ESPN Ranks NC State’s Payton Wilson as the #13 Overall College Football Player in 2023

ESPN ranked the Top-100 College Football players in 2023, and NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson is #13.

13. Payton Wilson

LB, NC State, Senior
Notable 2023 stats: 6 sacks, 3 INT, 1 FF
Preseason ranking: 81

Wilson was, quite possibly, the best all-around defender in college football in 2023. He finished the regular season with 138 tackles (tops in the ACC, second in Power 5), six sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, 10 QB hurries, 6 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries and 3 interceptions (including one returned for a TD). Basically if there’s a category on the defensive stat sheet, Wilson filled it this season.

(ESPN)

ACC Players in ESPN’s Top-100
12. FSU QB Jordan Travis
13. NC State LB Payton Wilson
29. FSU DE Jared Verse
34. UNC QB Drake Maye
38. Clemson LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
54. FSU WR Keon Coleman
55. UVA WR Malik Washington
58. Clemson CB Nate Wiggins
61. FSU RB Trey Benson
63. FSU LB Kalen DeLoach
64. UNC RB Omarion Hampton
67. UNC LB Cedric Gray
78. Louisville DE Ashton Gillotte
80. Virginia Tech CB Dorian Strong
81. UNC DE Kaimon Rucker
94. Miami DE Rueben Bain Jr.