Where could Penn State running backs coach Stan Drayton be on staff in 2026? An SEC school is 'targeting' him for its staff

First-year Penn State running backs coach Stan Drayton will not be part of new head coach Matt Campbell’s first staff in State College, in all likelihood. Per the staff at BWI sistersite Gamecock Central and On3’s Pete Nakos, Drayton will likely be the running backs coach at South Carolina in 2026. Nakos says the Gamecocks are ‘targeting’ him for the role. It is not immediately clear if he will coach the Lions in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 27 against Clemson. When asked on Tuesday about how he would handle outgoing staff members and the postseason, interim head coach Terry Smith said talks about it were ongoing.

“We are working through dynamics right now with staff changes,” Smith said when asked about Ty Howle. The current Penn State tight ends coach and co-offensive coordinator will be James Franklin’s offensive coordinator at Virginia Tech next season.

“As of now he’ll be with us, but just working through that. To be honest, I’m not quite sure.”

Drayton looks to be one-and-done at Penn State. He joined the Lions after being fired in late 2024 as the head coach at Temple. He helped lift Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton to record-setting finishes to their careers, even if only the former seemingly improved on his watch.

“Stan Drayton brings decades of experience coaching running backs at the highest levels to our program,” Franklin said in a statement last February. “He is an important addition to our staff. His experience as a head coach and working alongside elite backs in his career will be invaluable to our running backs room.”

Which Penn State 2025 staff members are leaving?

Here’s the list so far:

Reportedly going elsewhere:

Ty Howle – To be the next OC at VT

Danny O’Brien – To be the next QB coach at VT

Stan Drayton – Targeted to be the next RB coach at South Carolina.

Chuck Losey – Expected to be Franklin’s next strength coach at VT.

Already gone

These people have already joined James Franklin in Blacksburg:

Kevin Threlkel – Chief of Staff

Andy Frank – General Manager of Personnel and Recruitment

Brett Arnold, Assistant Director of Player Relations

Chris Mahon, Recruiting Coordinator for Personnel

Rashad Elby, Assistant Recruiting Coordinator for Personnel

Aeneas Hawkins, Assistant Director of Player Advancement & Revenue Sharing Strategy

Caleb Tyler, Director of Recruiting Content

Tristin Iannone, Director of External Operations

Karsyn Kehler, Assistant Recruiting Coordinator for Operations and Visits

Heidi Erb – Assistant to the head coach