Stan Drayton, the running backs coach for Penn State, may be considering a change as he is reportedly a target for South Carolina for the same position in 2026, according to a report by Pete Nakos of On3. Drayton joined the Nittany Lions coaching staff just ahead of the 2025 season, where his role primarily focused on developing standout running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton.
Under Drayton’s guidance, Allen had an outstanding season, leading the team in rushing with 1,303 yards and securing 15 rushing touchdowns, making him the program’s all-time leading rusher after surpassing Evan Royster late in the regular season. Singleton also had a productive season, contributing 13 rushing touchdowns.
With 32 years of coaching experience, Drayton boasts a rich history in coaching running backs at various prestigious institutions, including Texas, Ohio State, Florida, Syracuse, Tennessee, and Mississippi State. His experience extends to the NFL, where he worked with the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, and he previously served as the head coach at Temple from 2022 to 2024.
As the season wraps up, Penn State is set to compete against Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl on December 27, amidst discussions about Drayton’s potential career move. The dynamics of college football coaching often lead to such speculations, but for now, Drayton continues to focus on preparing his running backs for the upcoming challenge.