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This first-team All-ACC defensive back may join Vikings safety Anthony Harris as the latest Virginia Cavalier to make an impact on the league. Thornhill played safety and quarterback in high school, tried out corner at the beginning of his Virginia career, then moved back to safety where he ended his time magnificently with six interceptions and 98 tackles as a senior.

His 13 career interceptions made him top 25 all-time in the ACC, and his 12 career tackles for loss speak to his work against the run. Thornhill was a massive Combine winner, placing top five in all four drills he executed. Has all the tools to succeed at the next level.

Size

6-0, 205 pounds

Combine notables

40-yard dash: 4.42 seconds (5^th at position)
Bench: 21 reps (2^nd at position)
Vertical: 44 inches (1^st at position)
Broad jump: 141 inches (1^st at position)

What the analysts say

“Three-year starter who proved he could bring his instincts and ball skills with him from cornerback to safety in 2018. Thornhill’s size and cover talent should allow defensive coordinators the freedom to deploy him around the field in a variety of ways depending on the matchups and his running mate at safety. While he could garner consideration as a corner, safety gives him his best opportunity to become an early starter.” – Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

“A three-year starter/four-year contributor, Thornhill’s experience is evident in the measured, high-IQ way he approaches the game. He’s smart and disciplined, but at times his methodical style is too slow to make the kind of impact plays the top safety prospects in college football are making. Given that he is new to the position, if Thornhill had great athletic traits I might get on board with believing in his upside, but I think he’ll be limited in any coverage role he sees in the NFL, while not bringing enough physicality or instincts to thrive around the box.” – Jon Ledyard, The Draft Network

What PFF says

-7^th in run-stop percentage
-T1st in interceptions
-43.8 passer rating when targeted
-11^th in tackling efficiency

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CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE
ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE

TOP 40 PLAYERS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS NEEDS & TARGETS
POSITIONAL TOP 5 RANKINGS & VIDEO BREAKDOWNS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
INMAN: NFC NORTH WORST CASE DRAFT SCENARIOS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL (PODCASTS, VIDEOS, ARTICLES)
INMAN’S MOCK DRAFT COLLECTION

Sam Ekstrom

Sam Ekstrom is an executive producer and host at Locked On Sports Minnesota. He's previously covered the Vikings for 105 The Ticket, Zone Coverage, Purple Insider, and the Associated Press. He grew up in Vermillion, S.D. rooting for the USD Coyotes (not SDSU) and graduated from Dordt (not "dork") University in Sioux Center, Iowa.

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