Ole Miss offensive line coach Jake Thornton taking same position at Auburn

OXFORD, Miss.  – Ole Miss offensive line coach Jake Thornton is leaving Oxford to take the same position with Auburn under the Tigers’ new coach, former Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze.

The Rebel Walk today confirmed this news with a current player. 

Thornton came to Ole Miss after spending the 2020 season as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach at Gardner-Webb.

Thornton joined the Gardner-Webb staff after two seasons in the same role at FCS Tennessee Tech. There, he helped the Golden Eagles to one of the top turnarounds in the subdivision nationally in 2019.

Thornton just finished his second season in charge of the Rebels’ offensive line. 

This year, the Ole Miss offense ranks No. 3 in the FBS in rushing yards per game (261.6) and No. 7 in total offense (491.2).

The O-line has blocked for a rushing attack that features the only team in the country with two players over 850 yards rushing in Quinshon Judkins and Zach Evans.

Judkins set the Ole Miss single-season record in both rushing yards (1,476) and rushing touchdowns (16) in 2022. He also leads the SEC and ranks top 10 nationally in total touchdowns (17) and rushing yards per game (123.0). The Rebel freshman won the Conerly Trophy earlier this week and is a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award.

Ole Miss is the only FBS team with more than 5,500 yards of total offense, while having more than 3,000 yards rushing.

In 2021, Thornton’s unit helped the Rebels lead the SEC in total offense at 492.5 yards per game. Anchoring that offensive line was eventual NFL signee Ben Brown, stalwarts like center Orlando Umana, tackle Nick Broeker, as well as Freshman All-SEC honoree Eli Acker.