Liberty County High School running back Shadrach Thornton has been selected to the East team roster for the first annual Georgia Junior Bowl, Panther football coach Kirk Warner said.
Players were selected by a selection committee comprised of sports journalists, former college and NFL players, high school coaches and Georgia Junior Bowl organizers from risingseniors.com.
Thornton, who is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 190 pounds, has had an impressive career since his freshman season.
The junior has rushed 483 times for 2,607 yards and 28 touchdowns, according to LCHS offensive coordinator Ryan Glazer, a total that includes 13 100-plus-yard games.
Thornton’s career single-game-high of 222 yards came this season against McIntosh County Academy. Thornton also has scored on three two-point conversions, has 19 receptions for 247 yards and is 8-of-16 passing for 90 yards and one touchdown. He has returned kicks for 401 yards and a touchdown.
As a freshman, Thornton was voted ninth-grade offensive MVP. He was awarded the Panthers offensive player of the week title three times as a sophomore. He’s also been named first team All-Savannah, most valuable offensive back, first team All-Region and received All-State honorable mention.
According to regional recruiting analyst Chad Simmons, Thornton is getting attention from a number of schools in the South.
Simmons reported Thornton was shocked when Georgia Tech A-backs coach Lamar Owens showed up to a recent Panther football banquet.
"Coach [Lamar] Owens came down to check on me and I was a little surprised by that," Thornton told Simmons in an interview posted on risingseniors.com. "I had not been hearing a lot from Georgia Tech, so I was not expecting someone from there to be at our banquet. I got to talk to him on the phone after he left and he told me they have a lot of interest in me."
Simmons said Thornton has also received calls from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Stanford.
The Georgia Junior Bowl will be the first all-star football game of its kind showcasing the top high school football players in Georgia. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m., Jan. 8 at Halford Stadium in Clarkston.
For more information visit: risingseniors.com.