ALBANY, Ga. — Albany State University defensive lineman Derrick Drayton has earned preseason recognition from two national outlets, being named to the D2 Elite 100 First Team Defense and the BOXTOROW 2026 HBCU College Football Preseason All-American Team First Team Defense.
The College Park, Ga., native enters the 2026 season following a standout campaign for the Golden Rams in which he established himself as one of the top defensive playmakers in the SIAC.
Last season, Drayton recorded 32 total tackles, including 17.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. His ability to disrupt opposing offenses and consistently get into the backfield made him a key presence along the Albany State defensive front.
"Derrick Drayton is an exceptional person and player. He deserves to be seen as one of the top defensive players in college football," said Albany State Head Football Coach David Bowser.
"His 2025 statistics speak volumes about the impact he had on our defense and the success of our No. 1-ranked defense last season," Bowser added.
Drayton's preseason honors add to the recognition surrounding him heading into the upcoming season and place him among some of the nation's top defensive talent at the Division II and HBCU levels.
With another season ahead, Drayton will look to build on his 2025 production and continue to lead the Golden Rams defensive line.
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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 12 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, baseball, and football, with all teams competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).
