Every coaching staff plays a critical role in landing top rated high school athletes. When a player is highly sought-after, it’s often times the connection and comfort made with a particular coach that sways their decision.
That’s exactly what happened to Texas’ highest-rated player in their 2020 class. Five-star running back Bijan Robinson was heavily recruited by former offensive coordinator Tim Beck and current running backs coach Stan Drayton.
Beck and Drayton were both significantly involved in the Longhorns offense when Robinson announced his verbal commitment in August. Unfortunately, that’s the cruel uncertainty of college football.
A few months later, Beck was demoted by head coach Tom Herman due to an underwhelming 2019 season. The former Longhorns offensive coordinator later accepted the same position at North Carolina State University.
There wasn’t much hesitation for the record-breaking running back amidst the departure of Beck. According to Bleacher Report’s Adam Kramer, Herman contacted Robinson shortly after to reassure him that Drayton, Robinson’s primary recruiter, would remain on the staff as his position coach.
Robinson has not underrated the importance of Drayton throughout his recruiting process, even expressing to Austin American-Statesman that it may have played the biggest role in his decision.
“What coach Drayton has done in these past years – he’s a big reason why I chose Texas.”
Robinson signed his National Letter of Intent on December 18.
As much as Texas has vied to keep Drayton on staff in 2020, there’s now serious competition for his services. The National Football League began expressing interest over the past two days, including the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams.
Would a return to the NFL, primarily a reunion with running back Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas, be the one opportunity Drayton would leave the Longhorns for?
The consistency of a coaching staff can be described in just five words.
You’re there until you aren’t.