NC State takes home 2 ACC player of the week awards
The ACC acknowledged two standout performances from NC State football’s 48-41 win over Marshall Monday afternoon. Graduate student linebacker Payton Wilson won the conference’s linebacker of the week award, and freshman wide receiver Kevin Concepcion received rookie of the week honors.
Neither athlete is a stranger to the ACC’s weekly accolades. This is Wilson’s second-consecutive week winning the award, and the conference recognized Concepcion after he scored 2 touchdowns during the Wolfpack’s win over UVA earlier this year.
In a press release, the ACC explained why the NC State stars took home the honors.
“For the second straight week and third time this season, Wilson garnered Linebacker of the Week honors” the ACC wrote in a press release. “The Butkus Linebacker of the Month for September, Wilson led the Wolfpack in tackles in the win over undefeated Marshall with 14 stops. He had six solo stops, a sack for a loss of six yards, a fumble recovery with a 10-yard return, and a quarterback hurry for the game. Marshall’s running back was averaging 118.8 rushing yards per game but was held to just 63 yards for the game behind Wilson and the Pack defense. As a team, the Herd gained just 104 rushing yards. His average of 11.7 stops per game leads the ACC and ranks fourth in the FBS.
“Concepcion hauled in eight receptions for 102 yards in NC State’s win over Marshall, marking his second 100-plus-yard receiving game of the season. He scored two touchdowns in the game, on a 17-yard catch and an 8-yard reception… The true freshman tallied 87 of his 102 yards after the catch. It marks his second Rookie of the Week Award this year.”
Wilson leads the ACC in tackles with 70. He finished with more tackles than any other member of the Wolfpack in each of the program’s 6 games this fall. The graduate student also boasts 3.5 sacks, an interception and a pair of fumble recoveries. After recording 83 total tackles during the 2022 season, Wilson is already close to surpassing that mark and remains on pace for a career-high. He finished the Pack’s 2020 campaign with 108 tackles.
Concepcion’s second rookie of the year award is the byproduct of a dominant 2023 season that includes a team-leading 31 catches, 347 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. Per Pro Football Focus, he was the nation’s highest-graded wide receiver in week 6. He took home another award Monday as well, receiving a spot on On3’s midseason true freshman All-American team.
