The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523120
42 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN here comes a time when you look at a football player and realize he has all the tools to be a dominant force. The size and strength are there. The football IQ is next-level. It's almost like creating a player in a video game. For NC State, that's what it was like to have graduate linebacker Payton Wilson anchoring the defense. The bruising hit- ter always found himself near the football, and over his last two seasons he was one of the Pack's best players. Dantonio Burnette got an up-close look at Wilson's performance. NC State's director of strength and conditioning, Burnette was a star linebacker for the Pack from 1999-2002 before getting into coaching, and he appreciated what he saw, on and off the field. "I've had the opportunity to work with some really good linebackers here," Bur- nette said. "I've been here since '99 be- ing a former linebacker myself. Having the opportunity to work with Payton, this guy is elite. I've been here for a long time. I told him by far he's the best linebacker that I've seen play here, and that includes me." After totaling 138 tackles, including 17.5 for loss, 6 sacks and 3 interceptions dur- ing his final college season, Wilson is The Wolfpacker's Male Athlete of the Year for the 2023-24 campaign. His last season was one for the ages. Wilson played in all 12 regular-season games, avoiding any major injuries along the way and leading the ACC in tackles. His performance earned him the Bed- narik and Butkus awards, which go to the nation's best defensive player and best linebacker, respectively. He was also a unanimous All-American. "I've always known what I could do," Wilson said. "But just to be able to stay healthy for two complete seasons and having that confidence to go out there and make every single play that I'm supposed to make, it's just really awesome for this season to happen for me." Wilson was due for some good fortune after the difficulties he faced earlier in his career. He had multiple season-ending injuries, one of which required shoulder surgery and forced him to miss most of the 2021 campaign. But during the past two seasons, Wilson stayed healthy and was among the best linebackers in the country. He proved he was a workhorse defender, and that led to his selection in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. "There are a lot of good players in our league that impact games," NC State coach Dave Doeren said. "I would say there aren't many in the country that im- pact the game the way that No. 11 [does]." Wilson was showered with praise from all over the country while his college career was wind- ing down. He tried to down- play the accolades, but graduate quarterback Brennan Armstrong said they were well-earned. "That guy deserves everything he gets," Armstrong said. "He works his tail off ev- ery single day, he sticks up for his team- mates, is super fun to be around in the locker room and plays the game the right way. Everything that's coming his way, it's not a surprise to anybody in that locker room or that building." The awards shows were a new experi- ence for Wilson. He appreciates the blue- collar mentality of the Wolfpack program and didn't get caught up in wearing tux- edos in front of large crowds. Now that he's heading off to the next phase of his football career, he wants to be remembered for more than just his trophies. "The awards are cool for me, but I want my legacy to be how people viewed me and how I treated people," he said. "The awards are awesome to have, but I just want people to remember me for who I am, and not for the glitz and glamor." Wilson was ultimately successful dur- ing his Wolfpack career, and his final sea- son was one he will savor for the rest of his life. "I don't ever truly set personal goals. I'm always a hard critic of myself," Wilson said. "I never think I played as good as I should have. Just to see the group that we had, the relationships that I built with the linebacker room, the defensive room, and the relationships that I built across Wolf- pack Nation, coming back for this year was one of my best decisions." ■ T 2023-24 YEAR IN REVIEW ATHLETES OF THE YEAR MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR A FITTING FAREWELL NC State's All-America Linebacker Sees His Perseverance Rewarded Wilson led the ACC in tackles during his final season with the Pack, totaling 138 stops, including 17.5 for loss and 6 sacks. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP