Payton Wilson
Class: Graduate Student
Measurables: 6-4, 242 pounds
Hometown: Hillsborough, NC
High School: Orange
Major: Graduated in December ’22 with an education degree
Notes: Enrolled at NC State after originally committing to rival UNC … Initially considered entering the NFL Draft this past year but opted to return for a sixth season with the Wolfpack, much to the delight of coaches and fans…
Missed most of 2021 with a shoulder blade injury sustained against Mississippi State (played in only two games) but returned with fury last season, tallying 83 total tackles, including 12.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks…
Had 10 tackles and two sacks in the Wolfpack’s 16-12 bowl loss to Maryland … Made 11 tackles in the season finale at North Carolina, an NC State triumph…
Ranked 15th in the ACC in tackles per game… A semi-finalist for 2022 Comeback Player of the Year and the co-recipient of the Ken McNeill Iron Wolf Award, given to the NC State player with the biggest comeback from injury…
Has earned preseason all-conference and all-America mentions, including 2nd team All-American from Athlon Sports, 1st-team All-ACC from Phil Steele and Athlon Sports, and 2nd-team All-ACC from Lindy’s.
Did you know? Wilson was a top-notch lacrosse player in high school, once scoring six goals in a game; he also earned a state title in wrestling.
Lindy’s Sports on Wilson: “Linebacker Payton Wilson has been one of the top tacklers in the ACC across the past several seasons when healthy. His impact with the Wolfpack goes back to 2019, when he was the team’s top tackler despite not starting … While Wilson epitomizes an experienced player, that could be lacking in some other areas of the defense…”
Wilson on his upcoming sixth season at NCSU, published in a story in the Fayetteville Observer in January: “I’m putting all my eggs in this basket. And then I’m going all out.”
Photo by David Jensen/Icon Sportswire
