It was reportedly a three-way race to land Texas Longhorns associate head coach and run game coordinator Stan Drayton. Fortunately for the Longhorns, it doesn’t appear Drayton will be accepting a similar position within the National Football League.
Head coach Tom Herman has made it a priority to bring back Drayton for the 2020 season, especially with five-star running back Bijan Robinson arriving to campus. This appeared to be the most likely scenario until the Dallas Cowboys became involved.
Cowboys new head coach Mike McCarthy highly coveted Drayton, scheduling an interview last week in an attempt to reunite Drayton with former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott. The Cowboys are no longer a possibility to sway Drayton away from Texas.
According to ESPN reporter Lindsey Thiry, the Cowboys have decided to hire former Los Angeles Rams running backs coach Skip Peete.
The Dallas Cowboys will hire Skip Peete as running backs coach, per source.
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) January 15, 2020
Oddly enough, the Rams were reportedly the third team interested in Drayton’s services. Although it could remain a possibility, Thiry denied the team’s interest in the Texas coach. The Cowboys vacant coaching position appeared the most enticing option if Drayton were to return to the NFL.
With Peete accepting the same position in Dallas, NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport now believes Drayton will stay at Texas.
The #Cowboys and new coach Mike McCarthy recently interviewed RB coach Skip Peete for their vacant RB coach job, source said. He held that position in Dallas from 2007-12 and they’ve discussed a return. Stan Drayton from #Texas is believed to be returning to UT.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 15, 2020
Drayton’s decision speaks volumes of the expectations he has for the Longhorns this year, there’s no shortage of highly-rated athletes in the backfield.