Recruiting Guy

Louisiana junior's versatility draws Hogs' interest

Arkansas football helmets sit atop storage bins during a game against Mississippi State on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, in Fayetteville.
Arkansas football helmets sit atop storage bins during a game against Mississippi State on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, in Fayetteville.

Football is rarely discussed when University of Arkansas, Fayetteville associate head coach and running backs coach Jeff Traylor communicates with versatile Charvis Thornton.

"Coach Traylor and I talk everyday," Thornton said. "It's nothing about football. Nothing about me coming up there. Nothing about that. We talk about crazy stuff. Like who's going to win the [NBA] Finals."

Thornton, 5-11, 185 pounds, of Baton Rouge Southern University Lab has 15 scholarship offers from Arkansas, Colorado, Oregon State, Kansas, Memphis and Arkansas State, among others.

He and Traylor have been debating the NBA playoffs.

"At first, I had the 76ers beating the Celtics," Thornton said. "Now, I have LeBron beating the Celtics."

Some are recruiting Thornton as an athlete. He said Traylor likes his flexibility.

"He really likes me," Thornton said. "He said he can use me at running back or the slot. He said I would fit in with their offense."

Thornton reports recording an electronic 4.54 seconds in the 40-yard dash, while also having a hand-held time of 4.44 seconds.

He likes to compare his ability on the field to Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.

"That's who I like to play like," Thornton said. "That's how I see myself playing in the NFL."

He rushed for 1,424 yards and had 576 receiving yards as a junior. Thornton isn't a stranger to the Hogs. He participated in an Arkansas camp as a ninth-grader and credits the camp for getting him noticed by others.

"Arkansas put me on the map," Thornton said. "I went to their padded camp and I did well."

He made a return trip to Fayetteville on April 24 and received his offer from the Razorbacks. Thornton said he plans to make an unofficial and official visit to Arkansas this summer.

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He's reluctant to say that the Hogs are in the lead for him but admits he's very fond of the program.

"They're up there, though," Thornton said. "I can see myself going to Arkansas."

Thornton, who has a 3.2 grade-point average plans to major in business.

"I want to own my own gym," said Thornton who also wants to get into real estate.

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