Penn State RBs Coach Stan Drayton Reportedly Headed to South Carolina

The coaching carousel keeps spinning.

Penn State running backs coach Stan Drayton is set to join South Carolina next season, according to a report by John Whittle of The Big Spur. Drayton is coming off his first season in Happy Valley, though his one-year contract was up, meaning no buyout is necessary.

In Drayton’s lone season, Kaytron Allen totaled 210 carries for 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns, one of the best single seasons in program history, while also breaking the school record for career rushing yards. Though Nick Singleton, a preseason All-American, regressed statistically, he set the program career record for both rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns this season. No other running back saw meaningful playing time this season.

Running backs coach becomes the latest opening on the Nittany Lions’ staff, which is slowly being overhauled by newly hired head coach Matt Campbell. His running backs coach at Iowa State in 2025 was Jake Landry, a possible candidate to fill the role.

Campbell will also have to replace tight ends coach Ty Howle, who followed James Franklin to Virginia Tech to become the Hokies’ offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien, who’s headed to Blacksburg for the same role.