Why Vols fans shouldn't give up on transfer addition that hasn't panned out yet

When the Tennessee Vols landed former Oregon Ducks wide receiver Dont'e Thornton out of the transfer portal this past winter, the assumption was that he'd be Jalin Hyatt 2.0 for the Volunteers. 

But so far, that hasn't been the case.

Despite Thornton's elite size/speed combo (6-foot-5 and can hit at least 24 MPH), the talented wide receiver is now listed as a backup on Tennessee's depth chart. 

Thornton has caught just seven passes for 89 yards so far this season. He hasn't caught a pass since Tennessee's win against UTSA on September 23. 

The former four-star recruit had a particularly rough moment in Tennessee's loss to Alabama this past weekend when he dropped a pass in the red zone because he felt a defender closing in. 

After the Alabama game, the word "bust" has been thrown around when it comes to Thornton. 

But I'm not sure that's fair. And I don't think any Tennessee fan should be giving up on Thornton just yet. 

Not every player acclimates to Josh Heupel's offense immediately. Remember year one of the Heupel era at Tennessee? Hyatt was essentially a non-factor, catching just 21 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games as a sophomore. 

It wasn't until Hyatt's junior season, when he rededicated himself to training/working hard -- and became more comfortable in Heupel's offense -- that the South Carolina native experienced a breakout season. 

I don't know where Thornton's mind is at right now, but when he arrived at Tennessee, he said his goal was to win a Biletnikoff Award like Hyatt. Thanks to the national narrative surrounding Heupel's offense (that the scheme is responsible for big numbers and not the players), it seems that some players think that big seasons are automatic at Tennessee. I'm not saying that's the case with Thornton, but it's easy to see how that mindset would be easy for him to buy into. 

Thornton didn't end up at Oregon and then Tennessee on talent alone. He knows the hard work it takes to be an elite player. Thornton can change his trajectory in the second half of the 2023 season. And he can still be a major factor for the Vols in 2024.

It wasn't that long ago that Tennessee wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope told reporters how impressed he was by Thornton in the moments when he flashed during training camp.