Payton Wilson: "It's Going To Be A Scary Next Few Years"
Inside Pack Sports recently checked in with NC State linebacker Payton Wilson at NIL Day at Tobacco Road Sports Cafe. Check out what all Wilson had to say about Savage Wolves, Kansas State, and much more!
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview. Because of the event the audio quality isn’t ideal so below is a better audio version.
AUDIO: Payton Wilson Interview
“Even going back to last year with Cyrus Fagan, Cory Durden, Derrek Pitts, I don’t think any of that would happen without NIL.”
“The opportunity to come back for a sixth year, it’s made possible through Savage Wolves, through Tom Livolsi, through Inside Pack Sports. The impact NIL has, I think NC State is seeing it with the people we have coming in. It’s awesome, and if everyone contributes the sky is the limit.”
“What comes to your heart is what you do. Looking back, it was the right decision... having Wolfpack Nation with me was awesome.”
“I’m a hard critic of myself; I think I could have done a lot of things differently to play better this year. I did make some plays... at the end of the day the awards are awesome, but I love to play ball.”
“It’s awesome for NC State, the recognition I’m getting, but I love playing ball.”
“Not that anyone else’s are bad, but I do think I have the best parents in the world. My brother is a professional athlete, plays 162 games a year, and they don’t miss a single one, they watch them all. They’ve literally never missed a football game my entire life, not one, since I was a little kid.”
“My dad woke up at 3am, driving a truck my whole life. I go out and play for them.”
“The bowl games you want to have fun, but getting that 10th win at NC State for coach Doeren, for coach Gibson... it’s going to be an honor, and we’re going to treat it like an ACC championship, like we’re coming off a killer loss... play as hard as we can, prepare as hard as we can.”
“I know coach Doeren is bringing the right guys in... if they come in and embrace the culture, I’d hope everyone in the ACC gets out of the way. It’s going to be a scary next few years for everyone but Raleigh.”
“[Coach Gibson] changed me as a human, from a boy to a man... how much energy he brings to the game... I think he’s the best coach in the nation, and I don’t think it’s close.”