Payton Wilson: "We're Just Really Excited To Fix Those Mistakes"

NC State linebacker Payton Wilson met with the media to discuss the start of spring practice.

NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.

The last time we talked, you kind of talked, you wanted to come back, not only to help NFL draft stock, but you felt like there's some unfinished business, you felt like this team was ready to make another step. What do you see from this new addition of the team that makes you confident that you guys will be able to take a step record-wise in that way next year?

Yeah, I think it's just getting the guys out of the transfer portal as well as new guys coming in is obviously going to help. I think just understanding where we messed up last year. We talked about why we lost those five games last year, every single day, and I think the guys that we lost, we have guys that could step up and play the same if not better. We've been working really hard this off-season, so looking forward to seeing what we could do this spring.

Payton, going into this season what were the biggest things that you tried to work on this offseason, especially after probably getting some feedback from NFL as well?

Personally just working on zone coverage, just working on recognizing rote concepts. But as a team, we just want to want to get better in every aspect. Last year, we lost a game, some games because of penalties, sometimes because of turnovers. So every day in the meetings, coach Doeren is just emphasizing the reasons we lost. Sometimes it was because of immaturity and discipline. We just have to continue to grow in all aspects.

This will be your first week without Isaiah Moore and Drake Thomas alongside you for quite a while. What have you seen from the other guys around you that give you a good feeling that this linebacker core is still going to be strong this season?

You can obviously tell that they're hungry and they should be. I mean, COVID really made a lot of people sit for a long time. And guys like Betty, and Jaylon Scott, Caden Fordham, Jordan Poole have been sitting three, four. They've been sitting a long time. Jaylon Scott and Betty have played a lot of ball just due to injuries and they've stepped up and played really well. Just knowing that we still have that experience in the room, just because people have been sitting for so long, they might not have the experience on the field, but I think that you can just tell that everybody's really hungry to show who they are.

Let me ask you a football question here. Your defense last year was a really good mix of veterans and type players, including yourself and Drake and Isaiah. Can this defense this season be better than last year? And if so, how?

A hundred percent I believe that we could be better. I mean, last year, the veteran group on the team was the linebacker group, and that was pretty much it. This year, it's the secondary as well as the D line. Those groups has improved so much as well as the linebacker core, still having me, Jaylon Scott, Devon Betty. They played a tremendous amount of the ball as well as I have. I think everybody that's coming back knows where we went wrong last year and we're just really excited to fix those mistakes and continue to be the best defense in the ACC if not the country.

Last year the linebacker room had a ton of experience, a ton of leadership. So far this offseason, do you think you've taken on more of a leadership role in the locker room?

Last year Drake and Isaiah were the two most vocal guys along with Grant Gibson on the team, and they're gone now. So somebody had to step up and then I would consider myself one of the vocal leaders on the team.  Devon Betty has stepped up tremendously and just helping me in that vocal leadership role. Jaylon Scott as well.

Our team's very mature. We're younger this year, but we're also very mature because guys like Isaiah and Drake showed these guys how to lead and how to live their lives on and off the field.

I know it might be a little early to ask this, but you've worn number 11 since you've been at NC State. Isaiah leaving, do you think he might drop one of the ones off the jersey this year or not?

Nah. Coach Doeren actually just recently asked me if I wanted to wear a number one, and I told him I came in as number 11 and I want to go out the same way, so I'm going to stay in number 11.