South Carolina Finalizes Hire of Veteran RB Coach Stan Drayton
South Carolina officially announced Thursday morning that Stan Drayton has been hired as the Gamecocks’ new running backs coach and assistant head coach for offense, bringing one of college football’s most seasoned RB developers to Columbia.
Drayton enters the program with nearly 25 years of college coaching experience, along with a stint in the NFL and three years as head coach at Temple. He makes the move to South Carolina after spending the 2025 season guiding Penn State’s running backs.
Below is a rewritten breakdown of his extensive coaching background and production history.
Early Career: Building a Foundation (1993–2000)
Drayton’s coaching journey began at several northeastern programs, working with running backs at Allegheny, Eastern Michigan, Penn, Villanova, and Bowling Green.
- At his alma mater, Allegheny, he returned as an All-American running back and sprinter turned coach.
- During his time at Eastern Michigan, Stephen Whitfield eclipsed 1,200 rushing yards in 11 games under his guidance.
- At Villanova, Drayton coached under offensive coordinator Dave Clawson, who would go on to lead Wake Forest to some of its best offensive seasons.
- He also coached Brian Westbrook, who later became an NFL Pro Bowler and set an NCAA record for career all-purpose yards. Westbrook’s historic 1998 season included becoming the first college player ever to record 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same year.
Though Bowling Green struggled in 2000, Drayton’s coaching reputation continued to grow, ultimately helping him secure his first NFL opportunity.
Green Bay Packers to Florida: Rising Through the Ranks (2001–2007)
Drayton’s next stop was the Green Bay Packers, where he worked as an offensive quality control and special teams assistant. The Packers’ offense ranked among the best in the league during his three seasons there, with Ahman Green making the Pro Bowl every year Drayton was on staff.
In 2004, he returned to the college ranks at Mississippi State, reuniting with Shane Beamer on Sylvester Croom’s staff. The Bulldogs struggled offensively, but Jerious Norwood still surpassed 1,000 rushing yards.
Drayton’s career took another step forward when Urban Meyer hired him at Florida. His three years with the Gators included:
- A national championship in 2006
- Coaching Tim Tebow during his 2007 Heisman Trophy season
- Helping Florida produce one of the nation’s top scoring offenses
During this stretch, the Gators also posted a 2–1 record against South Carolina.
Tennessee, Syracuse, and a Return to Florida (2008–2010)
Drayton continued building his reputation by developing high-caliber runners at each stop:
- At Tennessee, he coached future Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster.
- At Syracuse, Delone Carter topped 1,000 rushing yards.
- Back at Florida in 2010, his final year under Meyer, six different players logged at least 250 rushing yards.
South Carolina faced Drayton twice in this span—winning both meetings in 2008 and 2010.
Ohio State and the Chicago Bears: Coaching Elite Talent (2011–2016)
Drayton’s next major move came at Ohio State, first coaching receivers before shifting back to running backs under Urban Meyer.
During his Buckeyes tenure:
- Carlos Hyde earned Big Ten Running Back of the Year honors in 2013.
- Ezekiel Elliott exploded for 1,878 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2014.
- Ohio State won the first-ever College Football Playoff national title during Elliott’s breakout.
- The Buckeyes ranked top-five nationally in scoring during both 2013 and 2014.
Drayton followed this success with two seasons coaching running backs for the Chicago Bears, where rookie Jordan Howard set an NFL rookie rushing record with over 1,300 yards.
Success at Texas: Developing Bijan Robinson (2017–2021)
Returning to college football at Texas, Drayton held multiple roles—running backs coach, run game coordinator, and assistant head coach.
His major accomplishments in Austin include:
- Recruiting and developing Bijan Robinson, who became a top-10 NFL Draft pick
- Guiding Texas to a top-10 scoring offense in 2020
- Helping Robinson finish 8th nationally in rushing in 2021
Under Drayton, the Longhorns consistently produced balanced, high-powered offenses.
Head Coach at Temple & Success at Penn State (2022–2025)
Drayton spent 2022–2024 as head coach at Temple, where wins were scarce, though the offense showed flashes of improvement.
His lone year at Penn State in 2025 was far more productive. Under his leadership:
- Kaytron Allen erupted for 1,303 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.
- Nicholas Singleton contributed 13 touchdowns and nearly 550 yards.
- Penn State averaged 177.5 rushing yards per game, despite defenses knowing the run was coming.
A Veteran with Proven Results Arrives in Columbia
Drayton’s résumé showcases a rare combination of longevity, versatility, and success at the highest levels of football. From coaching All-Americans and Heisman winners to developing elite NFL talent, his track record speaks for itself.
South Carolina lands a coach with decades of experience, deep recruiting ties, and a proven ability to elevate running back play—factors that make his hiring one of the program’s most significant moves of the offseason.
