True Freshman CJ Bailey proved why he might be the NC State’s future at Quarterback in the 2024 Spring Game a few weeks back. Bailey was 8 of 12 for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The first touchdown was a 30-yard pass to Junior Wesley Grimes, and the 2nd one was a 28-yarder to fellow Freshman Terrell Anderson.

He also rushed the ball 5 times for 72 yards, which was the 2nd most rushing yards by any player.

Check out Bailey’s tape from NC State’s 2024 Spring Game.

Last night NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson was drafted in the 3rd round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the 98th overall pick.

Wilson is the 16th Wolfpack Linebacker to be selected in the NFL Draft, and the 7th highest drafted.

Levar Fisher – 2nd round – 49th overall (2002)
Nate Irving – 3rd round – 67th overall (2011)
Germaine Pratt – 3rd round – 72nd overall (2019)
Bobby Houston – 3rd round – 75th overall (1990)
Robert Abraham – 3rd round – 77th overall (1982)
Damien Covington – 3rd round – 96th overall (1995)
Payton Wilson – 3rd round – 98th overall (2024)
Stephen Tulloch – 4th round – 116th overall (2006)
Frank Bush – 5th round – 133rd overall (1985)
Terrell Manning – 5th round – 163rd overall (2012)
David Merritt – 7th round – 191st overall (1993)
Pat Thomas – 6th round – 194th overall (2005)
Audie Cole – 7th round – 210th overall (2012)
Bill Gentry – 12th round – 293rd overall (1967)
Scott Adell – 12th round – 330th overall (1992)
Henry Hipps – 16th round – 411th (1969)

Honestly, in looking at the list above, the best NFL Linebacker of the bunch wasn’t in the Top-5 highest drafted. The man right behind Wilson, Stephen Tulloch, easily had the best career of any Wolfpack Linebacker to be drafted, and he was taken in the 4th round.

It’s not where you start, but where you finish.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson in the 3rd Round of the 2024 NFL Draft, with the 98th overall pick.

With the 98th pick in the 2024 #NFLDraft, we select LB Payton Wilson. pic.twitter.com/ydyirBtb5x

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 27, 2024

Pittsburgh Selects LB Payton Wilson 98th Overall

🟡 89.9 PFF Grade in 2023 (3rd Among LBs) pic.twitter.com/rEijozvd87

— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 27, 2024

DC Teryl Austin spoke to the media about LB Payton Wilson: pic.twitter.com/edPcBg541n

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 27, 2024

RD 3 | PK 98 – Steelers: Payton Wilson LB, NC State

With the 98th overall pick, the @Steelers select the highest rated linebacker by the NGS overall score (82) in this class.

Wilson will look to help a Steelers defense that allowed a league-high 1,713 passing yards in the… pic.twitter.com/f6wgZDig4u

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 27, 2024

Hines Ward:
– Missing an ACL
– Drafted in the 3rd rd by the Steelers
– 92nd overall pick

Payton Wilson:
– Missing an ACL
– Drafted in the 3rd rd by the Steelers
– 98th overall pick

You can either see this as a coincidence or proof that the stars have aligned.

— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) April 27, 2024

How on earth Wilson was the 98th player drafted is beyond me. Winner of the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Winner of the Butkus Award, given to the best Linebacker in College Football. Winner of the Bednarik Award, given to the best Defensive player in College football. Unanimous All-American. 3rd best PFF Grade by a Linebacker in 2023. Fastest 40-time by a LB at the NFL Combine.

Yet, he was the 7th Linebacker taken in the 2024 NFL Draft. Absurd.

With that being said, I can’t think of a more fitting place for Wilson to play. He was born to play in the Black and Gold. The Steelers are a blue collar club, who carry a long history of defensive greatness. Wilson plays with reckless abandon, and with his hair on fire, and that’s exactly what you expect out of a Pittsburgh Linebacker.

Maybe I’m showing my cards here…I’m a Pittsburgh Steelers fan…and I can’t believe Payton Wilson will be wearing the Black and Gold this Fall.

Congrats Payton!

NC State has signed Dave Doeren to a 2-year extension, but the extension comes with a raise. Doeren’s base salary in 2023 was $5.02 million.

According to Brian Murphy of WRALSports Fan, Doeren’s salary in 2024 will be $5.5 million, and it will increase by $125,000 each year of the contract. He can earn $1.325 million in academic and athletic performance bonuses on an annual basis.

Below is a breakdown of the bonus structure.

The bonus structure is the same as it was in his previous contract (see above), but the section entitled “Playoff” has been updated as follows: