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NC State Newsstand: Payton Wilson is a Butkus Award semifinalist

On3 imageby:Ethan McDowell•11/07/23•

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Payton Wilson
Payton Wilson (Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports)

NC State football is quickly approaching college football’s awards season with only three regular season games remaining. Superstar linebacker Payton Wilson is going to be very busy.

The Wolfpack graduate student is already piling up in-season awards from the ACC and just won a national linebacker of the week award from the Senior Bowl as well. On Monday, he also received recognition as a Butkus Award semifinalist.

That accolade honors the best linebacker in college football each year. Through 8 games, Wilson ranks No. 2 among all Power Five linebackers with 105 total tackles, only trailing Iowa star Jay Higgins (113).

He also leads the ACC in stops by 20 and ranks No. 6 in tackles for loss with 10. The graduate student has also recorded 4 sacks, 2 interceptions (1 returned for a touchdown), 2 fumble recoveries and 5 pass breakups. Wilson even rushed for a first down on a fake punt earlier this fall.

Standing just 3 tackles away from a new career high, the linebacker is firmly in the race for the Butkus award alongside the other 11 semifinalists. Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren made his case for why Wilson deserves the award.

“I don’t get to watch all the teams play, and I know there are a lot of good players so don’t I don’t want this to come across like I’m demeaning anyone else, but he is the best defensive player in college football right now,” Doeren said. “What his impact is on the field during a game, I just don’t know if anyone has that on their team. He’s impacting the course of the game, throughout the game, in every game, and it’s not like he just has a good game every now and then. Every game, he could be the defensive player of the week in the ACC.”

Tweets of the day

The Wolfpack women’s basketball regular season tips off Tuesday night at 7 p.m. against Charlotte.

The men’s basketball team won its season-opening matchup with The Citadel.

The Pack offered Tyler Woodard, the No. 2 junior college safety in the country who is committed to Mississippi State.

Tony Gibson is one of On3’s ACC coordinators of the week.

NC State quote of the day

This quote is from Doeren, talking about how the Wolfpack has remained in the moment.

“They’ve done a good job,” Doeren said of his squad. “Everything we can do to win the next game, that’s it. Forget about the past. Don’t think about the end, think about today. And I know that’s easier said than done, but our guys bought into that.”

Today’s top NC State headlines

NC State’s new season approach has worked so far; Wake Forest is next

NC State’s Mohamed Diarra makes his presence felt in Wolfpack debut

Balanced scoring leads NC State to season-opening win over The Citadel

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