DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY|dewayne@mcnews.online
MOUNT IDA – Mount Ida Senior Running Back Drayton Standridge will be exchanging Mount Ida Maroon for OBU Purple in the Fall when he suits up for the Ouachita Baptist University football program. Drayton signed a letter of intent last week to play for the OBU Tigers.
Drayton was a standout running back and linebacker for the Mount Ida Lions this past season. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry for the Lions, carrying the ball 201 times for 1,127 yards and 18 touchdowns. Drayton recorded six games with over 100 yards rushing while averaging 93.9 yards per game.
Drayton recorded 84 solo tackles while playing linebacker for the Lions with 121 total tackles. He also recorded 13 tackles for loss and three sacks. He also forced one fumble and recovered one fumble.
Drayton’s best performances of the season include Poyen with 150 rushing yards and a touchdown; Episcopal with 131 yards and three touchdowns; and Mineral Springs with 75 yards and three scores. His longest run of the season came against Poyen on a 31 yard run.
Defensively, his best performance came in the win over Poyen with 15 solo tackles and 22 total tackles. He had 11 solo tackles and 18 total tackles in the season ending loss at Carlisle.
Drayton was named to the 3-2A All Conference Team and was named to the 2A All-State Football Team. He was also named to the AAA All-Star West Football Team this week.
Inclement weather prevented the school from hosting a signing event on Wednesday, February 1, the date he signed his letter of intent to play for OBU. However, a signing event was held Friday, February 3, to give family and friends an opportunity to show their support for Drayton as he prepares to advance his football career to the next level.
He had verbally committed to Harding University before the 2022 season but a late bid by OBU was too good to pass on. He was recruited by the Tigers of OBU to play as a running back.
Drayton is a star in the classroom as well, scoring a 33 on his ACT test and he will graduate with over a Four Point GPA. He is the son of Daniel and Cody Standridge.
