New Penn State RB coach Stan Drayton details opportunity ahead

Penn State football officially welcomed its new running backs coach, Stan Drayton, on Valentine’s Day. Hired in the wake of the exit of long time assistant Ja’Juan Seider, the Nittany Lions moved quickly to bring in the successor to one of the program’s most talented position groups.

Thursday afternoon, a short sit-down interview conducted by play-by-play man Steve Jones illuminated why.

Joining Jones in the team auditorium of Penn State’s Lasch Building, Drayton detailed his admiration for Franklin’s career and the program he now runs, how he intends to handle his next steps with the Nittany Lions’ running backs, and the areas he considers of critical importance to excelling at the position. Here, we sort through the highlights:

Trust factor

Over his 32 years of coaching, including stops at Ohio State, Florida, and Texas in the college game as well as with the Chicago Bears in the NFL, Drayton has established a track record of success. Within it, he’s picked up a strategy of how to handle running back rooms that is consistent in one respect.

Predicating future success on initial interpersonal work and relationship building, Drayton insisted he brings a “custom fit” approach to his role in his players’ development. 

“It’s based on where they are in their development. It’s custom fit for every individual,” said Drayton. “First things first for me is I have to earn their trust, and they have to earn mine. That’s with every one of those backs in that room, from top to bottom. 

“In order for me to get them where they’re trying to go, and help them to reach the potential that they’re capable of, there has to be a certain level of trust and respect there. And that’s earned.”

Diving into the personalities, work habits, and foundations of the eight players in the room this spring, from veterans Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen through walkons Amiel Davis and Tyler Holzworth, to its newest member, early enrollee Tikey Hayes, that process begins now.

“I need to really get into that room, get to know my guys inside and out, find out where their strengths and weaknesses are, where they are in their development, both on and off the football field, and then customize my approach accordingly to each individual,” he said.

Priority pass

Asked about the multiplicity of skills that define success for today’s modern running back, Drayton acknowledged that combination of attributes necessary beyond running the football to achieve it.

But, even more important than the dual threat of running and catching the football as a receiving threat, Drayton said two jobs are foundational for the position.

“I think in today’s game, there’s two jobs of a running back that won’t change, and that’s protecting the football and protecting the quarterback. And if you are lacking in any one of those areas, regardless of your skill set, you really can’t be out there expecting to achieve big things,” said Drayton. “There’s no way you can win a football game by giving the ball to the opponent. That’s not how the ball is designed. 

“If you’re trying to obtain big things, we’re going for a national championship this year, we cannot be giving our opponent an advantage because we can’t protect the football. That just does not work.”

Why Penn State

Fired by Temple after a brief stint as head coach with the Owls late last season, Drayton found an opportunity with the Nittany Lions he gravitated toward.

Explaining that he’s known Franklin for years and has admired the high level of integrity displayed in his standards and how that permeates through his program, Drayton pointed toward his background with Pennsylvania, its affinity for the Penn State football program, and how he fits within that context.

“I went to school in this state. All you hear is Penn State. I worked in this state. All you hear is Penn State,” said Drayton. “And so this is a premier opportunity with a premier coaching staff for me to continue my career. So it was a no-brainer for me. It really was. 

“It’s a high tier program that’s holding integrity. It’s all about raising the whole man here, and I really appreciate that.”