'17 DL Christopher Thornton (Amarillo Palo Duro) [LOI: NT]

Cerebus · January 25, 2017

Quote

Thornton figures to spearhead the Palo Duro defense up front, as he’s a returning first-team All-District 3-5A selection at defensive end. Last year he had 62 tackles, including nine for losses along with six sacks for a team that finished 1-9.

Wag Tag · January 25, 2017

This kid is a linebacker in a 3-4.. put on 20lbs and he is ready to go!!

Cerebus · January 25, 2017

He was all district at DE and TE his junior and senior years. His team won 3 games both years combined, so at least we know he didn't get those just by playing on a great team.

TheReal_jayD · January 25, 2017

10 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

Yeah, I thought we flipped Hambone late. TXSt maybe?

11 minutes ago, MGNation92 said:

Hambone was a 3 star recruit with 2 other FBS offers, plus several FCS offers.

http://247sports.com/Recruitment/LaDarius-Hamilton-72458/RecruitInterests

Tx State pulled offer and I believe so did Lafeyette. It was between us and Mcneese at the end

MEANGREENCOACH2 · January 25, 2017

Speed Kills i like him!!! i will say he needs to work on hitting the qb a little lower or he will be getting ejected from games lol!!! but i like the speed

AustinFromUNT · January 25, 2017

If they've only averaged 3 wins in the last 2 seasons wait to see what he can do when he doubles that in a single season

MEEN2018 · January 25, 2017

I know people are going to complain about how he has no offers and isn't a 3 star, but I don't really see why people think we should be winning all these recruiting battles.

Obviously as UNT fans we know all the great reasons why they should pick UNT over others but if you're looking head to head with a school like UTSA as an 18 year old which one would you pick? To play at a school that has had way more success in the last few years and now has a head coach that was last Leonard Fournette's position coach at a powerhouse SEC school, or here where they have had 2 "good" seasons in the last decade and 2 years ago was maybe the worst FBS team in history.

Im a North Texas homer myself but we have to look at the situation. This is not only a major rebuild but a major culture change happening. One 5 win season won't all of a sudden open recruits' eyes. Seth and company are on the right track and making way more progress than even they probably expected at this point but still more to go until we should be expecting every guy to have multiple FBS offers like we do now.

My favorite NFL team is Tampa Bay, and a few years ago they got a TE at the top of the 2nd round that dropped because of injury and off field concerns but had 1st round talent. They also signed a UDFA TE from Harvard that year. The Harvard guy out worked the draft pick and is now one of the star players on the team, while the draft pick got cut. Sometimes it's not about the talent or stars but about the fit and work ethic. These are the guys that help change the culture. These blue shirts have a chip on their shoulders to prove some people on this board wrong and I hope they do.

And honestly I'm going to trust Seth and Co. about the guys they are adding because they know their systems and the type of guys they need to fit that. Also there is a reason they are D1 coaches and we are on this board. No one expected UNT to win more than a couple games at best and we almost won a bowl game against a tough Army team. I understand the skepticism but trust the process. GMG!

Cerebus · January 25, 2017

2 minutes ago, MEEN2018 said:

I know people are going to complain about how he has no offers and isn't a 3 star, but I don't really see why people think we should be winning all these recruiting battles.

I don't expect to recruit better than UT, but I sure as hell don't expect to get smoked by UTSA in recruiting either. Say whatever you want to say about NT's short comings, but it's not like the UTSA, FIU, etc don't have them also and they are currently beating us pretty handily in the recruiting race.

That being said, on this specific recruit, I think West Texas kids are often overlooked.

Withers940 · January 25, 2017

29 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

Yeah, I thought we flipped Hambone late. TXSt maybe?

Yep, it was us and Texas state

MEEN2018 · January 25, 2017

1 minute ago, Cerebus said:

I don't expect to recruit better than UT, but I sure as hell don't expect to get smoked by UTSA in recruiting either. Say whatever you want to say about NT's short comings, but it's not like the UTSA, FIU, etc don't have them also and they are currently beating us pretty handily in the recruiting race.

That being said, on this specific recruit, I think West Texas kids are often overlooked.

I agree that we should EXPECT to be beating those teams. We should expect to be like TCU was before they joined the Big 12, a mid major power. But the team and athletic department were both horrible before Seth and Wren got here and there is rebuilding to be done. UNT has more to offer than almost all other G5 programs but a lot of times recruits see the win-loss records. I think next year we should definitely be expecting to be one of the best recruiting teams in CUSA as I anticipate a better year than last. I think if after another year we are still getting badly outrecruited then it will be time to start to worry, but not yet.

Cerebus · January 25, 2017

Harry · January 25, 2017

Is this the year of the Blue shirt or what?

UNTLifer · January 25, 2017

I really like this young man's video. Fast off the edge, uses his hands well to fend off blockers/strong upper body, has the athleticism to run down players, hurdle blockers, etc... Seems to be humble and a hard worker.

TheReal_jayD · January 25, 2017

4 minutes ago, UNTLifer said:

I really like this young man's video. Fast off the edge, uses his hands well to fend off blockers/strong upper body, has the athleticism to run down players, hurdle blockers, etc... Seems to be humble and a hard worker.

Reminds me a little of a kid from lake Dallas that ended up at UTSA.

TreeFiddy · January 25, 2017

I would be curious how his measurable compare to rated recruits.

MGNation92 · January 25, 2017

3 minutes ago, TheReal_jayD said:

Reminds me a little of a kid from lake Dallas that ended up at UTSA.

If he's the conference freshman of the year I'll eat my shoes

Cerebus · January 25, 2017

4 minutes ago, MGNation92 said:

If he's the conference freshman of the year I'll eat my shoes

Careful. We made a guy eat an actual crow once.

THOR · January 25, 2017

32 minutes ago, Harry said:

Is this the year of the Blue shirt or what?

We aren't adding the helwig blue again are we???

MeanGreenTexan · January 25, 2017

35 minutes ago, Harry said:

Is this the year of the Blue shirt or what?

With every blueshirt we offer, the 2018 class dwindles. I worry more and more with each one we offer.

EDIT: by "dwindles" I mean recruits who will be seniors in high school this upcoming season. I understand we still have the same number of guys.

Edited January 25, 2017 by MeanGreenTexan

TreeFiddy · January 25, 2017

4 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

With every blueshirt we offer, the 2018 class dwindles. I worry more and more with each one we offer.

Of course, we could always just sign more blue shirts next year if we new players.

MeanGreenTexan · January 25, 2017

1 minute ago, TreeFiddy said:

Of course, we could always just sign more blue shirts next year if we new players.

Sure!

When does it stop though?

TreeFiddy · January 25, 2017

Just now, MeanGreenTexan said:

Sure!

When does it stop though?

When we get good. Whenever that may be. If not, I feel sorry for the coach that comes next.

TheReal_jayD · January 26, 2017

37 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

Sure!

When does it stop though?

When they get the roster up to size with the rest of the D 1 in the country.

BillySee58 · January 26, 2017

2 hours ago, TheReal_jayD said:

Tx State pulled offer and I believe so did Lafeyette. It was between us and Mcneese at the end

Right, but they still offered, and they still believed he had FBS-level ability when they evaluated him. In this case we are the first FBS team to evaluate this kid as having an FBS prospect.

I would say his case is more similar to Joseph Ozougwu. And I think that'll be a little more similar blueprint as far as role and development path that he will take.

jtm0097 · January 26, 2017

Impressed with his film, but West Texas is not was it use to be in football. He will need to get in the weight room and bulk up. But could be a solid pickup down the road.