ended his junior campaign with 36 tackles, 23 of which were solo, 9.5 tackles for loss which was the second-best on the team. He also had one sack and a forced fumble. In his final year with the Golden Eagles, Thornton started 11 games and was voted a team captain by the other players. He had his best game of the season against Florida International University, where he had a season-high seven tackles, 2.5 of those for a loss, and added on half a sack. In eight games he had at least three tackles, and five stops in four contests. Thornton missed the final contest of his collegiate career due to a deep bone bruise that caused some internal bleeding he sustained the week before against Middle Tennessee. He finished up the year with 39 tackles (16 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss and half a sack. For his efforts, he was named to the All-Conference USA second-team as a defensive lineman by the league's coaches. He was a finalist for the Conerly Trophy, which is given annually to the state's top collegiate player. Although he was beaten for the award by Gabe Jackson, an offensive guard from Mississippi State. He finished his collegiate career with 50 games played, 28 starts, 116 tackles (58 solo), 30 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles (one recovered), an interception, and three defended passes. Professional career Thornton received an invitation and played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, becoming only the second Southern Mississippi player to attend. During the game, he was noted up as "frequently taking up multiple blockers" and that he showed fast hands and an ability to pressure the quarterback. He recorded one sack in the game. To prepare for the NFL Combine, Thornton reportedly worked out at the EXOS facility in Gulf Breeze, Florida at the recommendation of former teammate and current Detroit Lions linebacker Jamie Collins. He entered the facility at six-foot-three inches tall and weighing 300 pounds. One of the trainers there said that he was so big he had to cut a slit in his shirt to get it over his head. During an interview at the facility, Thornton said that scouts had told him he needed to work on keeping his pads low, but he was more focused on running a fast forty yard dash and his bench press. Thornton was projected to be drafted