Payton Wilson

Out of high school, Wilson was 6'4", 225 lbs. and was a consensus 4-star recruit by ESPN, 247Sports, and Rivals.com. He attended Orange High School in his hometown of Hillsborough, NC. His career stats from high school include 266 tackles, 70 TFL, 24 sacks, and two interceptions. In his senior season, he accrued 103 tackles, 21 TFL ,10 sacks, a pick-six, two passes defended, and one fumble recovery. Wilson’s college career began in 2019 as he played 11 games off the bench for the Wolfpack after recovering from a knee injury which he sustained the summer before the season. He played well in the opportunities he had and led the defense in tackles despite coming off the bench in all games except one. This earned him more playing time in a starting role in his sophomore season. He used this opportunity to break out and lead the NC State defense in tackles once again with an impressive 108 tackles. He also had 11.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks in that season while also recording 2 interceptions and 3 passes defended. This breakout earned Wilson a First Team All-ACC appearance and put him on the radar as one of the best linebackers in the conference and in the country. However, he suffered a season ending shoulder injury just two games into his junior year and returned to the field in 2022 for his senior year, recording 82 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 1 interception and 4 passes defended. In 2023, he started 12 games and had a career season for the Wolfpack. He collected 138 tackles, 6 sacks and 3 interceptions. In addition to his play on the defensive side of the ball, Wilson became a huge part of the NC State special teams and has done very well in that aspect of the game. He ended up being a semi-finalist for the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year Award and was a co-recipient of the Ken McNeill Iron Wolf Award, given to the player with the biggest comeback from injury. Wilson had an opportunity to leave for the NFL draft after last season but decided to stay at NC State for his 5th year. He had a day two projection for last year’s draft. So far this season for the Wolfpack defense, Wilson has played in 3 games and has 33 tackles and 2 TFL. He is projected to be one of the leading tacklers not only in the ACC, but in the entire country this season.