Payton Wilson Wins The Bednarik Award

NC State star linebacker Payton Wilson has won the Bednarik Award which is given to the best defensive player in college football.

He is the first NC State player to win the Bednarik Award.

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.

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).