Early career Drayton held running back coaching positions with the
Eastern Michigan Eagles (1994),
Penn Quakers (1995),
Villanova Wildcats (1996–1999), and
Bowling Green Falcons (2000), before being hired by the
Green Bay Packers as Assistant Offensive Quality Control and Special Teams Coach from 2001 to 2003. Following his time with the Packers he worked as a running backs coach with the
Mississippi State Bulldogs (2004),
Florida Gators (2005–2007),
Tennessee Volunteers (2008), and
Syracuse Orange (2009). He returned to the Gators for the 2010 campaign. In January 2011, Drayton was hired as a wide receivers coach by the
Ohio State Buckeyes. Following the 2011 season, he was reassigned to the role of running backs coach, under new head coach
Urban Meyer (his former boss and mentor at Florida). He also served as assistant head coach in 2013 and 2014. Under Drayton's tutelage, Buckeye running back
Carlos Hyde recorded 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also recording the eighth-highest yardage per game in the nation with 126.8. In 2014, Drayton guided
Ezekiel Elliott to 1,878 yards, third-most in the country and the second-most in Ohio State history.
Chicago Bears In February 2015, Drayton was hired as a running backs coach for the
Chicago Bears. In Drayton's first year, the running back trio of
Matt Forte,
Jeremy Langford and
Ka'Deem Carey ended the 2015 season sixth in rushing attempts with 469 and 11th in total rushing yards with 1,851. Forte led the three in attempts (218), yards (898) and yards per attempt (4.1) while Langford had the most touchdowns with six. Playing in eleven games, Carey scored twice on 43 attempts.
Texas Drayton returned to the college ranks in 2017, joining the
Texas Longhorns. On September 10, 2022, Drayton won his first game as the head coach of the Owls against the
Lafayette Leopards. Temple fired Drayton on November 17, 2024, with two games remaining in the
2024 season. Drayton's record at Temple was 9–25, with no postseason appearances. Defensive coordinator
Everett Withers succeeded Drayton as interim head coach. ==Head coaching record==