Payton Wilson Named Semifinalist for Butkus Award
11/6/2023 12:01:00 PM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State linebacker Payton Wilson has been named a Butkus Award semifinalist for the 2023 season, as announced by the Butkus Foundation on Monday.
Wilson is one of 12 collegiate semifinalists from 12 different schools representing five conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC) and the FBS independents.
The Hillsborough, N.C. native leads the ACC and ranks fifth nationally with 11.7 tackles per game. He boasted 16 stops in the win over Miami - his highest total of the season. Wilson has led the team in tackles in eight of the nine Wolfpack games this season.
In 2020, Wilson led the league in tackles and had 20 double-figure tackle outputs for his career, including five in 2023.
Wilson's stat line doesn't end at the tackle column. The Butkus semifinalist also has ten tackles for loss to lead the team, four sacks, eight quarterback hurries, five pass breakups, two interceptions (one was a pick-six), and two fumble recoveries (he leads the ACC and ranks eighth nationally in that category).
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. According to @NextGenStats, Wilson's clocking was faster than any NFL player at that time of the season. Their highest mark was the Dolphins' Tyreek Hill's 22.07 mph.
The Butkus National Linebacker of the Month for September has won four ACC Linebacker of the Week awards in just eight games.
The 2023 Butkus Award winners will be honored at a gala event on Jan. 27, 2024, at the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The event will honor the legacy of namesake Dick Butkus and be supported by numerous noted NFL Alumni.
Wilson is one of 12 collegiate semifinalists from 12 different schools representing five conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC) and the FBS independents.
The Hillsborough, N.C. native leads the ACC and ranks fifth nationally with 11.7 tackles per game. He boasted 16 stops in the win over Miami - his highest total of the season. Wilson has led the team in tackles in eight of the nine Wolfpack games this season.
In 2020, Wilson led the league in tackles and had 20 double-figure tackle outputs for his career, including five in 2023.
Wilson's stat line doesn't end at the tackle column. The Butkus semifinalist also has ten tackles for loss to lead the team, four sacks, eight quarterback hurries, five pass breakups, two interceptions (one was a pick-six), and two fumble recoveries (he leads the ACC and ranks eighth nationally in that category).
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. According to @NextGenStats, Wilson's clocking was faster than any NFL player at that time of the season. Their highest mark was the Dolphins' Tyreek Hill's 22.07 mph.
The Butkus National Linebacker of the Month for September has won four ACC Linebacker of the Week awards in just eight games.
The 2023 Butkus Award winners will be honored at a gala event on Jan. 27, 2024, at the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The event will honor the legacy of namesake Dick Butkus and be supported by numerous noted NFL Alumni.
Players Mentioned
LB
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