Penn football's Jayden Drayton earns Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week

It's another week of treats for Penn football. 

Following the win against Brown on Halloween, Penn football's Jayden Drayton was announced as the Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week, as announced by the Conference Office. 

This marks Drayton's first Ivy League weekly honor in his football career, as well as the program's fourth Special Teams Player of the Week award this season. This season is the most awarded since the 2008 team and their five honorees. 

The weekly honors award coordinated by the Ivy League is given to players in different roles across Ivy League teams who have made significant contributions in games, ranging from Offensive Player to Defensive Player of the Week. Drayton was specifically rewarded for the Special Teams position across the Ivy League, highlighting his performance. 

In the most recent game against Brown, Drayton critically disrupted Brown’s momentum mid-game with a 54-yard kickoff return, taking it all the way to the endzone. He played a significant role in assisting with Penn’s fourth touchdown, helping the Quakers to a 28-14 lead in the third quarter. Defensively, he also had a very strong performance with six tackles and a pass breakup. 

His performance is particularly notable given that Drayton is stepping up for senior running back/return specialist Julien Stokes after his season-ending fibula injury during the game against Columbia. Stokes, who averaged 29.4 yards per punt return and who ranked first in the nation at one point this season across both the FCS and FBS, was a difference maker for Penn. Before Penn's matchup at Columbia, Stokes set up Penn for six drives in opponent territory, and the results of those drives were five touchdowns and one field goal. 

Other teammates — junior running back Sean Williams Jr., sophomore running back Donte West, and senior defensive lineman Carter Janki — were also awarded the Ivy League weekly honor roll for their performances against Brown. 

This is the eighth honor earned by Penn’s football this season.  

The Quakers will be up against Cornell this upcoming Saturday in their homecoming match-up. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Franklin Field.