Defensive end recruit Justin Thornton verbally committed to Auburn Sunday, choosing the Tigers over LSU and Texas A&M. Thornton, who stands 6'5 and weighs 222 pounds, is a consensus four-star prospect from Mobile, Alabama. He held additional offers from Alabama, USC, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Nebraska, among others. SB Nation recruiting analyst Bud Collins had this to say about Thornton:
Four-star Justin Thornton commits to Auburn over LSU, Texas A&M
Highly-coveted defensive end recruit chooses Tigers out of more than 20 offers.
Thornton is a consensus four-star recruit, and is widely considered one of the best 10 or so defensive ends nationally. He is a flexible, athletic, and lean at 6’5 and 222 pounds. His game is a little bit different than one might figure after looking at his frame -- he’s not always the fastest off the line, though he does sometimes get a great jump, and he’s definitely stronger than one might think.
Thornton’s Sunday commitment came at a ceremony that is distinctively SEC, as Justin Hokanson of Rivals tweeted:
A preacher giving a sermon sitting behind a table with Texas A&M, LSU and Auburn hats pre-announcement, it's awesome. Welcome to the South.
— Justin Hokanson (@JHokanson) May 12, 2013
With Thornton’s commitment, Auburn now has seven players in its 2014 recruiting class. Five of those seven hail from Alabama, and three -- Thornton, linebacker Tre’ Williams, and JUCO safety Derrick Moncrief -- hold four-star ratings.
For more on Thornton’s commitment, visit College and Magnolia.
