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High school football: Oberlin?s Thornton chooses Illinois

Shaun Bennett | The Chronicle-Telegram

The day before the start of the high school football season, the area got its second Big Ten player commitment and this one comes from a player who hasn?t officially played one down here.
Oberlin senior tackle Hugh Thornton has orally committed to play for Illinois ? following Vermilion tight end Derek Hoebing?s decision last month to play for Michigan State ? and can now focus on his senior season with the Phoenix.
?It?s more than just focusing on my senior year,? Thornton said. ?It takes a lot of stress off of me and now I have something to strive for ? playing in the Big Ten.?
The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Thornton transferred to Oberlin from Idaho midway through his junior season, and Phoenix coach Dave McFarland began hitting the phones to get the recruitment process started.
?Illinois was the first school to respond,? McFarland said.
Run-game coordinator and offensive line coach Eric Wolford came to Oberlin to meet with Thornton, but really didn?t know a ton about the potential Illini recruit.
?He just wanted to come and talk to me and learn a little more about me,? Thornton said. ?After we met, he went into the library and watched my highlight film (on rivals.com) with my coach and the principal. Then he met me after my next class to tell me that I had a scholarship waiting.
?It put a big smile on my face.?
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