’ rookies will report to training camp on Thursday, July 17 with the veterans following suit the following Tuesday. Their first preseason game will be on August 7 against the Seattle Seahawks. They’ll kick off the regular season on Sunday, September 7 against the New England Patriots.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment