As Edmund Hall walked along a quiet corridor at Arlington High School last week, the 18-year-old senior was stunned to feel the firm left arm of Indianapolis Colts linebacker David Thornton draped around his shoulder.

Thornton inquired about how Hall was doing in school and what position he played in football. The friendly chat was a memorable moment for the youngster.

That's how Thornton spends his Tuesdays off from the NFL.

"I was surprised to see it was David Thornton," said an impressed Hall, a former linebacker who was converted to defensive end. "He was all right."

When it comes to mixing in the community, Thornton is dubbed "the heart behind the horseshoe" by Colts community relations assistant Jessica Castellanos. He's always asking what the team has for him next. When there's nothing planned, he sets up his own visits.

He makes new friends at schools, hospitals and church groups. Name the cause and Thornton is willing to help.

"It's something I enjoy doing," said the 25-year-old North Carolina native, whose father is a Pentecostal minister who does missionary work in prisons. "Each Tuesday is my personally designated day to go out and try to make a difference in someone's life, whether it's through signing an autograph or speaking to someone and encouraging them.

"A lot of times, you're speaking to 200 people. Other times, you may be speaking to 20 or five. If you have a chance to reach out to one person and encourage that person to make the right choice and you make a difference in their life, it's all well worth it."

It's more than just talking. When Thornton meets someone, he's genuinely interested in what that individual has to say. He makes direct eye contact. He offers an encouraging smile, the kind that invites conversation.

"I want them to realize that we're human just like they are," the Colts' co-top tackler said. "It's a chance for me to reach out and let them know, hey, you can approach me, talk to me and ask me questions that I'm willing to answer. You don't have to feel like I'm too far above you, that I can't sit down and have a simple conversation with you."

Nicole Duncan, the team's director of community relations/marketing, gushes about one of the kindest Colts.

"One of David's first stops in the building was to the CR (community relations) department to ask how he could get involved," Duncan said. "He is just one of those guys that gets it. He is one of those players who you just know feels his true payment comes not from his paycheck but rather from his interaction with others."

Duncan's e-mails end with the message, "Make a difference today!" and a quote attributed to Aesop that reminds, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."

That's Thornton. His teammates see it as well.

"If you would have to model your son, I would say model him after D.T.," Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney said.

"Oh my God, if my sister wasn't married, I would make her and David get together and get married," tight end Marcus Pollard said. "My two boys love David Thornton. Every time they see him, they run to him. It's unbelievable. It's not taught. It's innate."

Thornton credits his faith and parents for his path. In high school, he was a three-sport star but also had a 3.9 grade-point average. He was president of the student body and National Honor Society. He also found time to play the trombone and be a drum major.

"Some of it is God given," he said of his personable nature. "A lot of it is determined by how I was raised, my foundation with my family and the church. My father, his attitude and his approach to people; he and my mother are always trying to reach out and help people. I've seen that early on."

Thornton recognizes that many of today's youth lack positive male role models. It's not that Thornton is perfect -- he is single but has a 7-year-old daughter. And he's not showing up to preach Scriptures. He just aspires to impart anything from his lessons learned.

Outside Arlington, while waiting for Thornton to address the entire team, Hall interacted some more with his new friend. Thornton stood out as much for his muscular 6-2, 230-pound frame as the shiny No. 50 Colts jersey he wore. Hall, an ambitious 6-foot, 180-pounder, said he would like to go one-on-one with the NFL linebacker.

"I wouldn't chop block him," Hall said, a comment that raised Thornton's eyebrows. "I would just get under his shoulder pads."

Easier said than done, as Thornton displayed. When Hall initially tried, Thornton advised a different approach. Thornton easily brushed away Hall's arms.

"First, you've got to get in here," the linebacker said, showing the teen how he had to secure his hands on the defender.

Football lesson aside, Thornton noticed Hall's new shoes.

"Those are cool," he said.

Hall beamed.

"Those are the Jordan 18s," Thornton explained. "They're usually all black with Carolina blue. But, he did a trick with his. He's got the Colts blue in there. They're custom made. That tells me that he's creative; he doesn't want to be like anybody else. You don't follow the crowd, right? You don't make the bad choices that other people make?"

"Not no more," the teen said.

"Not no more? That's good," Thornton said. "It's easy to follow the crowd and do what everybody else is doing."

On Tuesdays during NFL season, Thornton says he is truly blessed. He finds his own crowd.

Call Star reporter Phillip B. Wilson at (317) 444-6642