Malik Thornton announced late last month via his X (Twitter) account that he is leaving the University of the Cumberlands to enter the transfer portal.
The former Putnam County High School standout has played for the Patriots for the last three years.
Thornton, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound defensive back, told The Eatonton Messenger he has one semester left and will graduate in May, so he won’t know his next college home until the spring. The Eatonton native has one year of eligibility left at the college level.
“My time at UC was great. They helped me develop as a player and as a man,” he said. “They allowed me to grow and develop my game, which helped me succeed for the last three seasons. UC also allowed me to grow as a leader. Being on the leadership council helped me mature faster because we had a little more responsibility than other players, and I was around a lot more older guys.”
UC football is part of the Mid-South Conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) league. Thornton has been a big part of the program’s success during his time there.
As a freshman, Thornton played in eight games and recorded a team-high four interceptions, five pass breakups, and 15 tackles. He was named MSC Defensive Player of the Week twice and the MSC Defensive Freshman of the Year. He tied a record with two defensive touchdowns in a season.
Thornton’s stock continued to rise as a sophomore. He played in 10 games and finished the season with 24 tackles and a team-high five interceptions. Thornton recorded a pick in five straight games. He was named to the MSC First-Team All-Conference during his sophomore campaign in 2023.
Thornton played 10 games as a junior, with 22 tackles, an interception, and four pass breakups.
“He’s a special young man,” former Putnam County head coach Shaun Pope said of Thornton in 2023. “We all knew he could play ball well. He’s not going to ‘wow’ you with his speed or anything like that, but his instincts and toughness are great.”
Thornton had a decorated sports career at Putnam County. He also played basketball and ran track.
Putnam County went 12-1 overall in Thornton’s 2021 senior season. The War Eagles were knocked out of the postseason by eventual state champion Fitzgerald in the Elite Eight but still accomplished a lot.
The 2021 Putnam County squad was the first to win double-digit games since 1996 and the first War Eagles’ team since 2010 to capture a region title.
“Playing with those guys was fun. We also had a great bond, and it all started during summer workouts,” Thornton said in 2023. “Every one of us pushed each other. We always competed hard against each other, and that made us better. We also always learned together as a whole, as a unit. We got that 12-0 season and a region championship. It was an amazing run. I loved every second of it.”
Thornton will graduate from Cumberland in May with a degree in elementary education.