Wilson Named Finalist for Bronko Nagurski Award as Top Defensive Player
11/15/2023 2:00:00 PM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State linebacker Payton Wilson has been named one of five finalists for the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy – presented annually to the nation's top defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
Wilson becomes the third Wolfpack defensive player to be up for the award after Bradley Chubb won the honor back in 2017 and linebacker Levar Fisher was a finalist in 2000.
Wilson joins Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean, Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zahn Newton, Georgia safety Malaki Starks, and Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts.
Wilson becomes the third Wolfpack defensive player to be up for the award after Bradley Chubb won the honor back in 2017 and linebacker Levar Fisher was a finalist in 2000.
Wilson joins Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean, Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zahn Newton, Georgia safety Malaki Starks, and Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts.
The graduate student leads the ACC and ranks fifth nationally with 11.2 tackles per game. He ranks 13th nationally in solo tackles and has 49 more stops than any other Wolfpack player with 112 total (he led the ACC in 2020 with 108 in 10 games). That tackle total is the best for a Wolfpack player since 2012.
The Hillsborough, N.C., who also led the league in tackles in 2020, now has 21 double-figure tackle outputs for his career, including seven in 2023 and has led the team in tackles in eight of the 10 games this season.
Also named a Butkus Award semifinalist, Wilson has 12 tackles for loss to lead the team, four sacks, nine quarterback hurries, six pass breakups, two interceptions (one was a pick-six), and two fumble recoveries (he ranks 12th nationally in that category). Wilson's stat line doesn't end at the tackle column. Earlier this season, Wilson was clocked on GPS running 23.7 miles per hour to track down the ball carrier in the Notre Dame game. That's the fastest on record for a Wolfpack player in a game.
Earlier in the week, Wilson was announced as a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award also recognizing the most outstanding defensive player in college football. Wilson was named the Butkus National Linebacker of the Month for September, and has won four ACC Linebacker of the Week awards in just 10 games. He is the second Wolfpack defensive player to be named a semifinalist after Bradley Chubb was both a semifinalist and finalist for the award in 2017.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 24 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more.
The Hillsborough, N.C., who also led the league in tackles in 2020, now has 21 double-figure tackle outputs for his career, including seven in 2023 and has led the team in tackles in eight of the 10 games this season.
Also named a Butkus Award semifinalist, Wilson has 12 tackles for loss to lead the team, four sacks, nine quarterback hurries, six pass breakups, two interceptions (one was a pick-six), and two fumble recoveries (he ranks 12th nationally in that category). Wilson's stat line doesn't end at the tackle column. Earlier this season, Wilson was clocked on GPS running 23.7 miles per hour to track down the ball carrier in the Notre Dame game. That's the fastest on record for a Wolfpack player in a game.
Earlier in the week, Wilson was announced as a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award also recognizing the most outstanding defensive player in college football. Wilson was named the Butkus National Linebacker of the Month for September, and has won four ACC Linebacker of the Week awards in just 10 games. He is the second Wolfpack defensive player to be named a semifinalist after Bradley Chubb was both a semifinalist and finalist for the award in 2017.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 24 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more.
Players Mentioned
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