It’s been a heck of a start to the 2023 football season for NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson. He has earned ACC Linebacker of the Week twice, and today he was named the Butkus National Linebacker of the Month.
Through 5 games, Wilson is averaging 11.2 tackles per game. He has recorded double-digit tackle totals in 4 of NC State’s 5 games, leading the Wolfpack in tackles each game. Wilson also has 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 4 QB Hurries, 3 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception.
Wilson’s 56 tackles rank 7th in all of college football.
From the release by the Butkus Foundation:
“Wilson has registered 56 tackles, including a Butkus-like effort tracking down a Notre Dame ballcarrier where he registered a Wolfpack lifetime-best 23.4 miles per hour on the GPS, the fastest head coach Dave Doeren said the program has ever recorded.”
Here’s what NC State Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson had to say about Wilson today during media availability.
“The leadership that he brings to our defense, the communication piece of it, and everything that I ask of him to do…he keeps stepping up and making plays. Right now, I don’t know if there’s a better defensive player in the country, in my opinion, than the level that he’s playing at right now. I know he’s not satisfied with where he’s at, with where we’re at. I look forward to watching him keep getting better as this year goes on.”