South Carolina targeting Stan Drayton as next running backs coach

South Carolina is targeting Penn State’s Stan Drayton as its next running backs coach, sources tell On3. The former Temple head coach spent one season in State College, working with running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen.

South Carolina fired running backs coach Marquel Blackwell earlier this month. He becomes the third assistant coach from the offensive side of the ball to be let go this year. Shane Beamer made decisions during the course of the 2025 season to part ways with offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley and offensive coordinator Mike Shula.

Drayton is a 32-year coaching veteran with 25 years of experience tutoring running backs. He arrived at Temple after working as associate head coach and run game coordinator for Tom Herman and Steve Sarkisian from 2017 to 2021. He helped develop Bijan Robinson, Roschon Johnson and Keaontay Ingram over his time with the Longhorns.

Before his stint with Texas, Stan Drayton coached at Ohio State and helped win the inaugural College Football Playoff in 2014. He also won a national championship as a coach at Florida from 2005 to 2007. A proven recruiter, he brought Robinson to Texas and Cam Newton to the Gators.

Beamer coached with Drayton at Mississippi State in 2004. The stop in Starkville in 2004 featured Drayton and Beamer serving on the same staff under Sylvester Croom.