Incoming Liberty County Panther junior running back Shadrach Thornton spent the summer at different football camps, and his hard work and dedication caught the attention of a few Division I schools.

In April, Thornton and teammates Tucory Rhodes and Charles Hall attended the Under Armour Combine at the Georgia Dome.

That trip eventually led to a visit to Georgia Tech’s campus, and last week the running back was invited to clinics at Florida State and the University of Florida.

"He was actually invited to Dawg Night but we couldn’t make the trip up there that weekend," Panther football coach Kirk Warner said of the July 19 University of Georgia camp Thornton missed.

On Wednesday, the junior shone at Florida State.

"We went to Florida State. He talked to some guys and they gave me feedback, saying they liked his size and his quickness," Warner said. "We came back feeling good about the camp, especially with him only being a junior."

Warner said the Seminoles recruiting coordinator plans to come watch Thornton this season.

"On Thursday, we were out here at practice and I got a call," the coach said. "And when I answered, it was a guy from the University of Florida. I didn’t contact him, so evidently he did well enough on Wednesday (at FSU) for the word to get around to the University of Florida. They invited him to Friday Night Lights on Friday, so we jumped back in the car and headed out."

Pick up Friday's Coastal Courier for the entire story.