In what’s become an annual tradition in Raleigh, North Carolina State’s top running back has once again found himself in his coach’s doghouse.
Dave Doeren announced Thursday that Shadrach Thornton has been suspended for the first two games of the 2015 season. The head coach declined to go into detail, allowing only that the issue responsible for the situation occurred six months ago. The Raleigh News & Observer writes that "[t]he only outstanding legal charges against Thornton are minor traffic infractions.”
Because of the suspension, the senior back will miss the opener against Troy and the Week 2 matchup with Eastern Kentucky. He’ll return for the following week’s game at Old Dominion.
Thornton has led the Wolfpack in rushing each of the last three seasons, with his totals increasing from 694 yards to 798 to 907 last season. Earlier this month, he was named first-team All-ACC.
However, he’s had a hard time staying in the coaching staff’s good graces. In 2013, he was suspended for the opener after being charged with violence against a female. He was indefinitely suspended in December of that year for another run-in with the law, and reinstated in August of last year.
UPDATED 1:26 pm. ET: And now we have the alleged reason behind Thornton’s suspension.
NC State starting RB Shadrach Thornton suspended 1st 2 games for 2nd failed drug test, source told @ESPN
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 27, 2015