Bison Of The Week: Brandon Drayton

Last Saturday, Howard University Bison and Norfolk State Spartans battled for their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win amidst a crowded stadium full of green, yellow, blue and white. Even though the Bison football team came up short with a final score of 23-9, senior wide receiver, Brandon Drayton, put on a crowd-pleasing performance.

For the game, Drayton accounted for over 125 all-purpose yards, highlighted by a 38-yard kick-off return.

Drayton feels he played well but still thinks he should have done more to impact the team.

"I could have played better," Drayton said. "I could have made more plays."

Drayton has been playing football since childhood.

"I have been playing football since age 6…honestly I was born into it; it was my way of getting out," Drayton said.

The bison wide-receiver is a Miami, Fla., native and a sports-management major with a minor in secondary education. Drayton is aspiring to be an athletic director and football coach. He also wants to be the owner of a professional football team.

"Brandon is an easy going guy," Gary Harrell, first-year Bison head football coach, said. "He is a natural leader who understands what it takes to be successful."

For the past three games, Drayton has completed over 300 all-purpose yards, averaging 30 receiving yards, 40 yards in kick-off returns and 30 yards in punt returns.

"[Drayton] brings a lot of energy to the field," Harrell said. "He is great on kick-off returns and punt-returns…he consistently had great returns."

Drayton's presence on the turf is not only appreciated by the coaching staff, but by his teammates as well.

"I feel like [Drayton] had a great performance Saturday," said James Williams, sophomore defensive back. "He helped move the chains and put the offense in a great field position on his punt returns and he is a good role model for the younger guys. He helps them with their plays and points them in the right direction whenever they have a problem."

Drayton said that in his performance on the field Saturday and in other games, he finds inspiration through his aunt Lauren Drayton.

"She is considered the Super-woman," Drayton said. "She is always there when you need her and just always gets things done."

Drayton takes this past matchup with Norfolk State as a lesson and motivation for the next game. He also says he understands how important it is to have a great week of practice.

"In order to be successful for next game, we have to have a strong week of practice," Drayton said. "We have to be focused and continue to play together."