chattanooga MOCS

CHATTANOOGA:  One of the most experienced players on the team...excellent student who has been on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll throughout his career...recorded 10+ tackles seven times in his career...has 269 career tackles, ninth on the Mocs’ all-time list...32.5 tackles-for-loss in his career....started 38 consecutive games.

2009 • SENIOR SEASON:  Named Second Team All-Southern Conference by the league’s coaches...Led the team and was No. 6 in the SoCon with 95 tackles on the season...10+ tackles three times in 2009...career-high 17 tackles against Glenville State...also had 1.5 TFls and two PBUs....seven tackles against Furman...INT at Presbyterian...10 stops at Samford...12 tackles and a forced fumble at Georgia Southern...earned the Scrappy Moore Award from the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame for comprehensive excellence, academically, athletically and socially...named to the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll for the fall semester.   

2008 • JUNIOR SEASON:  Started all 12 games...led the team in tackles with 79 on the year...had 59 solo stops...recorded seven tackles-for-loss...recovered fumbles against Georgia Southern and The Citadel...broke up five passes and had two QB hurries...twice hit double-digits in tackles with 10 against Elon and Appalachian State...made the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for the fall semester...made the Dean’s List in the spring...earned the Coleman Lew Award from the Southern Conference for his leadership on an off the field.

2007 • SOPHOMORE SEASON:  Ranked fourth on the squad in tackles with 66...11-game starter at one of the outside linebacker spots...47 of his hits were solos...led the team and the Southern Conference in tackles for loss with 18...tied for 13th nationally in that category...team leader in interceptions with four...forced three fumbles...recorded four or more hits in all but two games...set season high with 10 tackles and seven solos against Wofford...totaled 12 tackles behind the line in three consecutive games...picked off two passes at Western Carolina and returned one 42 yards...also recorded an interception at Arkansas...fell on fumbles against Wofford and at Appalachian State...recorded a safety against The Citadel, knocking down a Bulldog back in the end zone.

2006 • FRESHMAN SEASON:  One of four true freshmen to see game action...ranked 11th on the squad in total tackles with 29...collected 19 solo stops and 10 assists...broke up three passes and registered one quarterback sack...started final four games of the year at weak inside linebacker...played in all 11 games...had an assisted tackle in collegiate debut in win at Tennessee Tech...tallied two hits at Memphis...all three of his tackles at The Citadel were solo stops...recorded three tackles versus Appalachian State...set season high with 12 hits, including eight solos, at Furman...produced four solo stops, one assist and one tackle behind the line against Elon...knocked down two passes against Jacksonville State...totaled three tackles at Wofford.

HIGH SCHOOL:  Two-time all-county on defense...voted team’s Most Valuable Player as a senior...led Dekalb County in tackles in final year...Pirates went 5-5 his sophomore season, 6-5 his junior year and 4-7 his senior season...coached at Stone Mountain by Jasper Jewel and Charles Reeves...picked up two letters in basketball...played small forward...member of the Principal’s List for all As...graduated in top five percent of his class.

PERSONAL:  Born Sept. 25, 1988, in Houston, Texas...son of Arletha and Andrew Thornton...graduated in May 2010 with a degree in Criminal Justice.