May 16, 2008
Among the thousands of family members and friends of the Penn State students graduating this weekend will be one happy mom who didnt know she would be visiting the Bryce Jordan Center a month ago.
When Stella Drayton opened her Mothers Day card from her son, former Nittany Lion standout Troy Drayton, inside was his graduation announcement and a tassel.
She had asked me to go back to finish my degree for a long time, said Drayton, who completed his degree in Labor and Employment Relations via Penn States World Campus. Were best friends, so it was hard to keep this secret from her. I thought it would be the perfect Mothers Day gift. She called me when she got the package and was crying.
Stella Drayton has traveled from her Whittier, Calif. home to see her son receive his diploma Saturday evening in the Jordan Center.
A product of Steelton, Pa., Drayton retired from the National Football League in 2000 and is a real estate associate and resides in Coral Springs, Fla.
In 1989, Drayton walked-on to the Penn State football team as a wide receiver. Four years later, he was a second round pick by the Los Angeles Rams, starting of a productive eight-year career in the NFL.
The former Steelton-Highspire High School standout moved to tight end in 1991 and made 12 receptions for 204 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Nittany Lions to an 11-2 record. He made three catches in the Fiesta Bowl win over Tennessee. In 1992, Drayton made 33 receptions to break the Penn State season mark by a tight end, which had been shared by Ted Kwalick (1967) and Mickey Shuler (1977). Drayton gained 488 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown catch from Kerry Collins against West Virginia.
Drayton played with the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams for a little more than three seasons (1993-96) and then was with the Miami Dolphins (1996-99) and Kansas City Chiefs. Drayton made a career-high 47 catches for 458 yards and four touchdowns in 1995, the Rams first season in St. Louis. He gained a career-best 558 yards on his 39 catches, scoring four times, with the Dolphins in 1997.
During his eight-year NFL career, Drayton made 243 receptions for 2,645 yards (10.9 avg.), scoring 24 touchdowns. He started 91 of his career 122 games.
Thirteen members of the 2007 Penn State football team are graduating this weekend, including three players who will be seniors this fall: wide receiver Deon Butler (Woodbridge, Va.), wide receiver Jordan Norwood (State College) and linebacker Tyrell Sales (Butler).