Thank God Payton Flipped His Commitment from UNC to NC State!

Today is the last time NC State fans will have the opportunity to watch Linebacker Payton Wilson play football in Carter-Finley Stadium. It’s hard to imagine Wilson in any other jersey besides the Wolfpack’s Red & White, but he was awfully close to wearing UNC’s putrid baby Blue and White.

Wilson, out of Orange High School in Hillsborough, North Carolina, originally verbally committed to UNC on May 1st, 2017.

4-Star LB Payton Wilson Picks UNC pic.twitter.com/ur66mz4NQS

— Tar Heel Illustrated (@HeelIllustrated) May 1, 2017

NC State’s coaching staff didn’t care that Wilson was verbally committed to UNC. They continued to pursue him.

#UNC & #NCState HCs & DCs visiting LB Payton Wilson
Dave Doeren trying to flip the Tar Heel commit
(Larry Fedora left on🚁as I arrived)#wral pic.twitter.com/CPnxXUAHBa

— Marilyn Payne (@marilyn_payne) October 7, 2017

Coach Dave Doeren shared the moment he thought they would flip Wilson’s commitment, was when then UNC Head Coach Larry Fedora flew a helicopter in to see Wilson’s game, while Doeren and then Defensive Coordinator Dave Huxtable drove up in a pickup truck playing country music.

Dave Doeren with an amazing answer when I asked him when they knew they were getting Payton Wilson away from UNC: pic.twitter.com/OhvFvGOY2P

— Mark Armstrong (@MarkPArmstrong) October 22, 2020

Ultimately, Wilson decommitted from UNC on November 22nd, 2017.

Please respect my decision! pic.twitter.com/CV8oS64VyI

— 11 (@payton_wilson21) November 22, 2017

Three days later, Wilson was at the NC State vs. UNC game in Carter-Finley Stadium, this time he was standing on the Wolfpack’s sideline.

After decommitting from UNC days ago, Pack target Payton Wilson looked like he was about to destroy every QB within 100 miles at the UNC game last night. pic.twitter.com/2GH777v7kk

— WolfpackNation (@NCSUFans) November 26, 2017

Five days later, Wilson officially flipped his commitment, deciding to run with the Wolfpack instead of the Tar Heels.

#1pack1goal 🐺 pic.twitter.com/9CpQRbb2hP

— 11 (@payton_wilson21) December 1, 2017

On December 20th, Wilson made it official, signing with NC State.

#OTD On this day (12/20) at Orange High School in Hillsborough, Payton Wilson signed his letter of intent to NC State. pic.twitter.com/fdU1sX3jgW

— Rob McLamb (@RobMcLamb) December 20, 2021

Wilson was ranked as the #39 overall player nationally as a Senior in High School by 247Sports, making him one of the highest ranked recruits to ever commit to NC State.

NC State fans have to be eternally thankful that Wilson flipped his commitment from UNC to NC State. Over the past 5 years, he has cemented himself as one of the best defensive players in school history.

Career Tackle Leaders at NC State

1. Levar Fisher, 1998-01, 492
2. Dantonio Burnette, 1999-02, 476
3. Damien Covington, 1991-94, 457
4. Robert Abraham, 1978-81, 407
5. Earl Wolff, 2009-2012, 400
6. Payton Wilson, 2018-23, 387

Career Tackles for Loss Leaders at NC State

1. Bradley Chubb, 2014-17, 60
2. Mario Williams, 2003-05, 55.5
3. Drake Thomas, 2019-22, 46.5
4. Payton Wilson, 2018-23, 46.0

It’s surreal to think that 6 years ago almost to-the-date, Wilson had just decommitted from UNC, and was standing on NC State’s sideline, watching them beat the Tar Heels 33-21. Five days later, he would commit to NC State, and the rest is history.

The #11 should be honored or retired.

Thank you Payton!