NC State’s Payton Wilson is a Finalist for the Butkus & Nagurski Awards

NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson is simply having one of the best seasons in school history by a defensive player. He is now a finalist for the Butkus & Nagurski Awards. The former is awarded to the best Linebacker, and the latter is awarded to the best overall defensive player in college football.

Butkus Award Finalists

Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson
Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington
Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State
Payton Wilson, NC State

Nagurski Award Finalists

Iowa CB Cooper DeJean
Illinois DT Jer’Zhan Newton
Georgia S Malaki Starks
Notre Dame S Xavier Watts
NC State LB Payton Wilson

How does Wilson stack up against the other Finalists?

Let’s start with the Butkus Award. Is Wilson the best Linebacker?

Payton Wilson 

PFF Grade – 85.6
Tackles – 123 (61 solo)
Tackles for Loss – 15.5
Sacks – 5
Interceptions – 2
Pass Breakups – 6
Fumble Recoveries – 2
Fumbles Forced – 0
Touchdowns – 1

Jeremiah Trotter (Clemson)

PFF Grade – 85.3
Tackles – 82 (51 solo)
Tackles for Loss – 14.5
Sacks – 5.5
Interceptions – 2
Pass Breakups – 5
Forced Fumbles – 2
Fumble Recoveries – 0
Touchdowns – 1

Edefuan Ulofoshio (Washington)

PFF Grade – 86.1
Tackles – 72 (46 solo)
Tackles for Loss – 5.0
Sacks – 2
Interceptions – 1
Pass Breakups – 2
Forced Fumbles – 1
Fumble Recoveries – 0
Touchdowns – 1

Ty’Ron Hopper (Missouri)

PFF Grade – 51.5
Tackles – 55 (36 solo)
Tackles for Loss – 6
Sacks – 3
Interceptions – 0
Pass Breakups – 3
Forced Fumbles – 0
Fumble Recoveries – 0
Touchdowns – 0

Nathaniel Watson (Mississippi St.)

PFF Grade – 71.3
Tackles – 116 (33 solo)
Tackles for Loss – 12.5
Sacks – 10
Interceptions – 1
Pass Breakups – 2
Forced Fumbles – 2
Fumble Recoveries – 2
Touchdowns – 0

I mean no disrespect to the other finalists for the Butkus Award, but this really isn’t statistically close. Unless something drastically changes, it would be criminal for Wilson to not be named the best Linebacker in college football.

Next up, is Wilson the best defender in college football?

Here’s a look at the other Nagurski nominees.

Iowa CB Cooper DeJean

PFF Grade – 75.6
Tackles – 41 (26 solo)
Tackles for Loss – 2
Sacks – 0
Interceptions – 2
Pass Deflections – 5
Forced Fumbles – 0
Fumble Recoveries – 0
Touchdowns – 0

Georgia S Malaki Starks

PFF Grade – 87.0
Tackles – 36 (23 solo)
Tackles for Loss – 0
Sacks – 0
Interceptions – 2
Pass Deflections – 6
Forced Fumbles – 0
Fumble Recoveries – 0
Touchdowns – 0

Notre Dame S Xavier Watts

PFF Grade – 72.7
Tackles – 44 (27 solo)
Tackles for Loss – 2.5
Sacks – 0
Interceptions – 7
Pass Deflections – 4
Forced Fumbles – 1
Fumble Recoveries – 1
Touchdowns – 1

Illinois DT Jer’Zhan Newton

PFF Grade – 83.1
Tackles – 47 (23 solo)
Tackles for Loss – 6.5
Sacks – 5.5
Interceptions – 0
Pass Deflections – 2
Forced Fumbles – 1
Fumble Recoveries – 1
Touchdowns – 0

Sure, Watts leads the nation in interceptions, but his PFF grade leaves much to be desired. Starks’ PFF grade is slightly higher, but there really isn’t anything all that gaudy about his stats.

What am I saying? As things stand now, hand Wilson the Nagurski Award along with the Butkus Award.