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Jersey Number 9
Esley Thorton
- Position:
- Linebacker
- Height:
- 6-3
- Weight:
- 225
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Bismarck, N.D.
- High School:
- Bismarck HS
* 2012 NCAA Elite 89 Award
* 2013 Capital One Academic All-District
* 2011, 2012, 2013 MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award
* 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 MVFC Honor Roll
2013 SEASON (JUNIOR): Played in all 15 games on special teams and made four starts at outside linebacker including the national championship game…Made 44 tackles and was credited with two quarterback hurries…Career-high nine tackles (four solos) in the NCAA second round win over Furman…Capital One Academic All-District…MVFC All-Academic second team…MVFC Honor Roll and Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.
2012 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Moved from quarterback to linebacker early in fall camp...Played in 10 games in 2012 with 15 tackles including seven solos and 0.5 sacks...Season-high 4 solo tackles at South Dakota (10-20-12)...MVFC Honor Roll and Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award...NCAA Elite 89 award winner for the highest GPA at the FCS national championship.
2011 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Played in five games as the backup quarterback, including NCAA playoff games against James Madison (12-3-11) and Sam Houston State (1-7-12)...Had a season-long rush of 10 yards vs. Sam Houston State...Completed 3 of 3 passes for 39 yards in season-opener against Lafayette (9-3-11)...Completed 6 of 10 passes for 66 yards...Rushed six times for 13 yards...MVFC Honor Roll and Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.
2010 SEASON (REDSHIRT): Sat out the season as a redshirt in the Bison program...Named to the MVFC Honor Roll.
HIGH SCHOOL: 2010 graduate of Bismarck High School...Two-time all-state and all-region quarterback for Bismarck and head coach Mark Gibson...Bismarck compiled 23-1 record over past two seasons including a pair of state football championships...Set school records for most passing yards in season and career...North Dakota’s 2009 Gatorade Player of the Year...Completed 11 of 18 passes for 118 yards and one TD, and rushed nine times for 27 yards in Team North Dakota’s 41-38 win over Montana in the Badlands Bowl...It was North Dakota’s first win since 2007...Member of Bismarck’s 2008 state championship basketball team that went 25-2...First baseman and pitcher for baseball team…Also threw the javelin for the track & field team...National Honor Society...AAA Senior Athlete Award.
PERSONAL: Majoring in exercise science…Member of the physical therapy club…Plans to attend graduate school for physical therapy…Son of Esley Jr. and Melinda Thorton...Has two brothers, Matthew and Rhannon...Father played football at NDSCS.
* 2013 Capital One Academic All-District
* 2011, 2012, 2013 MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award
* 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 MVFC Honor Roll
2013 SEASON (JUNIOR): Played in all 15 games on special teams and made four starts at outside linebacker including the national championship game…Made 44 tackles and was credited with two quarterback hurries…Career-high nine tackles (four solos) in the NCAA second round win over Furman…Capital One Academic All-District…MVFC All-Academic second team…MVFC Honor Roll and Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.
2012 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Moved from quarterback to linebacker early in fall camp...Played in 10 games in 2012 with 15 tackles including seven solos and 0.5 sacks...Season-high 4 solo tackles at South Dakota (10-20-12)...MVFC Honor Roll and Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award...NCAA Elite 89 award winner for the highest GPA at the FCS national championship.
2011 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Played in five games as the backup quarterback, including NCAA playoff games against James Madison (12-3-11) and Sam Houston State (1-7-12)...Had a season-long rush of 10 yards vs. Sam Houston State...Completed 3 of 3 passes for 39 yards in season-opener against Lafayette (9-3-11)...Completed 6 of 10 passes for 66 yards...Rushed six times for 13 yards...MVFC Honor Roll and Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.
2010 SEASON (REDSHIRT): Sat out the season as a redshirt in the Bison program...Named to the MVFC Honor Roll.
HIGH SCHOOL: 2010 graduate of Bismarck High School...Two-time all-state and all-region quarterback for Bismarck and head coach Mark Gibson...Bismarck compiled 23-1 record over past two seasons including a pair of state football championships...Set school records for most passing yards in season and career...North Dakota’s 2009 Gatorade Player of the Year...Completed 11 of 18 passes for 118 yards and one TD, and rushed nine times for 27 yards in Team North Dakota’s 41-38 win over Montana in the Badlands Bowl...It was North Dakota’s first win since 2007...Member of Bismarck’s 2008 state championship basketball team that went 25-2...First baseman and pitcher for baseball team…Also threw the javelin for the track & field team...National Honor Society...AAA Senior Athlete Award.
PERSONAL: Majoring in exercise science…Member of the physical therapy club…Plans to attend graduate school for physical therapy…Son of Esley Jr. and Melinda Thorton...Has two brothers, Matthew and Rhannon...Father played football at NDSCS.
NDSU Football Mountain West Press Conference - February 9, 2026
Monday, February 09
The Bison Football Show - December 7, 2025
Monday, December 08
NDSU Football Postgame Press Conference - December 6, 2025 (FCS Playoffs 2nd Round)
Saturday, December 06
NDSU Football Press Conference - December 2, 2025
Tuesday, December 02
