Payton Wilson: "It's Been A Cool Experience"

NC State linebacker Payton Wilson met with the media after being honored by the Wolfpack during the Stanford win.

NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.

On being inducted to NC State’s Ring of Honor...
That's cool, and that's a full circle moment from being 17 years old, growing up 45 minutes from here to getting inducted, super cool opportunity. For me, it's just cool to see the guys. I love coming back around Caden, around Sean, around all those guys and watching them play. So it's been a cool experience.

This happened so quickly after you left here, what was your reaction when they called and said they were gonna put you in the middle of honor? 
Yeah, I mean, I'm just humbled. You can't thank Jesus Christ enough for what he's done for me, giving me this opportunity. I mean, just like I said, it's a full circle moment, coming in when I was real young and then leaving, getting this honor, super cool. I can't thank everyone enough that's been a part of it. 

Can you take us through those moments on the field there? 
You kind of got the team a little hyped up, it seems. Yeah, it's cool, I can't really help myself sometimes. I started talking junk to Stanford. I love NC State to death, it's where I was born and bred. So just the culture that we've built here and how much we've put into it. I mean, it means a lot to me when these guys play. So I mean, it was a super cool moment. 

Is it extra surreal when you see your name? 
Yeah, I mean, it's really cool cuz the first three names up there right now are Bill Cowher, Russell Wilson, and mine. And we all play for the Steelers or coach for the Steelers or some part of the Steelers. So it's super cool, Jim Ritcher, all those guys that are up there. I mean, to be even in the conversation of those names, it's super cool. I mean, I talk to Bradley Chubb sometimes, and just even being in the same conversation as him, it's super cool. 

When you grew up playing the sport of football, and where you're at right now, I'm sure it's something you've always dreamed about. What are some of the core memories or core people that helped you get to where you're at? 
I think it's just NC State itself, what this place has done for me. All the people that have been here throughout my journey. I mean, I love this place, and it's like home to me. So I mean, when I look back on NC State, when I go back to Raleigh, it's like going home to me. So I mean, I can't thank everyone enough. 

What was it like to get to share that moment with your family, and then have Coach Doeren and Coach Gibson come over there to you? 
Yeah, I mean, Coach Gibson is, for everyone that knows, I mean, Coach Gibson is everything to me. Changed my life, saved my life, all of that. So I can't thank him enough, and just what he's done for me. And everything that I did here was for him, and Coach Doeren, and all those guys, and all the effort that they put into me, I try to give the same back. 

I know you're also a recently engaged man, wasn't having your fiancee here? 
Yeah, I had my engagement party last night, so that was something. No, that's awesome. Just have a beautiful fiancee, and she's everything to me. She's amazing, she does everything for me, and I can't thank her enough. And for her to get this experience too, it's super awesome. 

Think about Orange High to here, how surreal has this journey been? 
Yeah, there's not many of us from Orange High. People that are around this area know that Orange High School has some good athletes, but it's really just me and my brother. And to put the name and notoriety there, there's a lot of good people in that area, a lot of hardworking people. So just to give credit to Orange High School, it means a lot. 

And to be in Pittsburgh, with your brother, from Orange High, how neat is that for both of you guys? 
Blue collared everywhere I go, here, NC State, Pittsburgh, I can't get away from it, blue collared. 

You mentioned Russell, what has it been like to see him be able to do his thing again now? 
Yeah, super cool. Someone that you grew up watching, grew up honoring, obviously, going to NC State. I get on him all the time because he talks about Wisconsin sometimes, so I nudge him a little bit about that. But no, he's just an amazing person, and what you see is what you get. He's super religious, loves Christ, loves his family. So it's just cool to see how he works and how he approaches the game.

How much fun are you having playing in the Steelers' defense? 
Yeah, it's super cool. It's awesome, I can't thank anyone enough for it. But the days at NC State, those are my favorite days of all time. And the guys that I played with here, it was a surreal moment for me last year. The whole year was just crazy. So, I mean, it's been awesome, but NC State's home for me.

Payton, what do you hope people remember most about your time at NC State? 
I think just the effort, I truly gave it all. I did everything for this campus that I could. And through the surgeries, through the injuries, I mean, I just always tried to play football. I tried to keep all the notoriety and all that stuff to the side, and I just love the game. And I hope people realize that, that I played the game for what it truly was in its truest form. 

Have you been able to be around the team this week at all? 
Yeah, one of my best friends is actually Caden Fordham. Obviously, everyone knows he just got injured. So just being there for him through that, I went through a lot of that stuff. So to be there for him is super cool. Sean Brown, all those guys that I played with last year, I just can't thank them enough. And just we keep in touch, and what they're doing for this team is special. 

How did you find out that you were going to be inducted into the Ring of Honor? 
Yeah, Coach Doran called me. He texted me one day, so I kinda, Coach Doeren don't text you unless he's got something for you, but when he texted me, I kinda figured it out. But it was an awesome moment. I called my parents instantly. Just growing up 30 minutes from here, it's kinda like, hang on, he did it. So it's been pretty cool. 

What is it like to be a fan and have no control now? 
Gosh, you should see me every Saturday if I pull my hair out. But I told everybody, I was like, I'm not gonna be this guru fan, this and that. You should see me. I'm about to pull my hair out. No, it's super cool. It's frustrating sometimes, but I love these guys, and I understand what goes into it. I mean, I just love watching them play, and each year, the guys like Sean, like KC, the guys that develop each year, it's super cool to see them and see how they grow, not only as a football player but as a person.

Are you texting some of the guys after games, being like, what did you do all this for? 
Yeah, you have no idea. You have no idea. They probably wish I'd leave them alone. Caden's probably like, God, I'm glad I'm not playing today, so he’ll leave me alone. But no, I mean, I know the culture that we built here. Guys like Drake Thomas, Isaiah Moore, Tanner Ingle, all those guys put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into this place. And the culture that we built, I wanna be able to withhold that. So these guys kinda gotta know, people come here and they play hard. So don't just come here for one year and think NIL is funny and ruining the culture. You gotta come here and play hard. 

When you play an NFL game, do you actually see if there's an NC State player on the team you're playing? 

Yeah, it's pretty funny. I tell people all the time, NC State is this national brand. Everywhere I went, we got some big-time guy from NC State. So it's been pretty cool to meet Kentavius Street, all those guys. Obviously, I knew James when he was here, but I met James, Jakobi Meyers, AJ Cole, all those guys. It's been super cool. NC State's a national brand, and you don't really know until you kinda get out. 

Drake was just named a team captain with Seattle. How happy are you for that? How unique is it for the group you guys played with to be successful in the NFL? 

It was pretty cool. I texted him this morning, I said, reporting for duty, captain. That's just an honor, Drake Thomas being a captain for the Seattle Seahawks. That's super cool. I mean, just to see all of us, I mean, do what we're doing just at the next level. Just kinda goes to show you what they've built here with Coach Doeren, Coach Gibson, Coach Thunder, all those guys. We have a really good, strong group of guys that are doing a lot in the NFL right now.