Payton Wilson is an American football linebacker who played collegiate football representing the NC State Wolfpack throughout his college career. Marking a significant move, Wilson has declared his entry into the 2024 NFL Draft. Undoubtedly, entering the NFL draft is one of the life-altering decisions for any football player.
Wilson was born on April 21, 2000, making him 23 years old as of March 2024. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing around 230 pounds, Wilson possesses a great muscular frame suitable for his position. Despite his large build, he demonstrates remarkable speed and agility. Additionally, he excels in maintaining a close watch on the field and anticipating a quarterback’s throw.
Boasting an impressive collegiate career and showcasing outstanding performance at the NFL combine could boost his stock in the NFL draft. However, considering his injury history there could be a minor dilemma for the selectors.
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Payton Wilson College
Wilson attended North Carolina State University and committed to playing college football for the NC State Wolfpack. During his five-season tenure spanning 2019 to 2023, he accumulated 402 tackles comprising 202 solo tackles,48 tackles for loss and 15 sacks. Furthermore, he amassed 7 interceptions for 38 yards, accompanied by one touchdown.
For his exceptional performance on the field, he garnered several recognitions and awards. Noteworthy achievements include securing a spot on the first-team All-ACC in 2020 and 2023 and clinching the title of 2023 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Moreover, he received the prestigious Butkus Award, given annually to college football's best linebacker and also won the 2023 Chuck Bednarik Award.
Wilson’s overall collegiate career stats are as follows:
| Tackles | Def Int | Fumbles | |||||||||||||
| Year | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sacks | Int | Yards | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yards | TD | FF |
| 2019 | 11 | 36 | 33 | 69 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2020 | 11 | 57 | 51 | 108 | 11.5 | 3.5 | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2022 | 11 | 38 | 44 | 82 | 12.5 | 4.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 12 | 69 | 69 | 138 | 17.5 | 6 | 3 | 19 | 6.3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| Overall | 47 | 202 | 200 | 402 | 48 | 15 | 7 | 38 | 5.4 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
Payton Wilson High School
Wilson enrolled at Orange High School in North Carolina and initiated his football journey by playing high school football. Interestingly, beyond the football field, he also participated in wrestling and secured the state 220-pound 3A wrestling championship as a junior.
Speaking of his high school football career, as a junior, he recorded 127 tackles accompanied by 39 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. In his senior season, he had 103 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks before his season came to an end due to a torn ACL. Upon graduation, he was rated as a four-star recruit for his outstanding performance throughout.
FAQ's on Payton Wilson College
A. Chad and Tracey are Payton Wilson’s parents
A. Payton Wilson is the younger brother of Bryse Wilson, an American baseball pitcher representing the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB)
A. No, Payton Wilson does not have a girlfriend as of now.
A. Payton Wilson recorded an official time of 4.43 seconds to complete the 40-yard dash in the 2024 NFL Combine.
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