Payton Wilson Named ACC Defensive Player of the Year

NC State linebacker Payton Wilson has been named ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Wilson, a two-time first-team All-ACC selection, is also a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award and a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award for the top defensive player in the nation.

The Wolfpack star led the Wolfpack in tackles in 10 of 12 games this season, totaling 138 to lead the conference, 17 more than the next closest player. Wilson also leads the conference in tackles for loss with 17.5.

Wilson is just the third Wolfpack player to win the ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award since it was awarded in 1993. Wilson joins Bradley Chubb (2017) and Levar Fisher (2000) to win the honor.

Of 24 Power 5 defenders who played at least 75 snaps as a pass rusher and 250 in coverage this season, Wilson has the best tackle rate, is tied for fourth in sacks, boasts the most run stuffs (tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage), the most TFLs, is tied for the most takeaways (5), has the most passes defended (8) and has the most tackles.

The Hillsborough, N.C., native has been one of three players since 2018 with 100 tackles, 15 TFL, five sacks, and 3 INTs in a season (Jett Johnson, Miss St, 2023 & Devin Lloyd, Utah, 2021)..