PFN on Thornton:
"Speed is a defining part of Thornton’s game, but even for some who watched him, it was surprising to see him run in the 4.2 range. It’s rare for receivers of Thornton’s size to run at that speed. But as it turns out, Thornton is a rare player. There are some limitations with the Baylor WR, but there’s also a lot of upside — which naturally drums up excitement."
(Ok, that sounds promising...)
"At 6’2 3/8″, Thornton is a long-strider with blazing speed in space. He accelerates incredibly quickly and covers lots of ground down the field. With an explosive first step out of his stance, he gets upfield and pressures DBs vertically. His long strides open up his explosiveness, and with that burst, he quickly gets a step on his defenders. Thornton’s speed also shows up after the catch. He can take passes in the short range and explode through seams with his fast, efficient strides."
(Taking the top off? Check.)
"Beyond his elite linear explosiveness and speed, Thornton is also a twitchy mover who can get defensive backs to jump and over-set with sudden moves at the line. The Baylor WR is able to plant and explode off stems, creating quick separation with his short-area burst. That twitch also enables him to sidestep single defenders after the catch."
(Creating separation? Check. No N'keal here?)
"Thornton’s speed is most definitely one of his top traits, but he’s a good player beyond that. With his twitch, Thornton has a solid release arsenal. He can use a roll step to get displacement and peel by DBs. He also has a brutal jab step, which he uses to explode upfield and instantly create space. Moreover, Thornton can use hand swipes to prevent DBs from jamming, and he also uses physicality at the stem to compound separation."
(Good releases? Like to hear.)
"Thornton has great concentration and focus at the catch point, and he can look the ball in through congestion. The Baylor WR is able to guide and pluck the ball with his hands and haul in passes amidst contact."
(Hands.)
"Thornton is a great receiver, but he’s just as strong as a blocker. He’s physical in that phase, surging into contact and giving maximum effort. He has combative hands but also knows when to extend and drive players back. Thornton can stack blocks and uses good angle awareness and leverage in space."
(Rail thin, but willing to block - and good at it?)
Ok. I want to learn more.