2011 Football Roster
T.J. Thorpe
- Position:
- Wide Receiver
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 190
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Durham, N.C.
- High School:
- Jordan
• 2011 Finalist for the Johnny Rodgers Award (nation's top returner)
Returned to the field last season after missing the entire 2012 season with a broken foot • Has all the tools to be a dangerous deep threat and reliable receiver • Also an excellent kick returner.
2014 - Junior Season
Despite suffering a third broken foot in training camp, played in nine games and caught 16 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns • Had at least one reception in all nine games • Finished with season highs of four catches for 66 yards at Miami • Had two catches for 23 yards and what proved to be the game-winning touchdown in the 28-27 win at Virginia • Also scored at Clemson on a 41-yard pass from Marquise Williams and at East Carolina on a 35-yard throw from Ryan Switzer • Each of his three scores came from a different passer (Mitch Trubisky at Virginia) • Had three catches for 52 yards in his season debut at ECU • Also returned three kicks for 64 yards against Georgia Tech.
2013 - Sophomore Season
Appeared in 12 games at wide receiver and on special teams and started 10 on offense • Finished with 24 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns • Caught two passes for 36 yards, including a 25-yarder, against Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl victory • Had a 27-yard touchdown reception and a 34-yard kickoff return against Old Dominion • Finished with two catches for 22 yards and four kickoff returns for 85 yards at NC State • Had two catches for 40 yards in the win over Boston College • Caught a 19-yard pass against Miami • Caught two balls for 29 yards at Virginia Tech • Had his best game of the season against East Carolina, finishing with six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown • Also returned seven kicks for 153 yards with a long return of 45 yards • Caught an 8-yard pass, returned a kickoff for 26 yards and returned three punts for 21 yards in the win over Middle Tennessee • Making his first appearance since the 2011 Independence Bowl, caught four passes for nine yards at No. 6 South Carolina • Missed the entire 2012 season after breaking his foot during training camp.
2011 - Freshman Season
Received honorable mention on the All-ACC team after leading the league with a 26.7 kickoff return average • Finished the regular season with 36 returns for a school-record 960 yards, eclipsing the previous mark of 939 set by Brandon Tate in 2007 • Also scored on a 100-yard kickoff return at Clemson, just the second 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in school history and first since Tyrell Godwin at Stanford in 1998 • Just the 14th time in ACC history that a player has returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown • Also had one punt return for five yards and five special teams tackles, including three against East Carolina • Caught two passes for 70 yards, including a 52-yarder at Clemson, and rushed twice for six yards • Had a season-high 234 all purpose yards at Clemson (182 return, 42 receiving) • Topped 100 total return yards on four occasions (Rutgers, East Carolina, Miami, Clemson) • Enrolled at Carolina in January 2011.
Jordan High School
SuperPrep All-America • Member of the ESPNU 150 as the No. 88 overall prospect in the country • Considered the No. 11 athlete in the nation by ESPNU • Member of the Rivals250 • Rated the 15th overall wide receiver by Rivals.com and the No. 6 prospect in North Carolina • Rated the No. 21 wide receiver by SuperPrep • Ranked the No. 50 wide receiver in the country by Scout.com • Member of North Carolina's Shrine Bowl team • Set a state single-season mark as a junior by returning five kickoffs for touchdowns • Established a school career record with 2,423 receiving yards • Coached by Mike Briggs.
Personal
Son of Tyrone and Carmen Thorpe • Born May 26, 1993 • Exercise and sport science major • Favorite NFL team is the Atlanta Falcons • Likes to cook • Says his best dish is steak with rice and gravy • Says the best thing about UNC is "the people" • Most treasured possession is his father's high school jersey, which motivates him to be the best he can be • People say he looks like rapper Bow Wow • Favorite TV show is "Duck Dynasty" • Eats a bag of Sour Patches before every game • Would like to visit Bora Bora in the future • Says the people who had the biggest impact on his life are his parents • Would like to guest star on the reality TV show "Love & Hip Hop Atlanta" • Majoring in exercise and sport science.
