Payton Wilson
NC State Wolfpack – No. 11
PositionLinebacker
ClassGraduate
MajorEducation
Personal information
Born: (2000-04-21) April 21, 2000 (age 23)
Hillsborough, North Carolina, U.S.
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High schoolOrange (Hillsborough)
Career highlights and awards

Payton Wilson (born April 21, 2000) is an American college football linebacker. He played college football at NC State, winning the Chuck Bednarik Award and Butkus Awards in 2023. He is the younger brother of baseball pitcher Bryse Wilson.

Early life and high school career

Wilson grew up in Hillsborough, North Carolina and attended Orange High School. As a junior, he made 127 tackles with 39 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.[1] Wilson also won the state 220-pound 3A wrestling championship during his junior year.[2] He had 103 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks before tearing his ACL during his senior year.[3] Wilson was rated a four-star recruit and initially committed to play college football at North Carolina (UNC) over offers from Clemson, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech.[4] He later de-committed from UNC and ultimately signed to play at North Carolina State.[5]

College career

Wilson suffered a second knee injury during summer training camp and redshirted his true freshman season at NC State.[6] He led the Wolfpack with 69 tackles during his redshirt freshman season.[7] Wilson made 108 tackles with 11.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions and was named first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in his redshirt sophomore season.[8] He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the second game of his junior season.[9] In 2023, Wilson received the Butkus Award given annually to college football's best linebacker.[10]

Personal life

Wilson is the younger brother of Major League Baseball pitcher Bryse Wilson.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Payton Wilson, No. 2 linebacker in the country, picks UNC". The Courier-Tribune. May 2, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "Football recruit Payton Wilson wins wrestling title in thrilling fashion". The News & Observer. February 23, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  3. ^ "UNC's top defensive prospect, and NC high school star, decommits". Charlotte Observer. November 22, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  4. ^ Nathan, Alec (May 1, 2017). "4-Star LB Payton Wilson Commits to UNC over Ohio State, Clemson, Others". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  5. ^ "Payton Wilson, who decommitted from UNC, commits to NC State, Dave Doeren instead". The News & Observer. December 1, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  6. ^ "NC State football player Payton Wilson faces multiple charges". The News & Observer. December 15, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  7. ^ "He's always played hard, now NC State's Payton Wilson is also playing smart". The News & Observer. October 23, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  8. ^ "N.C. State football's Payton Wilson ready to become top defender". The Fayetteville Observer. July 20, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  9. ^ Beard, Aaron (September 13, 2021). "NC State loses all-ACC LB Wilson, Fagan for year to injuries". Associated Press. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  10. ^ "NC State linebacker Payton Wilson crowned as 2023 Butkus Award winner". CBS17.com. 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  11. ^ delos Santos, Justice (September 9, 2022). "This Buc's brother is a college football star". MLB.com. Retrieved September 14, 2022.

External links

Payton Wilson
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