'09 OH OL Hugh Thornton (Illinois Signee)

[wadc45]

great story, i wish this kid all of the best

I expect a commitment to Illinois in the near future...he and Henry Conway are two OL in-state that have seen their stock soar over the last few months.

 

[MD Buckeye]

Rivals $

8/18

From OrangeandBlueNews.....Still holds offers from Illinois, Oregon State, Washington State, Indiana, Michigan State, Akron, Bowling Green and others. Says Illinois is his favorite and says he may make a decision after his first game.

 

[osugrad21]

Rivals$

Committed to Illinois.

 

[osugrad21]

Link

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.?
Cont...

 

[Buckskin86]

Illinois' Hugh Thornton's playing time coming early
Freshman offensive tackle likely to start again at Purdue
By Shannon Ryan Tribune reporter
October 23, 2009


When Hugh Thornton arrived at Illinois, the freshman offensive linemen sent out the vibe of unwavering confidence -- until he gave up a few sacks in practice.

"Immediately his confidence sank," senior center Eric Block recalled this week. "He was really was down. He was like, 'Yo, man, I'm sorry. I'm not going to be good enough to play with you guys this year. I'm just not ready.' "

Block laughed as he told the story because it's clear how wrong Thornton was.

He started against Indiana at right tackle and did well enough coach Ron Zook likely will play him again Saturday when Illinois goes for its first Big Ten victory at Purdue.

The move is a rarity in college football.

As Block put it, "True freshmen don't start on the offensive line. That's nuts."

The Illini's 185 rushing yards against Indiana was the most this season against an FBS opponent.

"I wasn't expecting to play this early," said Thornton, who is 6 feet 5 inches and weighs 285 pounds. "The team needed me to play and I saw it as an opportunity."

While Thornton sometimes struggled with pass protection, the Illini took notice of .

"It gave us a spark on the offensive line," Block said. "He comes out and plays hard. We played better because of it."

Zook had been looking for that kind of ignition when he swapped Thornton for Ryan Palmer.

When he watched the game tape, he felt comforted. That doesn't happen much when watching Illinois games these days.

"I looked at (offensive line coach Joe Gilbert) and said, 'That makes you feel a little better,' " Zook said. "The intensity. He's flying around. The more he learns the better he's going to be."

Thornton came to Illinois from Oberlin, Ohio, where he earned first-team all-state honors in football and was ranked third in the state in heavyweight wrestling.

But much of his background is rooted in Jamaica, where his mother raised him after she moved to the island for the laid-back lifestyle.

Illinois' Hugh Thornton's playing time coming early -- chicagotribune.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Football?s Hugh Thornton arrested after fight at Joe?s Brewery
Daily Illini Staff Report
Updated: September 28th, 2010

Illinois? Hugh Thornton (72), right, runs on the field during the game against Southern Illinois on Sept. 11. Thornton was arrested after a fight reported at Joe?s Brewery on Sunday.
Ned Mulka The Daily Illini

Illini football player Hugh Thornton was arrested at approximately 1:30 a.m. Sunday at Joe?s Brewery in Champaign, according to an e-mail from State?s Attorney Julia Rietz.

Police responded to a call describing a fight in progress, which Thornton was involved in. At the time of the fight, the 19-year-old sophomore from Oberlin, Ohio, was found carrying an ID card belonging to another individual. He admitted using the ID to get into the bar.

Upon his arrest, Thornton had already been sentenced to 12 months of court supervision after an incident on Sept. 20, 2009, in which University police were called by Thornton?s resident adviser due to a confrontation between Thornton, who had been drinking, and the adviser.

After that incident, Thornton was also ordered to perform public service work and obtain a substance abuse evaluation for the offense of Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor.

Since he had not yet obtained the substance abuse evaluation at the time of his arrest Sunday, the State?s Attorney?s Office filed a petition to revoke Thornton?s court supervision, rather than file new charges.

If his court supervision is revoked, Thornton would face resentencing on a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in the Champaign County Correctional Center. He could also be sentenced to probation.

Thornton posted bond and was released. His next court date is Oct. 13.

Illini football head coach Ron Zook has yet to announce Thornton?s status with the team.

?I can?t describe (Thornton?s status) because I don?t know all the details yet,? Zook said. ?I?m still collecting information, and when I get all the information, then I?ll have a decision.

?You have to look at everything. The worst thing he did was being in the wrong place at the wrong time ? that?s something that we talked about.?

http://www.dailyillini.com/sports/f...hornton-arrested-after-fight-at-joe-s-brewery

 

[gracelhink]

I'm still collecting information, and when I get all the information, then I'll have a decision.

That is a good idea coach, wait till "all" the information is reported and then make the call on the consequences.
Don't judge the young man's behavior prematurely, oops. . .

The worst thing he did was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. that's something that we talked about.

It is very disappointing that even before he admittedly has heard all the information, the Zooker already has a "decision"--
Thornton you're a victim! Someone else's wrong conduct, "wrong place, wrong time" circumstances caused your legal troubles, Hugh!

Why am I getting the impression that we are being prepared to hear Zook's justification for a delayed or an absurdly lenient punishment
Am I getting a vibe that Zook needs Thornton real bad this Saturday?

 

[ScriptOhio]

Re: Hugh Thornton was arrested at approximately 1:30 a.m. Sunday at Joe?s Brewery in Champaign

Apparently Zook never told him that "nothing good ever happens after 1:30 AM."

 

[stowfan]

From reading the article, it appears he had a previous, related run in. :(

 

[matcar]

That is a good idea coach, wait till "all" the information is reported and then make the call on the consequences.
Don't judge the young man's behavior prematurely, oops. . .



It is very disappointing that even before he admittedly has heard all the information, the Zooker already has a "decision"--
Thornton you're a victim! Someone else's wrong conduct, "wrong place, wrong time" circumstances caused your legal troubles, Hugh!

Why am I getting the impression that we are being prepared to hear Zook's justification for a delayed or an absurdly lenient punishment
Am I getting a vibe that Zook needs Thornton real bad this Saturday?

I'm confused by your statement, because in the article you're quoting it states:

I can't describe (Thornton's status) because I don't know all the details yet, Zook said. I'm still collecting information, and when I get all the information, then I'll have a decision.

So, I get the impression that a decision isn't yet made...

 

[buckeyeintn]

He's referring to the fact that Zooker has already decided, "The worst thing he did was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. that's something that we talked about." If he hasn't made a decision, how can he know that the worst thing Thornton did was be in the wrong place at the wrong time (with the implication it wasn't really his fault so someone must be picking on him)?

I'm confused by your statement, because in the article you're quoting it states:


So, I get the impression that a decision isn't yet made...

 

[matcar]

He's referring to the fact that Zooker has already decided, "The worst thing he did was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. that's something that we talked about." If he hasn't made a decision, how can he know that the worst thing Thornton did was be in the wrong place at the wrong time (with the implication it wasn't really his fault so someone must be picking on him)?

I see. I'm not sure that indicates any decision...that sounds like a pretty generic statement/coach speak since discussing anything else in detail isn't appropriate.

 

[gracelhink]

Matcar, Sorry my post was confusing for you.

Let me try again:
My post argues that Zook has announced his "decision" about what was Thornton's wrong behavior,
"The worst thing he did was being in the wrong place at the wrong time." So in Zook's mind, who in the world would exact a severe punishment on a football player for such a minor offense?

I guess I am most upset with what appears to be Zook's role in the "court of public opinion--
Instead of functioning as an impartial judge waiting to hear the charges and evidence,
he seems to be making preemptive argument as defense counsel to justify leniency or delayed punishment.

 

[Buckskin86]

Illinois' Buchanan, Thornton to play against OSU
October 1, 2010

By Shannon Ryan

Two Illinois players who were arrested this season will play on Saturday against Ohio State at Memorial Stadium, a school spokesman confirmed on Friday.

Defensive lineman Michael Buchanan, a sophomore, sat out two games after being arrested on Sept. 5 for a DUI. Offensive guard Hugh Thornton, also a sophomore, was arrested last weekend following a fight in a bar near campus.

Thornton's arrest was his second during his time at Illinois and paperwork was filed to revoke court supervision from a 2009 arrest for unlawful consumption of a alcohol by a minor.

Neither player will start. All other discipline by the football program will be handled internall, the spokesman said.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/10/illinois-buchanan-thornton-to-play-against-osu.html

 

[Buckskin86]

College football: Oberlin?s Thornton bowl-bound again
Filed by Dan Gilles December 31st, 2011 in Sports.

Like the rest of his Illinois teammates, Oberlin graduate Hugh Thornton?s visions of a Rose Bowl berth after a 6-0 start were dashed when the Fighting Illini lost six straight to end the season.

So instead of Pasadena on New Year?s Day, Thornton and the Illini will be in San Francisco on New Year?s Eve, taking on the PAC-12?s UCLA in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. at AT&T Park. It will be nationally televised by ESPN.
?This is a great experience to be able to continue the season, whatever the bowl game is,? said Thornton, a true junior starting at left guard. ?It?s an excellent opportunity to play with my teammates for one more game.
?UCLA is a great team and we?re very excited to play them. We?ve watched film on them and we?re just happy to have the chance to play a PAC-12 team.?

Thornton made his bowl debut last season at Houston in the Texas Bowl. The Illini handled crowd-favorite Baylor, 38-14. This is the first time Illinois has played in back-to-back bowl games since playing in five straight from 1988-92.

Like last year, Thornton expects the California crowd to be cheering for the opposition.

?We hope so,? said Thornton, when asked if he expects a lot of Illinois fans in the stands. ?Whatever happens happens. Whether we have a lot of fans or if it?s 100 percent in favor of UCLA, we?re just excited to go out and get the chance to play.?

This is the fourth straight bowl game that Illinois will be playing their opponent in their home state, along with the 2008 Rose Bowl (USC) and the 2002 Sugar Bowl (LSU).

Thornton and his Illini teammates arrived in San Francisco on Monday night and began practicing Tuesday morning.

During their week, the Illini were given guided tours of many San Francisco landmarks, including Alcatraz.

?Just getting to tour the city is always the most memorable part of a bowl,? Thornton said. ?For me, it?s the chance to explore the city that we?re playing in which is the best part and most unique for me.

?I have family in Sacramento, so I have a lot of them coming out to the game, so that?s been really exciting. But a lot of the team is really excited because many of them have never been in California before. I can tell it?s been exciting for all the guys as well.?

Thornton and his Illinois teammates are in the midst of a coaching transition. Head coach Ron Zook was fired following the six-game losing streak to end the season, and former Toledo coach Tim Beckman was hired.
For the bowl game, defensive coordinator Vic Koenning will serve as the interim coach.

?What happened with Coach Zook was unfortunate,? Thornton said. ?All of us are just excited to be playing football again. Things happen, but as a player, you?ve just got to keep on playing and just have fun playing football.
?It?s been tough, but you can tell these guys are excited to put on the pads one more time and put the distractions behind them.?

Thornton, who has started on the offensive line since he was a freshman, is part of a unit that gained 2,054 rushing yards (171.2-yard average per game) and 4,298 yards of total offense. Running back Troy Pollard is averaging 7.45 yards per carry, the 11th-highest per-carry average in the nation and the best in the Big Ten by more than a yard (Montee Ball averaged 6.40 yards per carry).

cont...

http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2011/12/31/college-football-oberlins-thornton-bowl-bound-again/