Beyond the Barracks with The Citadel Head Football Coach Maurice Drayton - 8.24.2026

Honestly, the turnover numbers were a lot more, and I guess that's just the way of the world these days.

That's kind of what it's become.

But when you look back at the offseason as a whole, what were the things you guys felt like you needed to accomplish in terms of recruiting? And you've got a pretty good balance, it seems, of both experienced and upcoming young guys.

Just the thought process on how you kind of put all this together.

Yeah, so you're right.

We had to replace 55% of our roster.

So because of that, we had to be very strategic in the recruiting process.

Our director of scouting, Rhett Russell, and our recruiting coordinator, Roberto Piniella, did a fine job of developing a plan of creating a good blend of in-state incoming freshmen as well as having experienced upperclassmen who, one, understand the Citadel, they have a reverence and a respect for the cadet and the lifestyle we live, and one that understands ball and has actually played.

Right.

And honestly, I mean, everybody's in this kind of this same boat where you're out rebuilding a roster essentially year in and year out, aren't you? Between trying to retain guys that you want to bring through the system, but you're also always selling the program.

It's always been that way anyway, but it's just changed.

the dynamics with all the player movement.

Absolutely.

I'll say this.

The Citadel has prepared us for this because we've always had to re-recruit our own guys, especially during that knob year, which is a little challenging.

Right.

So we're a step ahead of the curve in that aspect.

Honestly, the turnover numbers were a lot more, and I guess that's just the way of the world these days.

That's kind of what it's become.

But when you look back at the offseason as a whole, what were the things you guys felt like you needed to accomplish in terms of recruiting? And you've got a pretty good balance, it seems, of both experienced and upcoming young guys.

Just the thought process on how you kind of put all this together.

Yeah, so you're right.

We had to replace 55% of our roster.

So because of that, we had to be very strategic in the recruiting process.

Our director of scouting, Rhett Russell, and our recruiting coordinator, Roberto Piniella, did a fine job of developing a plan of creating a good blend of in-state incoming freshmen as well as having experienced upperclassmen who, one, understand the Citadel, they have a reverence and a respect for the cadet and the lifestyle we live, and one that understands ball and has actually played.

Right.

And honestly, I mean, everybody's in this kind of this same boat where you're out rebuilding a roster essentially year in and year out, aren't you? Between trying to retain guys that you want to bring through the system, but you're also always selling the program.

It's always been that way anyway, but it's just changed.

the dynamics with all the player movement.

Absolutely.

I'll say this.

The Citadel has prepared us for this because we've always had to re-recruit our own guys, especially during that knob year, which is a little challenging.

Right.

So we're a step ahead of the curve in that aspect.