D.J. Durkin and Stan Drayton were named to the University of Florida football staff on Tuesday. Durkin will work with the Gators’ linebackers, while Drayton will work with UF’s running backs. Specific responsibilities will be determined once the entire staff is finalized.

“Coach Addazio and I worked together on this and are excited to have D.J. and Stan join our coaching staff,” said Urban Meyer. “Both guys are familiar with the plan we have for our program, our coaches and our student-athletes. It will be a smooth transition and they both bring a high level of expertise to the table and have proven to be good recruiters.”

Durkin recently completed his third season at Stanford University, where he worked with the defensive ends and coordinated the special teams’ units. He joined the Cardinal after serving two seasons on the coaching staff at Bowling Green State University, his alma mater, where worked with the defensive ends in 2005 before taking over responsibilities with the linebackers and special teams in '06.

Durkin began his coaching career at Bowling Green, where he was a four-year starter for the Falcons from 1997-2000. Following graduation, he served as a defensive graduate assistant for on Meyer's staff for two seasons (2001-02). In 2001, BGSU's defense ranked first in the Mid-American Conference in total defense, as well as four other major categories. In 2002, the Falcons finished with a 9-3 record and were ranked in the Top 20 in both major polls.

Following a two-year stay at Bowling Green, Durkin moved onto Notre Dame, where assisted the Irish staff in all defensive aspects with concentrated duties on the defensive ends. He worked closely with the school's all-time sack leader, Justin Tuck, in 2004.

As a player, Durkin was a four-year starting defensive end and outside linebacker at Bowling Green from 1997-2000 and served as one of the team captains for two seasons. He started a total of 33 games in his career and recorded 131 tackles, including 28 for loss. Durkin led the team in sacks in 1998 and finished second in that category in 2000. He also received numerous awards during his playing career, including the Ken Schoeni Award for character and toughness, the Carlos Jackson Award personifying the values of a student-athlete and the Leadership Award.

Durkin earned his bachelor's degree in business marketing from Bowling Green in 2001 and added a master's degree in educational administration and supervision in May of 2004. A native of Youngstown, Ohio, he attended Boardman High School, where he was an all-conference and All-Northeast Ohio selection.

Drayton re-joins the Florida staff after coaching the running backs at Syracuse University in 2009. He has also worked in the National Football League with the Green Bay Packers.

Known for being an elite recruiter, Drayton was named one of the nation's top-25 recruiters in 2007 following his involvement with Florida's No. 1-rated recruiting class. He mentored the Gator running backs from 2005 through 2007. Drayton has also coached at Tennessee (2008), Mississippi State (2004) and Villanova (1996-2000). At Florida, the Gator rushing offense ranked third in the SEC and 23rd nationally under Drayton's direction in 2007, averaging 200.2 yards per game.

Drayton has spent a combined 13 years coaching running backs on the collegiate level, in addition to three seasons in the NFL. He helped Green Bay to three-straight NFC playoff appearances during his 2001-03 stint with the Packers as offensive quality control and assistant special teams coach.

Before coaching in the professional ranks, Drayton spent the 2000 season at Bowling Green as running backs and special teams assistant. Several of his disciples have made their marks in the college and professional football ranks, including current Philadelphia Eagles’ running back Brian Westbrook. Drayton mentored Westbrook, who became the first player on any collegiate level to record more than 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season. He also coached Jerious Norwood while at Mississippi State. The SEC's third-leading rusher in 2004, Norwood gained 1,050 yards during his only season with Drayton and has gone on to enjoy a successful tenure with the Atlanta Falcons.

Drayton was a three-year starter as a running back at Allegheny (Pa.) College. The Cleveland, Ohio, native was a three-time, first-team All-America selection, an Associated Press Little All-America first-team member and set the Division III season records for touchdowns (28) and TDs per game (2.8).

He remains Allegheny's all-time leading rusher and scorer and helped the Gators claim the 1990 Division III national championship. In addition to football, Drayton also twice earned All-America status in track and field, competing in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes.

The Durkin File  

Age: 31

Birthdate: Jan. 15, 1978   

Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio

Education: 2001 - Bachelor's Degree in Business Marketing from Bowling Green State University; 2004 - Master's Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Bowling Green State University

Coaching Experience

Bowl Games

The Drayton File  

Age: 38

Birthdate: March 11, 1971   

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

Education: 1993 - Bachelor's Degree in English from Allegheny (Pa.) College

Coaching Experience

Bowl Games

-UF-