An offseason of change following a successful 2024 season continues in Happy Valley.\u00a0 With the hiring of Penn State’s new running back coach, the Nittany Lions are taking a Stan.\u00a0 Stan Drayton brings to Penn State a resume that includes head coaching experience, experience in bigger programs, and a table of running backs that have developed under his tutelage.<\/p>\n
Drayton enters a situation at Penn State that would be the envy of any running back coach.\u00a0 In returning stars Nick Singleton<\/a> and Kaytron Allen<\/a>, Drayton takes over arguably the best running back<\/a> room in the country.\u00a0 His ability to work with offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki to maximize Singleton\u2019s and Allen\u2019s performance will be a critical determinant in improving on last year\u2019s College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal appearance<\/a>.<\/p>\n When previous running back coach Ja\u2019Juan Seider left Penn State after seven years, to take the same position with Notre Dame, it became important for head coach James Franklin and Kotelnicki to find a suitable replacement.\u00a0 Singleton and Allen are two of the best, if not the best, weapons on the Nittany Lions offense.\u00a0 Question marks abound<\/a> at wide receiver, and tight end Tyler Warren<\/a> is moving on to the NFL.\u00a0 Consequently, the running backs and quarterback Drew Allar<\/a> are the returning stalwarts on offense.<\/p>\n Drayton arrives at Penn State after serving as head coach at Temple.\u00a0 Drayton had a 9-25 record at Temple.\u00a0 The Owls had a 3-9 record in the first two of Drayton\u2019s seasons and were 3-7 when he was let go this past November with two games remaining.\u00a0 Franklin is hoping to find success similar to what was seen with Tom Allen and Manny Diaz, who joined Penn State as assistants after being head coaches elsewhere.<\/p>\n Before Temple, Drayton was a member of the Texas coaching staff from 2017 \u2013 2021.\u00a0 He was the associate head coach, running back coach, and running game coordinator there.\u00a0 Drayton worked for both Tom Herman and Steve Sarkisian while at Texas, before moving on for the promotion at Temple.\u00a0 Before Texas, Drayton was the running backs coach at multiple programs\/NFL teams including the Chicago Bears, Ohio State, Florida, Syracuse, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Bowling Green, Villanova, Penn, and Allegheny.<\/p>\n Drayton has also walked the walk as a running back.\u00a0 He was a three-time first-team All-America selection at the running back position at Allegheny College.<\/p>\n There have been numerous successful running backs that were developed, at least in part, by Drayton.\u00a0 They have gone on to be successful at the NFL level as well.\u00a0 That experience will be helpful for Drayton as he takes on the development of stars in Singleton and Allen.<\/p>\n Given the programs that Drayton worked with, it is not surprising that he crossed paths with some solid running backs.\u00a0 His mentorship helped bring them to the next level.\u00a0 Recently, he helped develop Bijan Robinson<\/a>.\u00a0 Robinson won the Doak Walker Award in 2022 after rushing for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns.\u00a0 Robinson learned from Drayton through 2021.<\/p>\n Additionally, Drayton worked a few running backs of note when he was with Ohio State.\u00a0 First, there was Carlos Hyde<\/a>.\u00a0 In 2013, Hyde rushed for 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding three additional receiving touchdowns.\u00a0 To top that, in 2014 sophomore Ezekiel Elliott<\/a> rushed for 1,878 yards with 23 touchdowns.<\/p>\n After 2014, Drayton moved on to the Chicago Bears in the NFL.\u00a0 He led quality NFL backs including Jordan Howard, and Matt Forte.\u00a0 Howard set the Bears rookie single-season rushing record under Drayton.<\/p>\n Additionally, Drayton developed a few other 1,000-yard college rushers earlier in his coaching career.\u00a0 Jerious Norwood<\/a> rushed for 1,050 yards in 2004 at Mississippi State.\u00a0 Brian Westbrook developed into a star at Villanova when Drayton was the running back coach.\u00a0 In 1998, Westbrook rushed for 1,046 yards and 15 touchdowns.<\/p>\nTaking a Stan: Who is Stan Drayton?<\/h2>\n
Developed by Drayton<\/h3>\n
Winning Over Tough Critics<\/h3>\n