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Gators Running Backs Coach, Tampa-Area Recruiter Drayton Joins Vols

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By JENNA MARINA Tribune correspondent

Published: January 9, 2008

GAINESVILLE - Former University of Florida running backs coach Stan Drayton, a heavy recruiter in Tampa for the Gators, made a lateral move to the University of Tennessee on Sunday.

Drayton said he waited until Tuesday to make the news official so he could talk to his UF players. He will head to Knoxville, Tenn., today.

Drayton will replace Kurt Roper, who left with former offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe, who accepted Duke's head coaching position.

UF coach Urban Meyer was not available for comment.

Meyer met with Drayton on Jan. 2, and they agreed it was time for a fresh start at the running backs coaching position, but Drayton said he was not fired.

Drayton said running backs are featured more prominently at UT, making it a good move.

"I was excited about coaching Emmanuel Moody and Chris Rainey and Kestahn Moore, but some opportunities just fell in my lap, and that made me revaluate my situation," Drayton said. "I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to explore a system where I could continue to grow as a position coach and help my longtime goal in becoming an offensive coordinator or head coach some day."

Drayton was the lowest-paid of Florida's nine assistants at $135,000.

Drayton was named one of Rivals.com's top 25 recruiters in 2007 for his role in UF's top-ranked class. He secured players such as running back Rainey (Lakeland), defensive tackle Torrey Davis (Armwood) and QB Cameron Newton (Atlanta Westlake).

AUBURN: All-SEC defensive tackle Pat Sims said he will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

HAWAII: Athletics Director Herman Frazier, who could not convince June Jones to return as coach, was fired.

RUTGERS: Junior Ray Rice, the leading rusher in school history, said he will enter the NFL draft. Rice leaves Rutgers with numerous records including career rushing yards (4,926), career rushing touchdowns (49) and rushing yards in a season (2,012) and rushing yards in a game (280).

Information from Tribune wires was used in this report.

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