How NC State linebacker Payton Wilson was surprised with the Butkus Award 

What appeared to be the run-of-the-mill media timeout presentation with the NC State football captains at the Pack’s men’s basketball game on Wednesday night was anything but ordinary for one player: graduate linebacker Payton Wilson. 

He was flanked by graduate quarterback Brennan Armstrong, senior wide receiver Keyon Lesane and junior defensive end Davin Vann at midcourt inside Reynolds Coliseum. But as they stood there, a man in a suit jacket walked onto the floor, put on a hat and stood next to Wilson. 

Moments later, the realization hit Wilson of who it was. It was Matt Butkus, the second son of the late NFL legend Dick Butkus. Wilson was a finalist for the annual award named after the Hall of Famer, which honors the best linebacker in college football. But Matt Butkus was there to tell him he was not a finalist anymore — he was the winner. 

Soon after, a group of Wilson’s closest confidants over the past six years — coach Dave Doeren, defensive coordinator Tony Gibson, Wilson’s parents, his girlfriend, Laila and his brother’s family — emerged from the tunnel with the trophy in hand. 

Wilson, NC State’s first winner of the Butkus in the award’s 39-year history, hugged the group before accepting the trophy on the court. He did not know it was coming, but Wilson was thankful that he was able to accept the award. 

“This was an awesome surprise,” Wilson said moments after he found out on the basketball playing surface. 

Wilson, who battled injuries for much of the early part of his career at NC State, was very appreciative of his final season in Raleigh, which led to the award. 

“It’s awesome,” Wilson said. “That’s just a credit to the Lord staying with me through the trials and tribulations, and just bringing me out on a brighter side. Coming back for this last year, helping me make that decision, and eventually it turned out to work for the best.”

Wilson led the ACC with 138 total tackles, including a conference-best 17.5 tackles for a loss. He also added six sacks, six pass breakups, three interceptions and two forced fumbles in the middle of the Pack’s defense. 

But how did Wilson have no idea the award was headed in his direction? That is the way the Butkus Award operates. 

It is given out through a 51-person committee, assembled of those that are in and around the sport, including head coaches Bill Belichick (New England Patriots) and John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens), and general managers like Chris Ballard (Indianapolis Colts) and Howie Roseman (Philadelphia Eagles). From there, the voting occurs to narrow the watch list to semifinalists and finalists. 

But the big recognition is what the Butkus family wanted to make a fun moment for the winner. Instead of sitting through a four-hour long banquet to see who won the award, they come to the recipient. 

That was born from when Dick Butkus was awarded the Chicago Sun-Times High School Player of the Year in 1959. The paper arrived at his house to present it to him, and that photo remained in his office even after his Hall of Fame playing career was over. 

As the years have gone on that process has worked effectively. There have been years where Dick and Matt Butkus jumped out of bushes to surprise honorees, but this year it was just on a basketball court. 

“We want to surprise them here,” Matt Butkus said. “We want him to be with his family, with his coaches and his teammates. Media or not, we’re trying to get a hold of Payton and have an intimate moment with us where I give it to him and say a few words. It’s worked well in the past, and it’s a little fun spin on stuff.”

The award caught Wilson off guard, but he enjoyed having the special moment with his family and teammates present on campus. 

“This is awesome,” Wilson said. “Just the pure shock that I had tonight. When I saw him, just the warm feeling that I got in my body, just knowing that I won the Butkus. My family walking out. It was awesome the way that these guys did it, I can’t thank them enough. It was truly special.”

Matt Butkus, the president of Team Butkus, drove 13 hours from Chicago to Raleigh to present the award. He stopped in Jefferson, Ga., to hand out the high school version of the trophy to Clemson commit Sammy Brown on Tuesday. 

But this year was the first time that he presented the award since his dad’s passing in October. He grew choked up a couple times as he spoke about his dad, but when asked if Wilson had similar qualities to the former Chicago Bears’ standout, it was an easy answer. 

“This guy sitting next to me, he’s got it all,” Butkus said. “He’s fast, instinctive. Just wish the old man was here to congratulate him also.”

Wilson sat with the trophy inside NC State’s media room, but it likely will not end up in his apartment, he said. It will probably find its way to his parents’ house. 

“My dad’s definitely going to want this trophy,” Wilson said. “This probably won’t go up in my apartment. He’ll probably put this somewhere in the house.”

The linebacker was beaming afterwards and he was very happy to share the moment with his family since he noted they have been to every game since he was a child. Family means a lot to Wilson and he was overjoyed to share the moment with them.

But as he thought about the award, he realized he accomplished one of his childhood dreams: to win the Butkus.

“I’m just honored and humbled,” Wilson said. “All praise to the lord. Growing up as a linebacker, always looking up to Dick Butkus, just knowing about the Butkus award my whole life. It’s been a dream of mine, and to accomplish it, it means a lot to me.”