North Carolina State University Athletics
Wilson Named to 2021 Butkus Award Watch List
7/26/2021 9:19:00 AM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State fourth-year linebacker Payton Wilson was named today to the watch list for the 2021 Butkus Award. The prestigious award, which has honored college football's top linebacker since 1985, is made up of 51 players – honoring Dick Butkus' jersey number.
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Wilson, who was last week named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award, ranks third among returning ACC players in career tackles and second among all returning Power-5 linebackers in tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage in 2020 with 25. A first-team All-ACC performer in 2020 on both the AP and the official league teams, he ranked fourth in the FBS in overall tackles, 13th in tackles per game.
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He was a three-time ACC Linebacker of the Week and leads all returning ACC players (eighth in the Power 5) in pressure rate with a 17.6% mark (among players with at least 75 pass rush snaps in 2020) according to ESPN.
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Semi-finalists for the Butkus Award are expected to be named Nov. 1, finalists Nov. 22, and winners on or before Dec. 7. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award.
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Wilson, who was last week named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award, ranks third among returning ACC players in career tackles and second among all returning Power-5 linebackers in tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage in 2020 with 25. A first-team All-ACC performer in 2020 on both the AP and the official league teams, he ranked fourth in the FBS in overall tackles, 13th in tackles per game.
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He was a three-time ACC Linebacker of the Week and leads all returning ACC players (eighth in the Power 5) in pressure rate with a 17.6% mark (among players with at least 75 pass rush snaps in 2020) according to ESPN.
Â
Semi-finalists for the Butkus Award are expected to be named Nov. 1, finalists Nov. 22, and winners on or before Dec. 7. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award.
Players Mentioned
LB
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