Justin Thornton

Career Honors: 2007: KU co-Defensive Player of the Week vs. Colorado.

2008 (Jr.): Started the first seven games at free safety and the final five regular season games at left cornerback… Finished fifth on the team with 63 tackles… Led the team with 11 passes broken up… Had one interception against Sam Houston State… Tied for 38th in the NCAA with 1.00 passes defended per game… Recorded at least five tackles in nine different games… Best tackle game was nine at South Florida.

2007 (So.): Tied for fourth in the Big 12 and 40th in the NCAA in interceptions per game (0.38)… Played in all 13 games and started the final four games of the year at safety… Registered 46 tackles on the season to rank seventh on the team… His five interceptions matched KU All-American Aqib Talib for the team lead… Broke up nine passes to rank second on the team behind Talib… Had one tackle for loss… Interceptions came against Florida International, Baylor, Colorado, Nebraska and Virginia Tech… Had a 16-tackle game against Missouri… Recorded seven tackles at Colorado… Had nine tackles in the first six games combined and 37 in the final seven contests combined.

2006 (Fr.): Played in 12 games and had four starting assignments… Finished fifth on the club with 46 total tackles… Recorded one tackle for loss (vs. Northwestern State) and one interception (vs. South Florida)… Broke up four passes and forced two fumbles… Had a season-high 10 tackles including seven solo stops in the game against Texas A&M.

2005 (RS): Redshirted.

High School: Named all-state as a wide receiver after his senior season… Was named all-district, all-conference and all-city as both a wide receiver and defensive back in 2004… Had 39 solo tackles and four interceptions, including three for touchdowns in 2004… Collected 46 catches for 894 yards and 15 touchdowns during his senior season as a wide receiver… Also ran the ball for 205 yards and a pair of touchdowns… Best game was a six-touchdown performance, helping the Indians to a 56-30 victory against Oak Park… Earned 10 varsity letters in football, basketball and track for CHS… Coached in football by Tony Dudik.

Personal: Born in Atchison, Kan… Majoring in economics… Hobbies include sports, video games and spending time with friends… Son of Mitchell Thornton, Sr., and Tracy Turpin… Has two sisters.

Up Close: Favorite Website – Facebook, Favorite Athlete – Ed Reed, Favorite Activity Other Than Football – Playing video games, Post-College Dream (other than NFL) – Get married and raise a family, Football is… My key to being successful in life.