Illinois lineman Thornton carried off field on stretcher at game with NIU

Illinois lineman carted off field

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — An Illinois football spokesman says offensive lineman Hugh Thornton was able to move his extremities after being carted off the field in the third quarter of a game against Northern Illinois.

Spokesman Kent Brown said Thornton was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Further details on his condition were not immediately available.

Thornton was blocking ahead of running back Mikel LeShoure when he appeared to drop his head and make helmet-to-helmet contact with a Northern Illinois defender.

Thornton spent several minutes laying still on the field as medical personal strapped him to a stretcher. The 6-5, 310-pound sophomore from Oberlin, Ohio, was driven away on a cart.