Albany, Ga. — Albany State University defensive standout
Derrick Drayton has earned national recognition after being named to the D2Football.com 2025 Elite 100 Team, honoring the top performers across NCAA Division II football.
Drayton, one of the defensive leaders for the Golden Rams this season, led Albany State in sacks and played a pivotal role in anchoring the Rams' defensive front. His consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks, disruptive presence in the backfield, and leadership on and off the field made him one of the most impactful defenders in Division II football during the 2025 campaign.
Drayton's inclusion on the Elite 100 highlights his importance to the Golden Rams' success and reflects the respect he has earned at the national level for his performance throughout the season. As one of the team's defensive leaders, he set the tone for Albany State with his physical play, football IQ, and relentless motor.
The Elite 100 Team is D2Football.com's equivalent of an All-America team, recognizing the top players in Division II football. The selections are made by the D2Football.com staff, with input from current head coaches and professional football scout Josh Buchanan. The team includes first- and second-team selections for offense, defense, and special teams, alongside 25 "Squad" players for both offense and defense. These Squad selections are considered similar to honorable mention recognition on other national lists.
In addition to the Elite 100 selections, D2Football.com has announced its major postseason awards. Todd Knight from Newberry was named Coach of the Year after orchestrating one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football. He led the Wolves from a 3–8 record in 2024 to a 12–2 record in 2025, which included winning the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) championship, securing three playoff victories, and achieving the program's first-ever regional title.
Steve Annese of Ferris State earned Offensive Coach of the Year honors, while Eric Fargo of Kutztown was named Defensive Coach of the Year.
Harlon Hill Trophy winner Curtis Allen was selected as Offensive Player of the Year, and Tristan Exline, linebacker from UT Permian Basin, was named Defensive Player of the Year.
The complete 2025 D2Football.com Elite 100 Team can be viewed at:
https://www.d2football.com/2025-d2football.com-elite-100-team/
Logos for D2Football.com and the Elite 100 Team are available in the attached materials.
Drayton's Elite 100 selection further underscores Albany State's tradition of excellence on the defensive side of the ball and places him among the nation's elite Division II football players for the 2025 season.
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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football with all teams compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.
