NC State’s Payton Wilson is the 2023 ACC Defensive Player of the Year

The ACC just announced the official results for ACC Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson became the 3rd NC State player to be named Defensive Player of the Year, joining Defensive End Bradley Chubb and Linebacker Levar Fisher. Wilson also earned the 2nd most votes for ACC Player of the Year, but FSU Quarterback Jordan Travis earned 6 more.

Wilson eclipsed the 400-career tackle mark in the final week of the regular season, just one of five active FBS players to achieve the feat. Throughout his storied career for the Wolfpack, Wilson has accumulated stats that rank him inside the top 10 of active FBS players in total tackles, tackles per game, solo tackles, solo tackles per game, assisted tackles, assisted tackles-for-loss, total tackles-for-loss, and tackles-for-loss per game.  

Wilson leads the conference and ranks fifth nationally this season with 138 tackles and an average of 11.5 tackles per game and has tallied the most total tackles for a Wolfpack player in a single season since Earl Wolff had 145 in 2012.

On nine occasions this season, Wilson recorded double-digit stops, highlighted by a 16-tackle game against Miami. Wilson also added 6.0 sacks and 17.5 tackles-for-loss, with his tackles behind the line of scrimmage the most among ACC defenders. The Hillsborough, North Carolina, native has added a trio of interceptions, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries to his resume.  

Over a four-game stretch against Virginia, Louisville, Marshall, and Duke, Wilson recorded at least one-half sack and 10 tackles in each game, highlighted by a two-sack showing against Louisville and a 14-tackle game versus Marshall.  

Wilson has been named a semifinalist for both the Butkus and Bednarik Awards, while also earning a spot as a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Wilson has earned ACC Linebacker of the Week honors five times throughout the season as well as the Butkus Linebacker of the Month award in September. (TheACC)

Player of the Year
Jordan Travis – Florida State (31)
Payton Wilson – NC State (25)
Malik Washington – Virginia (4)
Drake Maye – North Carolina (3)
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. – Clemson (1)

Offensive Player of the Year
Jordan Travis – Florida State (42)
Malik Washington – Virginia (12)
Drake Maye – North Carolina (8)
Jawhar Jordan – Louisville (1)
Omarion Hampton – North Carolina (1)

Defensive Player of the Year
Payton Wilson – NC State (58)
Ashton Gillotte – Louisville (3)
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. – Clemson (2)
Kalen DeLoach – Florida State (1)