We would like to welcome to Gridiron, our next diamond in the rough, Nathan Thornton, a Class of 2027 wide receiver out of Cecilia High School in Breaux Bridge, LA. Thornton is a talented playmaker with speed, agility, and is very shifty on the field. He plays on both sides of the ball and is an aggressive defender in the secondary. He attended the Breaux Bridge elite camp, where he showed out in a big way with a 4.59 40-yard run, a 4.37 shuttle, and an 8’7 broad jump. He is open to playing anywhere in college, but has his eyes on Western Kentucky, which he believes suits him best.
Here is my interview with Nathan Thornton:
What has your football journey been like for you overall? At what age did you start playing football, and what originally inspired you to play football?
I’ve been playing football since third grade. My family watches a lot of football. We watch the Saints and stuff like that. I say, if I had to pick a player who inspired me to follow me up, it would be Michael Thomas.
Who else has been some of the biggest influences in your journey, like coaches, teammates, etc?
My sophomore and freshman years. My head coach, who now coaches at East Ascension, was a big influence. He made me see that game a little differently, and really, he taught more light skills than football. But in a way that no food football, and he is a really good coach.
Do you have any core memories of when you first started playing football in third grade, and something like that?
I remember my first touchdown: all I remember is that it was a jet sweep, I just took it and ran, and I scored. I was so excited that I did not know what to do after that.
Was being a DB and WR something you always wanted to do, or did you have other positions in mind at first?
I always wanted to be a receiver, and then junior high, I got moved to running back, and in high school, my freshman year, I got to play both ways. My sophomore year. I was moved strictly to a defense role to start at safety, and hopefully, in my upcoming senior year, I will move to offense.
What part or parts of your game on both sides of the ball do you feel like you have improved the most over the years, and what would you like to improve on going forward?
I definitely think I’m much more of a hard hitter on defense. The straightforward, I have a lot of speed. I’m a speed killer on offense. I’m slippery, I’m shifty, I’m fast, I’m more of a jukey, kind of guy when I have the ball in my hands, and it’s hard to catch me. I would like to improve my ball skills as a safety and coordinate with my teammates on what the quarterback will do. I would like to have more IQ, understanding the quarterback, and I would love to understand receivers more as a slot receiver myself, and how to run routes better, and things like that.
Walk me through what your preparation looks like on game day.
For the most part, we have school that day. So I drink lots of water, eat bananas, and eat carbohydrates, stuff like that. At the end of the day, we go to an eighth hour, and we chill out for a second. We do our walkthroughs, then we have to give ourselves some food. We go back to the locker room, listen to music with all the lights off. We just relax for about 2 hours. We start getting dressed. We got walked through again an hour and a half before the game starts. Then we get on the field, warm up, and run routes on air. That short period of time before we were in the locker room, and before we go back on to start the game, I’ll make sure I say a prayer. Then get back outside, everybody got their pads on, and just go time.
What do you think is something about your game on both sides that you think separates you from other players?
On my side, the separates me from other players, there’s a difference between speed, like just being straight fast, but I have football speed. Track speed, my speed on the field is such that you can never see me coming. And that’s on defense, on offense, I can read the field. I feel like I know what’s going to happen before it happens. I always know what holes to hit and where to go. Who’s gonna do this? Who’s going to do that? I feel like I really read the defense’s plays very well before they even start.
What are some of the toughest challenges you’ve had to face over your years of playing?
It’s probably been my height. I’m not the tallest, and my weight isn’t that bad, but it’s definitely my height that I have a lot of challenges to face. But I feel like that. I’m stronger in other skills, where I have many advantages that really help.
How would you describe yourself as a leader to your teammates?
I know has nothing to do with football but this track season, I started praying with everyone on the relay team. Even when they are not competing, I still get everyone involved and pray with them. I make sure they keep God close. If I see someone down, I ask them if they are alright. I am not that guy who is just a leader in front of the coach. I am a leader everywhere, even when the coach is not looking. I make sure everyone is prayed up.
What Gridiron Football camps did you go to?
I went to the one in Bearux Bridge, and that was it.
What was that experience like?
It was a lot of fun. It was different. I definitely was not expecting it to be like that. I thought it would be another one of these college camps where you’re kind of just going through the motions. I definitely learned some things, especially the kind of warming you should do. Before the game, you see yourself ready for speed, how to start the 40-yard dash, things about routes, and things like that.
What do you feel like is the biggest thing that you took away from that experience that you can use going forward?
I’d probably say not only in the forty-yard dash, but in the game too, that every second counts. You can’t waste one second. You can’t stop and think for a second. Every second of the game counts.
Can you describe what Gridiron Football has done for you and what you love about it?
I love that Gridiron is local to Louisiana. They really pushed to get these kids who probably aren’t getting the attention they deserve, and to get them out to colleges and other opportunities. I love that they keep it local and remain loyal to us, even though you have kids from other states attending the camps.
What other camps do you plan on attending going forward?
I think on May 30th, I will be attending the Nicholas camp and getting in contact with the Western Kentucky coach. I do plan to attend that camp and others when I see him.
Is there a specific college location you want to play right now, or are you open to playing wherever?
I’m open right now, but if I had to do any school, I’d probably pick WKU.
Why there?
I love the coach. I love the coaching staff. I love the atmosphere. I just love the school in general, and I want to go hunting in Kentucky.
So let’s say you do end up there, right? Why do you believe you will be an effective playmaker there?
I feel like me and WKU, I just feel like we are connected over there. I feel like I always fit in best at that college than at any other college. I don’t know, I just feel like when I’ve seen it and watched videos about it and stuff like that, it was right for me. When I do get there, even if I have to walk on up there, I’ll definitely be a sharp weapon on offense as a running back.
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