PHILADELPHIA — Former Star City player and Southern Arkansas All-American Cedric Thornton was promoted to the Philadelphia Eagles’ active roster Monday.
The Eagles and SAU announced the promotion, which comes in time for Philadelphia’s home game against the New York Jets on Sunday. The 6-foot-4, 309-pound Thornton fill a vacancy left by wide receiver Steve Smith, who is on season-ending injured reserve.
Thornton has floated from the active roster at the beginning of the season to the practice squad and back to the 53-man roster this season. He signed as a free agent in July after wrapping up a four-year collegiate career at SAU, where he earned All-America honors the past two years.
At SAU, he led the team with 80 tackles, including 8.5 sacks and a Division II-leading 23 tackles for loss. He totaled 53 tackles in 2010.
Thornton and Tennessee Titans defensive back Jordan Babineaux are the only SAU alumni on active NFL rosters.