'10 GA DT Michael Thornton (Verbal Offer) - Page 2

AustinScottistheone · #16 (**permalink**) 09-23-2009, 10:52 AM

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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.....

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Kurelic’s Comment: In addition to Thornton, the Nittany Lions are also pursuing defensive tackles Sharrif Floyd and James Carmon. If they can land at least one of those three, Joe Pa will be in great shape with interior defensive line prospects in his 2010 recruiting class.

AustinScottistheone · #17 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 12:18 PM

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 · #18 (**permalink**) 10-05-2009, 11:07 AM

Ward visits Thornton > Palmetto Sports Recruiting News

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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.

Undercover Brother · #19 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 07:56 AM

UMMM ... if staff gets this kid and Floyd to close, its absolutely ridiculous.

PSU42Fan · #20 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 09:56 AM

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Originally Posted by Undercover Brother

UMMM ... if staff gets this kid and Floyd to close, its absolutely ridiculous.

This would also push DaQuan Jones over to the OL, giving us 4 OL in the class. IMO, this is the reason why Kolb hasn't been given a committable offer yet.

HailToTheLion · #21 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 12:34 PM

Is there even room for Thronton?

I mean assuming the stars align correctly we are gonna have difficulty fitting lattimore and floyd in if they both decide to commit, how do we have room for Thornton and Floyd?

PSU42Fan · #22 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 01:17 PM

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Originally Posted by HailToTheLion

Is there even room for Thronton?

I mean assuming the stars align correctly we are gonna have difficulty fitting lattimore and floyd in if they both decide to commit, how do we have room for Thornton and Floyd?

We likely can squeeze in 3 more players, but will likely get no more than 2.

FrankBooth · #23 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 05:16 PM

Atlanta newspaper 10/7: Thornton names Penn State his favorite

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Thornton told me this week that Penn State is “pretty much” his favorite.

joeyc32lp · #24 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 05:51 PM

Wow... hard to even consider this guy "Plan B" for Floyd... he's an amazing "Plan A" really.

AustinScottistheone · #25 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 07:12 AM

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091...n-from-Georgia

coachkofpa · #26 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 08:14 PM

ESPN: DT Thornton has plenty of options
Georgia D-lineman Michael Thornton is attracting major attention from college coaches - ESPN

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The one out-of-region school that has emerged as a serious player is Penn State. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson has long had a national reputation as a recruiter and a position coach. His involvement with Thornton is a major factor.

"You know, they are up there," he said. "I would not call them over everybody right now, but Penn State is definitely up there. I love [defensive line coach] Larry Johnson. Coach Kermit Buggs recruits me, but coach Johnson kind of got into it and came down to see me play in the spring. That kind of made a big impression on me. He came all the way down to Georgia to see me play. I really show him love, he shows me love. We talk all the time."

Naturally, ESPN indicates that "many believe UGA to be in the driver's seat" for Thornton...take that FWIW.

AustinScottistheone · #27 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 01:35 PM

http://bwi.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1012093

11/6/09

By Sean Fitz. Michael will be visiting PSU this weekend for the PSU-Ohio State game.....looking to see what is out there and hopes to have a good gameday experience, meet some people, hang out with players and see why they chose PSU, and talk to coaches. Michael also talks about his relationship with PSU coach Larry Johnson, and the miscommunication with a reporter on PSU being his number one school....Michael said he had said PSU would be one of the top schools he is looking at.

FrankBooth · #28 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 05:47 PM

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Michael also talks about his relationship with PSU coach Larry Johnson, and the miscommunication with a reporter on PSU being his number one school

Funny that he had the same miscommunication with two reporters -- one in SC and the other in Atlanta.

PSU42Fan · #29 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 07:11 AM

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Originally Posted by FrankBooth

Funny that he had the same miscommunication with two reporters -- one in SC and the other in Atlanta.

One of those was him saying it on the radio, right?

We may not be his leader now or end up where he goes, but he said we were at some point. If he has a good visit tomorrow, I put chances our at 50/50 at worst.

FrankBooth · #30 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 01:37 PM

I was referring to the article ASIT1 linked on 10/5 and another I linked on 10/8; I haven't heard about him saying it on a radio, so we've got 2 written reports and maybe a 3rd unless one of those newspapers was reporting on a radio interview.

What I thought was really interesting was that the 10/8 report came right after a visit to UGA. So I share your optimism if PSU was his favorite sight unseen after he'd already visited UGA and Auburn.