Bruce Thornton (cornerback)

Last updated

Bruce Thornton
No. 25, 26
Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1980-01-31) January 31, 1980 (age 44)
LaGrange, Georgia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school: LaGrange (GA)
College: Georgia
NFL draft: 2004  / Round: 4 / Pick: 121
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:41
Pass deflections:8
Interceptions:2
Return yards:43
Player stats at PFR

Bruce Thornton Sr. (born January 31, 1980) is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football at the University of Georgia.

Contents

Early life

Thornton attended LaGrange High School, where he was a three-year starter at running back. As a senior, he earned Super Prep All-America honors after finishing with 1,920 rushing yards, 28 touchdowns, 932 return yards and 12 blocked kicks. In his high school career he totalled 560 carries for 4,541 rushing yards.

He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Georgia. He redshirted his freshman year after breaking his thumb. The following season, he only started one game at tailback, registering 230 yards, 47 carries, 3 touchdowns (2 were against New Mexico State University), while averaging 18.4 yards per kickoff return.

As a sophomore, he was converted into a cornerback by Willie Martinez, Georgia's secondary coach and defensive coordinator. He had 9 starts, while collecting 32 tackles, one tackle for loss and 7 passes defensed.

As a junior, he collected 43 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 6 passes defensed . He returned a blocked punt 12 yards for a touchdown against Northwestern Louisiana State University. He also returned an interception 71 yards (second longest in school history) for a touchdown in the Sugar Bowl against Florida State University.

As a senior, he was named a team captain and was the Bulldogs' best cornerback, starting 13 games and often facing the opponents' best wide receiver. [1] He posted 54 tackles (seventh on the team), 3 tackles for loss, 8 passes defensed and 2 interceptions.

He finished his college career with 129 tackles (8 for loss), 4 interceptions, 21 passes defensed, 41 carries for 230 yards, 3 touchdowns and 22 kickoff returns for 404 yards (18.4-yard average). as a sophomore …

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Thornton was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (121st overall) of the 2004 NFL draft. [2] He only appeared in one game, in which he returned two kickoffs for 43 yards, before tearing his ACL. [3] He was placed on the injured reserve list on October 12. [4] He was waived on September 8, 2005. [5]

San Francisco 49ers

On September 14, 2005, the San Francisco 49ers signed him to their practice squad. [6] Injuries forced the 49ers to promote him to the active roster on October 2 and eventually named him the starter at left cornerback. [7] In his first start he was matched against All-Pro Marvin Harrison, and was able to limit him to 2 receptions for 17 yards. He also intercepted quarterback Peyton Manning in the end zone, and received honorable-mention NFL defensive player of the week honors for his efforts. He appeared in 12 games with 11 starts, finishing with 32 tackles, 2 interceptions and 8 passes defensed.

On August 1, 2006, he was released after struggles in his play caused him to drop on the depth chart. [8]

New York Jets

On August 4, 2006, he signed as a free agent with the New York Jets and was waived 8 days later. [9]

Jacksonville Jaguars

On May 9, 2007, he was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars to replace the recently waived Ahmad Carroll. [10] He was released on September 1. [11]

Montreal Alouettes (CFL)

On October 11, 2007, Thornton joined the Montreal Alouettes practice roster. [12] In 2008, he did not make the team after being released on June 14.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen Rossum</span> American football player (born 1975)

Allen Bonshaca Lamont Rossum is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft.

George Theo Teague is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) who played for the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins. He played college football at the University of Alabama.

Kevin Bryant Mathis is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at Texas A&M University–Commerce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nate Jones (cornerback)</span> American football player (born 1982)

Nathan Jones is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in seventh round of the 2004 NFL draft. He played college football at Rutgers University. He is currently a game official in the NFL, working as a field judge since the 2019 NFL season. As an NFL field judge, Jones wears the uniform number 33.

Jimmy Ray Williams was an American professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL draft. He played college football at Vanderbilt. Williams prepped at Episcopal High School in Baton Rouge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Oglesby</span> American football player (born 1981)

Evan Shawntell Oglesby is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, and Miami Dolphins. He was signed by the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at the University of North Alabama.

Tyrone Christopher Hughes is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Chevis Dauro Jackson is an American football coach and former player who currently serves as cornerbacks coach for the Miami Hurricanes team. Jackson played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, and Denver Broncos. He played college football at Louisiana State University, where he was part of the 2007 national championship team and was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kareem Larrimore</span> American football player (born 1976)

Kareem Maktrel Larrimore is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Dallas Desperados, Austin Wranglers, and Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League (AFL), and the Amarillo Dusters. He played college football at West Texas A&M.

Mike Mickens is an American football coach and former cornerback who is the defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He was a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL), and the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats.

DeAngelo Lamar Smith is a former American football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Cincinnati.

Duane Hawthorne is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. He also was a member of the Scottish Claymores in NFL Europe. He played college football at Northern Illinois University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perrish Cox</span> American football player (born 1987)

Perrish Eugene Cox is a former American football cornerback and return specialist. He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football at Oklahoma State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamar Wall</span> American gridiron football player (born 1988)

Jamar Wall is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also was a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas Tech.

Mike Middleton is a former professional American football safety in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 1993 NFL draft. He played college football at Indiana University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Brown (cornerback)</span> American football player (born 1993)

Anthony Shaquille Brown is an American football cornerback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played in the National Football League (NFL) for primarily the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Purdue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarvarus McFadden</span> American gridiron football player (born 1997)

Tarvarus McFadden is an American professional football defensive back for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Florida State, and was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He has also played for the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL.

Tyree Robinson is a former American football safety. He played college football at the University of Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tavierre Thomas</span> American football player (born 1996)

Tavierre Thomas is an American football cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ferris State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saivion Smith</span> American football player (born 1997)

Saivion Smith is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at the University of Alabama.

References

  1. ↑ Lynch, Kevin (November 13, 2005). "Thornton corners a job with 49ers". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  2. ↑ "2004 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Giants Match 2004 Win Total". The New York Times . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Transactions" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Transactions". The New York Times . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Transactions". The New York Times . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  7. ↑ Dave Jones (October 3, 2006). "Transactions" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  8. ↑ Dave Jones (August 1, 2006). "Niners release Bruce Thornton" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  9. ↑ Dan Leberfeld (August 4, 2006). "Jets sign CB Bruce Thornton" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Jags sign CB Thornton" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  11. ↑ "NFL Transactions" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Thornton takes NFL pedigree to training camp". Archived from the original on July 6, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.