'10 GA DT Michael Thornton (Official Offer)

[GoRU]

Rivals
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Defensive tackle
Stone Mountain (GA) Stephenson

Ht: 6-foot-2
Wt: 280 lbs
Forty: 4.8 secs
Class: 2010 (High School)

Scout $

3/4

Has offers from South Carolina and Miami, and thinks Auburn might be close.

[GoRU]

Scout $

5/12

Claims to have added offers from Auburn, WVU, Duke, Ole Miss, ECU, NCS, La Tech, Louisville, Arkansas, Tennessee, MSU, and PSU.

[AustinScottistheone]

http://bwi.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=979614

8/24

By Jeffrey Lee. Michael is focused on high school right now, on and off the field. Has always been an Auburn fan, lived relatively close until his 8th grade year and says they are one of his top choices. Michigan and PSU are two schools Michael says he is really feeling....talks about his contact with PSU coach Larry Johnson, says the two have good conversations and hopefully he can make PSU one of his official visits.

[AustinScottistheone]

Stephenson DT Mike Thornton will visit Penn State | AJC College Sports Recruiting

Don’t underestimate Penn State in race to land Thornton
10:45 am August 27, 2009, by Chip Towers

Georgia and Auburn are generally considered the leaders in the recruitment of Stephenson defensive tackle Mike Thornton. But don’t underestimate Penn State in the sweepstakes to land the state’s top uncommitted prospect.

Thornton, a 6-foot-2, 280-pound senior from Stone Mountain, said the only recruiting trip he is absolutely certain he and his father will make this fall is to State College, Penn., to check out the Nittany Lions.

CONTINUED....

[AustinScottistheone]

Thornton: 'I will be visiting Penn State' -'

9/1

By Bill Kurelic, NN Recruiting Analyst
bkurelic@nittanynetwork.com
Sept. 1, 2009

Stone Mountain (Ga.) Stephenson defensive tackle Mike Thornton estimates his scholarship offer total to stand at 30. The list includes Penn State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Miami and Michigan.

However, just one school is assured of an official visit.

“I haven’t scheduled any yet, but I will be visiting Penn State,” Thornton said. “I’m not sure at the moment about any other visits.”

CONTINUED....

[AustinScottistheone]

Scout.com: Thornton’s feeling Georgia

9/13/09

By Chad Simmons. This was the first big game experience Michael has had UGA-South Carolina, and he says he couldn't have been more pleased...UGA creates an awesome environment and he was blown away. Says it is like a real family at UGA and he knows that he can trust what they are saying...has yet to attend any other games but has UGA and Auburn at the top of his list with others in the mix. Visiting Auburn this weekend for the WVU game.

[AustinScottistheone]

http://bwi.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=988015

9/13/09

By Kipp Adams. Says his visit to Georgia was great....talks about getting to speak with the coaches and players on the field prior to the game. Says everyone made him feel wanted...knows UGA is in his top three, with Auburn being another....those two are the top two. Will try to take his five official visits, but if not hopes to get at least three in....reiterates that this was his first CFB game and he needs to see some others to compare.

[AustinScottistheone]

Scout.com: Thornton Discusses Four Leaders

9/15/09

By Allen Wallace. Michael now slightly favors Georgia and Auburn over PSU and Miami (FL)....doesn't know where he wants to go yet and is going to take things slow. Talks about the UGA visit and says he may be going to the Auburn-WVU game this weekend but it isn't a sure thing...talks about Auburn and growing up a fan. Would definitely like to take an official visit to PSU, and talks about both PSU and Miami (FL) a little bit as well.

[AustinScottistheone]

Thornton remains on radar -

9/23/09

By Bill Kurelic, NN Recruiting Analyst
bkurelic@nittanynetwork.com
Sept. 23, 2009

The Nittany Lions have verbal commitments from two defensive tackle prospects: Evan Hailes and DaQuan Jones. But the Penn State staff would like to add at least one more top prospect at the position and a player they are interested in is Stone Mountain (Ga.) Stephenson star Mike Thornton.

In late August, Thornton told NittanyNetwork.com he planned to make an official visit to Penn State.

“I’m still trying to get up to Penn State,” Thornton said on Tuesday night. “I hope I can get up there sometime in November. That’s the only time I see available to get up there.”

Thornton is hoping to graduate early so he will need to get his official visits in soon.

Thornton has approximately 30 scholarship offers including Penn State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Alabama, South Carolina, Auburn, LSU, West Virginia, Miami, Michigan State and Michigan.

CONTINUED.....

[AustinScottistheone]

http://bwi.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=995084

9/29/09

By Josh Helmholdt. Michael has just been focused on his school work and team so he hasn't really thought top 5 or top 10. Says he has weekly contact with Michigan, and talks about trying to visit and figure out a date for an official visit. PSU is the only official he knows for sure...has a great relationship with coach Larry Johnson and Kermit Buggs, hopes it can continue when he does make his official visit.

[AustinScottistheone]

Ward visits Thornton > Palmetto Sports Recruiting News

October 04, 2009
By Eric Guimaraes

DL Michael Thornton (6-2 280) of Stone Mountain, GA says USC coach Lorenzo Ward was at his game this weekend. "I didn't get a chance to talk to him but I heard he was there," said Thornton.

Thornton says he would not mind taking a visit to USC. "I don't know about an official (visit), but I would like to get to a game there," he said. He says he has not scheduled any officials yet but, "I know I'm going to go to Penn State, hopefully in November, and to Michigan."

Thornton likes a lot of things about the Nittany Lions. "They've got a good coaching staff that is going to be there for a while and they're a good team," he said. "They're probably my favorite right now."

He also says that PSU, Michigan, Georgia, and Auburn are showing the most interest in him. In five games, he has 30 tackles and five sacks. His offers include Clemson, USC, PSU, Michigan, Georgia, Georgia Tech, NC State, Arkansas, Miami. and West Virginia.

[AustinScottistheone]

Wolverines keen on defensive tackle Michael Thornton from Georgia | detnews.com | The Detroit News

[AustinScottistheone]

http://bwi.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1013824

11/10/09

By Sean Fitz. Michael says it was a great visit, but he has nothing to compare it to since it was his first official visit....says it seemed like no one person was above the team or stuck out, that PSU was like one team with the whole tradition of no names on the jerseys. Feels he could thrive at PSU and with that being the case, coupled with what he feels is a strong family, location wouldn't be a factor at all....spent almost all of the time with PSU coach Larry Johnson and got to meet with coaches and players.

[AustinScottistheone]

http://bwi.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1028416

12/14/09

By Kipp Adams. Michael took an official to UGA although he had been there many times.....attended the UGA player banquet and thought it was great. He says his mom will play a big role in his decision but in the end he will decide....mom liked the visit and the academics at UGA. Michael says nobody is on top, PSU was but as he takes more officials it starts to even out. He is no longer enrolling early and will visit Miami (FL) and Auburn, officially, in January.....may see about UF for the last visit. Discusses the recruiting process and rumors, doesn't have time to play around with any of the schools and is just trying to find the right fit.

[AustinScottistheone]

The Penn State Nittany Lions are playing catch up in the reac for NCAA football recruit Michael Thornton - ESPN (FREE)