NC State’s Tony Gibson earns national assistant award
NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson can add another accolade to his resume. The Wolfpack’s top defensive assistant was named the 2023 FootballScoop Linebackers Coach of the Year, presented by AstroTurf.
Gibson was one of six finalists — Mississippi State’s Matt Brock, Ohio State’s Jim Knowles, Old Dominion’s Blake Seiler and Kevin Smith, and Iowa’s Seth Wallace — for the award, which is awarded by past winners.
NC State’s defense was one of the top units in the country, and it was led by graduate linebacker Payton Wilson’s career-best campaign. Wilson logged 138 total tackles with 17.5 tackles for a loss, 6 sacks and 3 interceptions.
Wilson was one of two players to finish the regular season in the top 12 in both tackles and tackles for a loss. He also had four games with 13-plus tackles, including a 16-stop performance against Miami at Carter-Finley Stadium.
While Gibson helped guide Wilson to a unanimous All-America selection and the Bednarik and Butkus awards, he also helped senior linebacker Jaylon Scott have a career season. Scott finished second on the team with 74 tackles, the most in his tenure with the Wolfpack.
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Outside of NC State’s veteran linebackers, sophomore Caden Fordham had 53 tackles, including a 12-stop effort at Virginia, and junior Devon Betty had 33 total tackles. Both Betty and Fordham will be back for the 2024 season, and they will try to pick up the tackles that Wilson will leave on the field while he heads off to the NFL.
Gibson has been a nominee for the Broyles Award, which goes to the top assistant in college football, multiple times, including this past season. He did not win the award, but his coaching this season led to a reported new contract that will keep him in Raleigh for three more years.
NC State will return to the practice field in late February to open spring practice, and junior college linebacker Wyatt Wright will join Gibson’s position group as the team looks to replace Wilson.
