Football | 4/18/2019 12:32:00 PM

McNair Announces Title Changes, Promotions for Staff

LORMAN, Miss. – Alcorn State University football head coach Fred McNair announced the promotions of Cedric Thornton, Elliott Wratten and Ryan Busz on the Braves staff.
 
Thornton will serve as Assistant Head Coach, in addition to his duties as Defensive Coordinator. Wratten was promoted to Offensive Coordinator and will also coach with the offensive line. Busz was bumped up to Running Backs coach after serving as the equipment manager last season.
 
Thornton completed his first season as defensive coordinator with the Braves in 2018. He'll be entering his fourth season with the staff in 2019 after also working as the linebacker coach for two years.
 
"All the players have great respect for him as a coach. He's a leader that's proven to be able to get the most out of his players. On top of that, he's a great person for me to work closely with on the staff and he can take care of a lot of the off-the-field duties that's required. The defensive numbers speak for themselves toward the job he's done at Alcorn," said Alcorn head coach Fred McNair.
 
In 2018, Thornton's defense ranked first in the FCS in both sacks per game (4.0) and tackles for a loss per game (9.5). The defense was also third in the country in rushing (91.2 ypg), eighth in total defense (291.4 ypg), 10th in red zone defense (.714), 18th in scoring defense (21.5 ppg), 22nd in third down percentage defense (.324) and 24th in interceptions (14).

Thornton coached a pair of 2018 HBCU All-Americans - defensive back Qwynnterrio Cole and defensive lineman Terry Whittington. Cole was also named to the HERO Sports Sophomore All-America Team. Thornton also coached five All-Conference First-Team selections on defense.

As the linebackers coach, he developed Darien Anderson to becoming an HBCU All-American in 2016 and an All-Conference First-Team selection.
 
Prior to Alcorn, Thornton was the defensive coordinator at Alabama State. He had the Hornets ranked 12th in the FCS in scoring defense and 18th in passing defense. Thornton also spent three seasons as the linebackers coach at Texas Southern.
 
Thornton graduated from Alabama State with a degree in recreational therapy in 1996. Thornton played football at Alabama State (1991-95) before moving on to a professional career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. After playing for the Jags, Thornton began his coaching career at Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery
 
Wratten will enter his fourth season with the Alcorn football program in 2018, all with the offense. He's previously served as tight ends coach, full backs coach and recruiting coordinator.
 
Wratten has played a vital role in recruiting. In 2018, the Braves signed 20 student-athletes and the recruiting class was ranked second in the country among HBCU's by 247 Sports and sixth by BOXTOROW. Just two months ago, Alcorn signed 19 more student-athletes for 2019 and it was the best recruiting class in the SWAC and No. 22 in the FCS, according to HERO Sports.
 
As part of the offensive staff, Wratten saw the Braves rank eighth in the FCS in rushing with 291.4 yards per game in 2018. Alcorn also was top-10 in the FCS in time of possession, 13th in total offense and top-25 in scoring. The Braves led the SWAC in each of those categories, as quarterback Noah Johnson went on to win SWAC Offensive Player of the year, and running back De'Shawn Waller earned SWAC Newcomer of the Year.
 
"Elliott has done an outstanding job this spring with the offense. He's a tireless worker that has been here at Alcorn with the offense for a few years now and knows what we are trying to do systematically. He's shown that he can not only recruit the top athletes, but he can also game plan and develop the student-athletes. I expect him to work closely with the offensive staff to keep improving what we already have," McNair said.
 
Wratten came to Alcorn after spending the previous seven seasons at Indiana University working on both sides of the ball. The final three seasons Wratten served as a graduate assistant working with the defensive line. Wratten helped the Hoosiers advance to their first bowl game since 2007 in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl and win their third straight Old Oaken Bucket Game against rival Purdue.

Wratten earned a Bachelor's of Education in 2013 and a Masters of Safety Management in 2016 from Indiana.
 
Busz served as equipment manager last season, and as a graduate assistant coach with the Braves in 2017 helping with the offense.
 
"During the course of the spring, Ryan showed that he can really coach on this staff. He works alongside the rest of the offense and can carry a lot of responsibility. As a graduate assistant, he pitched in with all assets of the program including equipment manager duties and working with the student-athletes off the field. He's a guy who we can depend on to get the job done," McNair said.
 
Prior to Alcorn, Busz worked as a graduate assistant at Wayne State College in Nebraska for one season. In 2015, Busz was the linebacker coach at Garden City Community College. He graduated from Indiana University in 2014 with a degree in History and worked with the football team for six seasons.
 
Busz earned his Master's degree in athletic administration from Alcorn in 2018.
 
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