Corey Thornton making the most of his opportunities

Aug 13, 2025 at 02:05 PM

Kassidy Hill

The Carolina Panthers hold voluntary workouts on Monday, May. 19, 2025 in Charlotte, NC.

CHARLOTTE — For most of training camp, there was a lot the Carolina Panthers didn't know about Corey Thornton.

The UCF and Louisville product came to the Panthers as a rookie undrafted free agent in the spring. He was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl but not the NFL Combine, somewhat lost in the shadow of his Cardinals teammate Quincy Riley, who was drafted in the fourth round by the Saints. And when Thornton arrived in Charlotte as an UDFA in May, it was buried on a depth chart headlined by Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson.

But the Panthers have found a few undrafted gems that became contributors lately, such as Jalen Coker and Demani Richardson. So when the scouting department delivered Thornton this year, there was always a good chance he could be the next in line.

The Carolina Panthers hold camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at Bank Of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.

"Credit to Dan Morgan and the free agent process after the draft," noted defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. "There's so many good players that are still out there and I think they've been really diligent and organized in terms of giving us—evaluate and collaboration between the position coaches and the scouts in terms of making decisions on those players and the players that we want to target, and it's came together really well and those two (Demani and Corey) are good examples."

So for months, the Panthers learned about Corey Thornton in bits and pieces; sparsely spaced reps and plays at the end of periods. But Thornton just kept making plays, and the more his teammates learned, the more they were shocked.

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The Carolina Panthers play the Cleveland Browns in a preseason game on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.

"I'm actually surprised he went undrafted," Horn said this week. "I ain't looked at none of his college tape, but I mean, from what I see, he like he should have been drafted because he's trapping."

On the days Horn would get a vet day from practice, Thornton was part of the rotation, splitting those snaps across from Mike Jackson. Those days introduced him to the starting offense, to the point Thornton was the first person Xavier Legette mentioned when asked who had stood out to him during camp.

"Ever since he got here, Corey Thornton, 31, yeah, he's been doing his thing. Every time I go against him, I tell him I like what you're doing," Legette said.

The Carolina Panthers hold camp on Wednesday, Jul. 30, 2025 in Charlotte, NC.

And now, with Horn recovering from stitches in his hand after a minor car wreck last week, Thornton has worked with the ones.

"Well, I mean, he's just taking advantage of his opportunities," added Evero. "I mean, he's a professional. He's in early, and he's working on his body, he's meeting extra and watching film, and he's doing everything he needs to do to be successful. I think that reflects in his play, and so, yeah, I mean, it's just a matter of taking advantage of his opportunities.

"He's a very good skill learner. When you teach him a technique or skill, he can apply it very easily, and for a lot of guys, it might take them time to develop those skills. You can tell him something, and right away, he can apply it, so I think that's kind of where his superpower is."

The Carolina Panthers hold camp on Saturday, Jul. 26, 2025 in Charlotte, NC.

It's also become an opportunity to learn another fascinating facet of this young defensive back; the juxtaposition of a punishing player and a softhearted soul.

"Sometimes he'll try to be like 'Dang my bad, cuz,'" Legette laughed. "I'm like, 'Man, you good. We playing ball, man. As long as you going hard, you going to make me go, you going to make me better,' so he one of the main guys that been sticking out to me."

Added Horn, "(He's) getting the defense super fast like, and he's always coming to me every day asking questions like how did you approach your first joint practice as a rookie, or how are you approaching your first preseason game, or what are you thinking right here?

"And for rookies, that's what you want to see, just guys is willing to learn and willing to try to get better every day, and he got that."

Mike Jackson, Corey Thornton and Jaycee Horn attend an event

And that means he's earning notice, though he's not one to bring attention to himself.

But Thornton, for as quiet as he may be himself, can’t help but play loud, as was evident in his WWE-style suplex tackle for loss during the Panthers' first preseason game last week against the Browns, taking down receiver Kaden Davis on a reverse.

Going full @WWE on the tackle

📺: NFL Network pic.twitter.com/P5cOdM7j9q
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 8, 2025

"He got the defense fired up with that one," praised Horn on Tuesday. "And you know he made plays all throughout the game, so you know I'm excited for him."

Thornton is still young, with the luxury of having two entrenched starters in his position group. Barring unforeseen circumstances or injuries, he has time to watch, learn, and give the Panthers a better glimpse of who he is and can be for this defense.

"I love seeing Corey Thornton show up like he's been," Dave Canales said Friday night following the Browns game.

"He puts himself in good position, you know, whether it's a tackle or whether it's making a play on the ball, Cooley's doing a great job just teaching him technique, footwork and all that, he's taking the coaching, he's a natural football player and then he shows up physical in those moments, you know, and so, that was really exciting to see."

There is still a lot the Carolina Panthers don't know about Corey Thornton, but with every bit they uncover, the more it seems like they've found a gem.