Don't make the same mistake twice
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2002 6:24 pmOK, PonyFans. There's a kid in SMU's back yard that needs to end up in red and blue. Kyle Thornton is an offensive lineman and defensive lineman at Dallas St. Mark's. He's the younger brother of UTexas defensive end Kalen Thornton, and the son of former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Bruce Thornton.
When Kalen was a senior at St. Mark's a few years ago, he was told by SMU coaches that just because he was whipping up on private school competition didn't mean he could play Div. I football. Nonetheless, he became the subject of a recruiting war between such football nobodies as Texas, Michigan, Notre Dame, etc. He signed with UT, started as a true freshman, became a freshman All-America and before his sophomore year last year was called by UT's defensive coordinator "the best defensive player on the team" -- a team that included highly-touted DE Cory Redding, DB Quentin Jammer (likely top 10 pick in next month's draft) and a slew of others. In other words, the bloodlines are there and the talent is there. SMU misjudged the fact that he he couldn't play, simply because he was being blocked (barely) by guys half his size.
When Kalen graduated, he was about 6-4, 270. Kyle is ending his junior year of school as the team's best player -- by miles -- a capable basketball player and a champion thrower on the track team. He's 6-4, and at the end of football season he already was in the 290-300 pound range. He's remarkably quick for a player his size, has inherited his father's footwork as a blocker and is a nasty player who is a ferocious blocker, regardless of an opponent's size.
Not only would Kyle be a great addition to the SMU line (offensive or defensive -- he's being recruited mostly as an offensive lineman), but there's a third brother on the way. The youngest is nothing like his very big brothers - he's a slender, lightning-quick athlete who can play DB, WR or RB -- but he's a few years away.
Someone please encourage Coach Bennett to get a recruiter over to St. Mark's immediately. Kyle Thornton can play, and needs to be kept at home.
When Kalen was a senior at St. Mark's a few years ago, he was told by SMU coaches that just because he was whipping up on private school competition didn't mean he could play Div. I football. Nonetheless, he became the subject of a recruiting war between such football nobodies as Texas, Michigan, Notre Dame, etc. He signed with UT, started as a true freshman, became a freshman All-America and before his sophomore year last year was called by UT's defensive coordinator "the best defensive player on the team" -- a team that included highly-touted DE Cory Redding, DB Quentin Jammer (likely top 10 pick in next month's draft) and a slew of others. In other words, the bloodlines are there and the talent is there. SMU misjudged the fact that he he couldn't play, simply because he was being blocked (barely) by guys half his size.
When Kalen graduated, he was about 6-4, 270. Kyle is ending his junior year of school as the team's best player -- by miles -- a capable basketball player and a champion thrower on the track team. He's 6-4, and at the end of football season he already was in the 290-300 pound range. He's remarkably quick for a player his size, has inherited his father's footwork as a blocker and is a nasty player who is a ferocious blocker, regardless of an opponent's size.
Not only would Kyle be a great addition to the SMU line (offensive or defensive -- he's being recruited mostly as an offensive lineman), but there's a third brother on the way. The youngest is nothing like his very big brothers - he's a slender, lightning-quick athlete who can play DB, WR or RB -- but he's a few years away.
Someone please encourage Coach Bennett to get a recruiter over to St. Mark's immediately. Kyle Thornton can play, and needs to be kept at home.