Linebacker Joseph Thornton Leading Mocs Defense

Mocs senior linebacker Joseph Thornton is a coaches dream.
Not only does he deliver big hits on the field, but he's also a hit
in the classroom and the campus community.
Mocs head coach Russ Huesman calls Joseph Thornton the bell cow of the defense.
"He's the best player on our defense. I don't mind saying that. I hate to point people out, but he's a good football player. He's playing like an All-Conference player."
  Thornton is fifth in the SoCon in tackles, averaging nearly ten a game.
And when you're making all those stops, it's kind of hard not to be a leader.
Said Huesman,"If you're making plays, they look over there and say, I'm going to kind of do what he does. To me, that's what a leader is."
Said Thornton,"It wasn't my intention to be a leader. It was just my intention to win ballgames, and do what I have to do to lead this team to some wins."
 Thornton is also a leader off the field, having won the SoCon's Coleman Lew Leadership award last season.
"I was kind of proud. Kind of honored to be given that award. I did a lot of volunteering service. I actually painted garbage cans around campus."
 Painting garbage cans is also safer than playing linebacker.  Thornton got knocked out two weeks ago against Samford.
"Just remember waking up. The trainer was in my face. That's all I can remember. I asked him about who won the game, and the game wasn't even over yet. I got a new helmet, so I'm trying to hit harder now. (laughter)."
  Talk about a guy that wants to end his senior year with a bang.
"The excitement in the air. Town and students supporting us. It's something that I always wanted to see, and I'm happy to be apart of it."