Ronnie Thornton

56

Class: RS Senior Hometown: Miami, Fla. High School: Miami Killian HS

Height / Weight: 6-3 / 240 Position: LB Experience: 2L

2010 (r-Jr.): Played in all 12 games, earning eight starts ... Totaled 59 tackles, including 27 solo stops ... Had season-high 13 tackles against UAB (10/30) and 12 versus Kansas (9/17) ... Had five or more tackles in five games ... Recorded 4.5 tackles for loss for 11 yards and 1.0 sack for four yards ... Notched one forced fumble against Prairie View (9/11) and one recovery at Louisiana Tech (9/25) ... Added three pass breakups ... Earned Athletic Director's Honor Roll status for spring semester ... Earned Athletic Director's Honor Roll status for spring semester ... 2009 New Orleans Bowl: Record two assisted tackles and five solo tackles ... Added a solo tackle for loss of six yards ... Also forced a fumble ... 2009 (r-So.): Played in all 13 regular season games, starting 12 ... Was second on the team in total tackles with 114 (44 unassisted and 70 assisted) ... Recorded 10.5 tackles for loss for 37 yards and had two sacks for 20 yards ... Broke up one pass and recovered and returned one fumble for 42 yards for a touchdown against Tulsa (11/21) ... Forced one fumble at Houston (10/31) ... Registered career-best 16 tackle game against Tulsa (11/21), while also tallying a 15-tackle game against Virginia (9/19) ... Had double-digit stops against Memphis (10/17) with 12 and Tulane (10/24) with 11 ... Posted at least eight tackles in 10 contests ... 2008 (r-Fr.): Played in 11 games this season ... Recorded two total tackles against Rice (10/18), one assisted tackle against Memphis (10/25) and one solo tackle and forced a fumble against UAB (11/1) ... Originally signed by Southern Miss in 2007, but never enrolled in school ... Prep: Recorded 97 tackles as a senior, including 17 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions and six sacks ... named first-team all-county and second-team all-state ... Chosen to participate in the All-DadeCounty All-Star game ... Played for Head Coach Billy Tholle at Miami Killian HS ... A two-sport prospect by Scout.com and the No. 73 ranked strong linebacker in the country ... Personal: Son of Auguste and Beverly James ... Majoring in general studies.