A three-year starter along the Western Carolina offensive line, Jake Thornton enters his first season as an assistant on the Catamount coaching staff, working with the offense as a quality control coach. He assumed the role following the conclusion of his playing career at the end of 2015, working alongside his former position coach, John Holt, during spring drills. He will be involved in aiding film study, game breakdowns, and assisting the offensive coaches on game days.
Thornton was a two-time All-Southern Conference selection at center, playing in 34 career games with 33 career starts. He collected first team All-SoCon honors in 2014 as a redshirt junior, playing in all 12 games with 11 starts. In 2015, he started all 11 games in helping the Catamount offense to its first 1,000-yard rusher in nearly a decade, collecting second team All-SoCon plaudits from the league’s voting media.
Thornton started his collegiate career at Carson-Newman College in the 2011-12 academic year before transferring to Western Carolina, sitting out the 2012 season. Thornton is originally from Toccoa, Ga., and graduated from Stephens County High where he earned the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award. His grandfather – Billy Shaw – played for the Buffalo Bills from 1960-69, and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1999.
