Cedric Thornton
{{Short description|American football player (born 1988)}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Cedric Thornton
| image = Cedric Thornton.JPG
| caption = Thornton with the Eagles in 2013
| number = 72, 91, 92
| position = Defensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|6|21}}
| birth_place = Star City, Arkansas, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 290
| high_school = Star City
| college = Southern Arkansas
| undraftedyear = 2011
| pastteams = * Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2011}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2016}})
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2017}})
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})*
| highlights = * First-team Little All-American (2009)
- All-GSC (2009)
| statweek =
| statseason =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 220
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 7.5
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 2
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 4
| statlabel5 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue5 = 1
| pfr = ThorCe00
}}
Cedric Thornton (born June 21, 1988) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Southern Arkansas Muleriders and was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
Early life
Thornton attended Star City High School, where he practiced football, baseball and basketball. In football, he played as a running back and wide receiver.
Thornton walked on to Division II Southern Arkansas University to join his brother.{{cite web| url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/strong-work-ethic-drives-eagles-thornton-to-be-successful/article_5ff0f937-f4b4-58b1-b6b4-59fed8d4fe1b.html | title=Strong work ethic drives Eagles' Thornton to be successful | date=December 24, 2013 | access-date=February 19, 2017}} He was converted into a defensive end and became a starter as a junior, recording 80 tackles (first on the team), 23 tackles for loss (ranked first in college football), 8.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 blocked kicks. The next year, he had 52 tackles (third on the team), 13 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 5 quarterback hurries (led the team) and one forced fumble.
Professional career
=Philadelphia Eagles=
Thornton signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent following the 2011 NFL draft and NFL lockout. He initially made the 53-man roster after training camp to open the season,{{cite news |author=Didinger, Ray |title=Didinger: Thornton earns a roster spot |url=http://www.csnphilly.com/09/03/11/Didinger-Thornton-earns-a-roster-spot/landing_eagleeye.html?blockID=558828&feedID=3041 |publisher=Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia |date=September 3, 2011 |access-date=December 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728173859/http://www.csnphilly.com/09/03/11/Didinger-Thornton-earns-a-roster-spot/landing_eagleeye.html?blockID=558828&feedID=3041 |archive-date=July 28, 2012 }} but was waived to make room for offensive lineman Kyle DeVan on September 4. He was re-signed to the team's practice squad the next day,{{cite news |author=Stamm, Dan |title=Eagles Bring Back Thornton to Round Out Practice Squad |url=http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/blogs/birds-nest/Eagles-Practice-Squad-Thornton-DeVan-129273558.html |publisher=NBC Philadelphia |date=September 5, 2011 |access-date=December 13, 2011}} where he spent the first thirteen weeks of the season. On December 12, he was promoted to the active roster and was declared inactive for the last three games.{{cite news |title=Eagles WR Smith ends up on injured reserve with knee injury |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/eagles-wr-smith-ends-up-on-injured-reserve-with-knee-injury-09000d5d824fd0fc |work=NFL.com |date=December 12, 2011 |access-date=December 13, 2011}}
In 2012, Thornton's playing time increased as a backup on the defensive line rotation, while registering 47 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and one sack. His best game came against the Atlanta Falcons, when he had 8 tackles and one sack.
In 2013, he became the starting defensive end in the Eagles 3-4 defense, posting 78 tackles, 5 tackles for loss (third on the team) and one sack. The next year, he missed 3 games with a hand injury, but still had 61 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, one sack and 3 fumble recoveries.
=Dallas Cowboys=
On March 10, 2016, Thornton signed a four-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys worth more than $18 million and $6 million guaranteed, with the intention of moving him from defensive end to defensive tackle.{{cite web|title=Cowboys Sign Former Eagles DL Cedric Thornton To Four-Year Deal|url=http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2016/03/10/cowboys-agree-four-year-deal-former-eagles-dl-cedric-thornton|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301052632/http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2016/03/10/cowboys-agree-four-year-deal-former-eagles-dl-cedric-thornton|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 1, 2017|author=Helman, David|website=DallasCowboys.com|date=March 10, 2016}}
His season was seen as something of a disappointment, because he couldn't supplant Terrell McClain or rookie Maliek Collins in the starting lineup and was relegated to a backup role as part of the defensive tackle rotation.{{cite web|title=Thornton Provided Solid Depth at Defensive Tackle|url=http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2017/02/28/star-evaluation-thornton-provided-solid-depth-defensive-tackle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318173216/http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2017/02/28/star-evaluation-thornton-provided-solid-depth-defensive-tackle|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 18, 2017|website=DallasCowboys.com|date=February 28, 2017}} He missed the last 3 games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles with a high ankle sprain. He finished with 22 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
After undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, he entered the 2017 organized team activities as the leading candidate to replace McClain, who had left in free agency. He injured his hamstring after being off to a good start, which forced him to miss several weeks of training camp. He was eventually passed on the depth chart by free agent acquisition Stephen Paea. Although his $3 million base salary was guaranteed for the season, the Cowboys released him on September 3, after claiming defensive tackle Brian Price off waivers.{{cite web|title=Cowboys trade for Jayrone Elliott, cut Cedric Thornton|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20562719/dallas-cowboys-trade-green-bay-packers-lb-jayrone-elliott-cut-cedric-thornton|author=Archer, Todd|website=ESPN.com|date=September 3, 2017}}
=Buffalo Bills=
On September 5, 2017, Thornton signed with the Buffalo Bills.{{cite web|title=Bills add DT Cedric Thornton; re-sign S Anderson|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-add-DT-Cedric-Thornton-re-sign-S-Anderson/1383d3b3-427e-4c5f-9e06-230abe84122b|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211034017/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-add-DT-Cedric-Thornton-re-sign-S-Anderson/1383d3b3-427e-4c5f-9e06-230abe84122b|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 11, 2017|author=Brown, Chris|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=September 5, 2017}} He appeared in 15 games with 3 starts.
=San Francisco 49ers=
On July 25, 2018, Thornton signed with the San Francisco 49ers.{{cite web|title=49ers Announce Several Roster Moves|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-announce-several-roster-moves?sf194329157=1|website=49ers.com|date=July 25, 2018}}
On August 22, 2018, Thornton announced his retirement from the NFL after six seasons.{{cite web|title=Cedric Thornton retires after seven years in the NFL|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/08/22/cedric-thornton-retires-after-seven-years-in-the-nfl/|author=Gantt, Darin|work=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=August 22, 2018}}
On April 15, 2019, Thornton came out of retirement after sitting out 2018, and was added to the 49ers active roster.{{cite web|title=49ers sign DT Cedric Thornton to active roster|url=https://www.ninersnation.com/2019/4/15/18312075/49ers-sign-dt-cedric-thornton-to-active-roster|website=NinersNation.com|date=April 15, 2019}} He was released on July 26, 2019.{{cite web|title=The 49ers Announce Roster Moves|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/the-49ers-announce-roster-moves|website=49ers.com|date=July 26, 2019}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league |
| Bold
| Career high |
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |
| 2012 | PHI
| 16 || 0 || 27 || 19 || 8 || 1.0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2013 | PHI
| 16 || 16 || 60 || 48 || 12 || 1.0 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2014 | PHI
| 16 || 16 || 51 || 35 || 16 || 1.0 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 3 || 40 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;" | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| 2015 | PHI
| 13 || 13 || 33 || 17 || 16 || 1.0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2016 | DAL
| 13 || 0 || 22 || 12 || 10 || 1.5 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2017 | BUF
| 15 || 3 || 27 || 18 || 9 || 2.0 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| | 89 | 48 | 220 | 149 | 71 | 7.5 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 41 | 1 |
=Playoffs=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |
| 2013 | PHI
| 1 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2016 | DAL
| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2017 | BUF
| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Personal life
Thornton now coaches elementary and secondary basketball and football teams in the DFW area.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Twitter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thornton, Cedric}}
Category:People from Star City, Arkansas
Category:Players of American football from Arkansas
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Southern Arkansas Muleriders football players
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players