The Wolfpacker

November-December 2023

The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports

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TRACKING THE PACK NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 ■ 17 Graduate student linebacker Payton Wilson set a blistering pace for the 2023 campaign when he recorded 10 tackles and a game- sealing interception in the season opener against Connecticut. He kept up that extremely high level of play and is now receiving the accolades to reflect that per- formance. Pro Football Focus, the Senior Bowl, The Athletic, Associ- ated Press and ESPN.com have all named Wilson to their respective midseason All-America teams. Wilson, a team captain and sixth-year member of the Pack, is also a three-time ACC Linebacker of the Week and September's But- kus Foundation National Line- backer of the Month. After winning the latter award, he talked about his burgeoning list of in-season ac- colades. "I don't put too much into awards," said Wilson. "I'm here where my feet are at every day, but it's cool to get your name out there. Credit to Coach [defen- sive coordinator Tony] Gibson and all the other guys that are playing around me — they're playing their tails off, and he's one of the best coaches in the na- tion." In each of NC State's first seven games this season, Wilson paced the team in tackles, racking up an ACC- leading 81 stops, adding 7.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 defended passes and 2 fumble recoveries. Per PFF, he recorded 40 stops during that span, which the football analytics site describes as "tackles that consti- tute a 'failure' for the offense." Senior linebacker Jaylon Scott was the team's next-closest defender with 19. "I don't know if there's a better de- fensive player in the country, in my opinion, than the level that he's playing at right now," Gibson said. "I know he's not satisfied with where he's at or where we're at. I look forward to watching him keep getting better as this year goes on." Wilson learned from experienced linebackers and Wolfpack captains Isa- iah Moore and Drake Thomas over the years, and he took on an increased lead- ership role this season. That mentality shows up both on and off the field. Following NC State's loss to Duke, Wilson said the team needed to play tougher football, and he ad- dressed the fan base during a press conference. He said he knew the Pack needed to take a step forward during its bye week. "I just want to apologize to Wolf- pack Nation," Wilson said. "That's not what they deserve; that's not how we should play. Everybody on this team has got to get with the program. We've got to play as hard as you can possibly play every sin- gle snap." The graduate student posted a career-high 108 tackles in 2022, leading the conference at 10.8 per game. Wilson is on pace to surpass those statistics with at least five games to play this fall, cementing himself as one of the top Wolfpack linebackers of all time. — Ethan McDowell STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH GRADUATE LINEBACKER PAYTON WILSON Payton Wilson was the leading tackler in the ACC through the first seven weeks of the season, averaging 11.6 tackles per game (81 total stops). PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP

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