Steve Sarkisian made his first move on the transfer portal as a head coach in Texas.
According to Inside Texas, LSU transferee Ray Thornton will be returning to his home state to play for the Longhorns. Listed as an external linebacker on the Tigers’ official website, he has experience both in the middle linebacker and under the command of defensive coordinator Bo Pelini.
Thornton will enter his sixth season playing college football. After being disowned during his freshman season in 2016, the former four-star recruit has played 32 games and has four matches. He totaled 45 tackles, three sacks, a deflection of the pass and a forced fumble.
Texas was one of the few schools to offer Thornton back when he was being recruited. He even made some trips to Austin during the summer of 2015. After five seasons at Baton Rouge, Thornton entered the transfer portal on January 12.
Now, he comes to play for a team that currently does not have a defensive coordinator. Sarkisian did his due diligence and was slow to find the right man for the job. Thornton’s role will be known as soon as a coordinator is hired and they announce what kind of basic scheme they will execute.
If base 4-3 is maintained, watching Thornton play in the JACK position may be a possibility. With Joseph Ossai leaving for the NFL, Texas needs an experienced veteran to take over. Although he spent the last season as a linebacker, Thronton is experienced in hitting the passer.
Thornton was a highly experienced recruit at Shoemaker High School in Killeen, Texas. He qualified as the 15th defensive position on the weak side of the country, player No. 205 in the country and the 32nd position in the state of Texas.
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