The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Leading by example
03.22.2003 | Football
Texas senior defensive end Kalen Thornton has been very fortunate when it comes to guidance, especially in his football career. He grew up with the direction of a former NFL football player at home and was taken under the wing of a future professional player upon his arrival at UT. Now, after battling through injuries for the past year and a half while facing a demanding academic schedule consisting of rigorous finance classes, it is his turn to be a role model.
This spring, Thornton has stepped into the role of a key leader on a defense that has ranked among the top 20 nationally the past three years and is expected to once again be one of the best in the country next year.
"Kalen has great respect from his teammates," head coach Mack Brown said. "They look up to him because he's a good person, a great student and an outstanding player. He's overcome a lot of adversity and stayed positive through it all. He is the whole package and a great role model to the other guys."
Thornton attributes his desire and persistence to his own role model. His father, Bruce, is someone he has always looked up to for advice and guidance. He was a defensive lineman for Illinois in the late 1970s before playing for the Dallas Cowboys for three years from 1979-81, the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982 and for Denver Gold and Chicago Blitz of the USFL in 1983-84.
"He was never the type of father to push something on me," Thornton said. "He wouldn't even let me play football until my freshman year in high school, but it was always very competitive in our household. He didn't want to be a meddling dad, but if I came in and asked for his help, he was definitely there for me."
Not only was Thornton's dad there for him when it came to football but also when he just wanted someone to hang out with.
"My dad is still a big kid at heart," he said., "When I go home, we still play PlayStation and talk about all sorts of things. Lately, it's been about football because it's about that time for me to figure out what I'm going to do in terms of the next level. Usually, it's just like we're two friends hanging out on a Saturday night."
Once Thornton made the decision to play for The University of Texas, he found another role model in former teammate Cory Redding. He followed in Redding's footsteps at defensive end, playing in every game as a freshman and starting 11 of 12 contests his sophomore season.
"Cory is one of my best friends," Thornton said. "When I came here as a freshman, he was very cool with me and helped me to adjust to the collegiate level. I'm glad I had the opportunity to play with him the three years that we were together. Regardless of what happens or where our career paths take us, I'm sure we will always be close."
With Redding as his mentor, Thornton earned Freshman All-America honors and shared the team's Outstanding Defensive Newcomer Award after a successful first season. He posted 32 tackles (17 solo), 3.5 sacks (T-No. 5 on UT's freshman single-season chart), eight TFLs (No. 5) and 20 QB pressures on a defense that ranked seventh nationally (278.3 ypg).
Midway through his sophomore season, Thornton suffered a knee injury during the Oklahoma game and has been battling injuries ever since. Although the 6-foot-3, 270-pounder was coming off knee surgery to start his junior year, he sustained a sprained ankle midway through the season just as he was getting back to full speed. He finished the year with 28 tackles, five TFLs, 2.5 sacks and 14 QB pressures in 10 games. His perseverance and appetite to play did not go unnoticed.
"Kalen has been an outstanding player for us," Brown said. "He has continued to play and fight through adversity. He is very hard to block and is one of the best pass rushers in the country. He's having a great spring and we think he'll have a great senior season."
Thornton knows injuries are just another challenge any athlete needs to overcome to be successful and believes the adversity has taught him the art of patience.
"It got me in the weight room more often to work on my upper body strength, which was lacking when I first got here," he said. "That is one positive that came from my injuries. I know my career is winding down and I have to come out next year and work hard to achieve all the goals I have set for myself."
Off the field, Thornton is consumed with schoolwork and participating in various community service activities. In high school, he received the St. Mark's Community Service Award as a senior for building houses and taking part in other volunteer projects. He has spoken at several schools since he's been in Austin but wishes he could do more. However, studying for his finance classes takes up most of his spare time these days.
"It's hard to manage it all," said Thornton, a two-time Verizon Academic All-District and Academic All-Big 12 selection. "My social life definitely decreased once I got into the business school. I still like to hang out, but during the weekdays, it's strictly school and football. I hope to use my finance degree if I am fortunate enough to make it to the next level. I want to know what is going on with my money and how it's being invested."
Whether he is a leader on the field by being vocal and showing the younger guys the proper stance and steps to take in learning the defense or off the field in the classroom with his 3.0 grade point average, Thornton has been turning heads.
His brother, Kyle, will be a Longhorn next year and the elder Thornton is excited about having the chance to show his brother the ropes.
"I want him to see what it takes to be a great player, not just a good player," he said. "I'm definitely going to be in his and everyone else's faces trying to raise the excitement of the entire team. I want to show everyone how intense they should be and leave my mark so everyone will continue with that attitude and desire."
Just as his father Bruce and his Longhorn mentor Redding did for him.
