Hawk-Item – – One of 10 true freshmen to see action in 2011.
2013 – – Saw action in all 13 games, recording four solo tackles and one assist . . . saw action in 30-27 opening loss to Northern Illinois, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 28-14 win over Missouri State as defense allowed just 197 yards total offense, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 27-21 win at Iowa State, but had no statistics as defense allowed just 59 net rushing yards . . . saw action in 59-3 win over Western Michigan, recording one solo tackle as defense allowed just 209 yards total offense . . . saw action in 23-7 win at Minnesota, but had no statistics as defense allowed just 165 yards total offense and 30 net rushing yards . . . saw action in 26-14 loss to Michigan State, recording one solo tackle . . . saw action in 34-24 loss at Ohio State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 17-10 OT win over Northwestern, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 28-9 loss to Wisconsin, recording one assisted tackle . . . saw action in 38-14 win at Purdue, recording one solo tackle as defense allowed just 53 net rushing yards . . . saw action in 24-21 win over Michigan, but had no statistics as defense allowed just 60 net rushing yards and 158 yards total offense . . . saw action in 38-17 win at Nebraska, recording one solo tackle as defense allowed just 89 net rushing yards . . . saw action in 21-14 Outback Bowl loss to LSU, but had no statistics.
2012 – – Saw action in all 12 games, with four starts at strong safety . . . recorded 16 solo tackles and 12 assists, including two tackles for loss and one pass break-up . . . saw action in 18-17 win over Northern Illinois, recording one solo tackle . . . saw action in 9-6 loss to Iowa State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 27-16 win over Northern Iowa, recording one assisted tackle . . . saw action in 32-31 loss to Central Michigan, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 31-13 win over Minnesota, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 19-16 win at Michigan State, recording one assisted tackle on special teams . . . saw action in 38-14 loss to Penn State . . . recorded career-high four tackles vs. PSU, including two solo tackles and two assists, along with one tackle for loss . . . saw action in 28-17 loss at Northwestern, but had no statistics . . . started at strong safety in 24-21 loss at Indiana for first start of career . . . career-best eight tackles at Indiana, including three solo tackles, five assists, a shared tackle for loss and a pass break-up . . . started at strong safety in 27-24 loss to Purdue . . . recorded seven tackles vs. Purdue, including five solo stops and two assists and a shared tackle for loss . . . started at strong safety in 42-17 loss at Michigan, recording five solo tackles . . . started at strong safety in 13-7 loss to Nebraska, recording one assisted tackle.
2011 – – Saw action in all 13 games, recording seven solo tackles and four assists . . . saw first action of career in 34-7 opening win over Tennessee Tech, but had no statistics . . . saw action in special teams in triple-overtime loss at Iowa State, recording one solo tackle . . . saw action in 31-27 win over Pittsburgh, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 45-17 win over Louisiana-Monroe, recording one solo tackle and two assists as defense allowed just 59 net rushing yards . . . saw action in 13-3 loss at Penn State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 41-31 win over Northwestern, recording two solo tackles . . . saw action in 45-24 win over Indiana, recording one solo tackle . . . saw action in 22-21 loss at Minnesota, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 24-16 win over 13th-ranked Michigan, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 37-21 loss to Michigan State, recording one solo tackle . . . saw action in 31-21 win at Purdue, recording one assisted tackle as defense allowed just 282 yards total offense . . . saw action in 20-7 loss at Nebraska, but had no statistics . . . saw action in Insight Bowl loss to Oklahoma, but had no statistics.
High school honors – – First team all-state, first team WCAC all-conference, second team all-metro, Big School second team defense and Catholic All-American third team as a senior . . . second team WCAC all-conference and honorable mention Big School all-state as a junior . . . Career – – led team with 106 tackles as a senior, 31 tackles for loss and four interceptions, while playing both cornerback and safety . . . also scored three touchdowns as wide receiver . . . finished with 67 tackles, four QB sacks and two interceptions as a junior . . . helped team to the playoffs in 2009, finishing with an 8-3 record . . . team captain as a senior . . . lettered in both football and track.
Personal – – Born 5/12/93 . . . given name is Nicholas . . . leisure studies major . . . member of prep Honor Roll, graduating cum laude . . . parents are Melody and Harry Thornton . . . high school coach was Bryce Bevill.