North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Football Announces Annual Team Awards
12/12/2023 9:31:00 AM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State's football program held its annual awards ceremony Sunday at the Talley Student Center to honor its top performers, leaders, and contributors during the 2023 campaign.
The Governor's Award, given to the team's most valuable performer, was none other than Payton Wilson.
Wilson, named ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Butkus Award Winner, and the Chuck Bednarik Award winner, helped lead the Wolfpack defense to some of the top marks in all college football in 2023.
Kevin "KC" Concepcion took home a trio of awards, earning the Phillip Rivers Freshman of the Year Award, Garry Rowe Receiver of The Year Award, and the Torry Holt Award for the Offensive Most Valuable Player.
The ACC Rookie and Offensive Rookie of the year had a freshman season to remember for the Wolfpack as he went on to set the NC State football record for a freshman for most receptions (64) and touchdown catches (10)
Named to the All-ACC Second Team, he turned in three 100-yard receiving games in 2023 and is the only player in the FBS with 750+ receiving yards and 250+ rushing yards this season. He's the first FBS player to do that since 2021 and the first ACC player since 2015.
He ranks second in the ACC in TD receptions with 10 – the top mark in the FBS for a freshman (t14th overall). The true freshman ranks third in the ACC in receptions per game and ranks second nationally among freshmen.
Joe Shimko, Davin Vann, and Aydan White all won awards for the second consecutive year. Shimko took home the Predominant Impact in the Community Award, in addition to winning the Patrick Mannelly Award for the nation's best long snapper on Saturday.
Vann was named defensive lineman of the year after winning the Cary Brewbaker Award, and White earned the DeWayne Washington Award for Defensive Back of the Year.
Here's a look at the other award recipients:
Alpha Rising Award – Most Improved Player: Jacarrius Peak
Predominant Impact in the Community Award: Joe Shimko
Ken McNeill Iron Wolf Award – Comeback from Injury: Savion Jackson
Wolfpack Spirit Award – Special Contributor to the Program: Adam Clark
Hungry Wolf Award – Nutritional Improvement: Isaiah Shirley
Leader of the Hunt Award – Commitment to Nutrition: Payton Wilson
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Coleson Fields
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Isaiah Shirley
Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year: Keyaan Abdul-Rahim
Michael J. Hardy Award – Player with Winning Attitude: Sean Brown
Al Michaels Award – Team Before Self: Brennan Armstrong
Bo Rein Award – Vital Contribution in an Unsung Role: Red Hibbler
Bob Warren Award - Integrity and Sportsmanship: Savion Jackson
Ted Brown Award - Offensive Back of the Year: Brennan Armstrong
Gary Rowe Award - Receiver of the Year: Kevin "KC" Concepcion
Jim Ritcher Award - Offensive Lineman of the Year: Jacarrius Peak
Bill Cowher Award – Linebacker of the Year: Payton Wilson
The Governor's Award, given to the team's most valuable performer, was none other than Payton Wilson.
Wilson, named ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Butkus Award Winner, and the Chuck Bednarik Award winner, helped lead the Wolfpack defense to some of the top marks in all college football in 2023.
Kevin "KC" Concepcion took home a trio of awards, earning the Phillip Rivers Freshman of the Year Award, Garry Rowe Receiver of The Year Award, and the Torry Holt Award for the Offensive Most Valuable Player.
The ACC Rookie and Offensive Rookie of the year had a freshman season to remember for the Wolfpack as he went on to set the NC State football record for a freshman for most receptions (64) and touchdown catches (10)
Named to the All-ACC Second Team, he turned in three 100-yard receiving games in 2023 and is the only player in the FBS with 750+ receiving yards and 250+ rushing yards this season. He's the first FBS player to do that since 2021 and the first ACC player since 2015.
He ranks second in the ACC in TD receptions with 10 – the top mark in the FBS for a freshman (t14th overall). The true freshman ranks third in the ACC in receptions per game and ranks second nationally among freshmen.
Joe Shimko, Davin Vann, and Aydan White all won awards for the second consecutive year. Shimko took home the Predominant Impact in the Community Award, in addition to winning the Patrick Mannelly Award for the nation's best long snapper on Saturday.
Vann was named defensive lineman of the year after winning the Cary Brewbaker Award, and White earned the DeWayne Washington Award for Defensive Back of the Year.
Here's a look at the other award recipients:
Alpha Rising Award – Most Improved Player: Jacarrius Peak
Predominant Impact in the Community Award: Joe Shimko
Ken McNeill Iron Wolf Award – Comeback from Injury: Savion Jackson
Wolfpack Spirit Award – Special Contributor to the Program: Adam Clark
Hungry Wolf Award – Nutritional Improvement: Isaiah Shirley
Leader of the Hunt Award – Commitment to Nutrition: Payton Wilson
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Coleson Fields
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Isaiah Shirley
Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year: Keyaan Abdul-Rahim
Michael J. Hardy Award – Player with Winning Attitude: Sean Brown
Al Michaels Award – Team Before Self: Brennan Armstrong
Bo Rein Award – Vital Contribution in an Unsung Role: Red Hibbler
Bob Warren Award - Integrity and Sportsmanship: Savion Jackson
Ted Brown Award - Offensive Back of the Year: Brennan Armstrong
Gary Rowe Award - Receiver of the Year: Kevin "KC" Concepcion
Jim Ritcher Award - Offensive Lineman of the Year: Jacarrius Peak
Bill Cowher Award – Linebacker of the Year: Payton Wilson
Players Mentioned
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