Payton Wilson
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Payton Wilson
| image = Wilson23.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Wilson with the NC State Wolfpack in 2023
| current_team = Pittsburgh Steelers
| number = 41
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|04|21}}
| birth_place = Hillsborough, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 242
| high_school = Orange (Hillsborough)
| college = NC State (2018–2023)
| draftyear = 2024
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 98
| pastteams =
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- Chuck Bednarik Award (2023)
- Butkus Award (2023)
- Unanimous All-American (2023)
- ACC Defensive Player of the Year (2023)
- 2× first-team All-ACC (2020, 2023)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek = 7
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 64
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 1
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 2
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 = 1
| statlabel7 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue7 =
}}
Payton Wilson (born April 21, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the NC State Wolfpack, winning the Chuck Bednarik Award and Butkus Award in 2023. Wilson was selected by the Steelers in the third round, 98th overall in the 2024 NFL draft.
Early life
Wilson grew up in Hillsborough, North Carolina and attended Orange High School. As a junior, he made 127 tackles with 39 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Jonathan M. |date=May 2, 2017 |title=Payton Wilson, No. 2 linebacker in the country, picks UNC |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article147822254.html |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=NewsObserver.com}} Wilson also won the North Carolina 3A 220-pound wrestling state championship during his junior year.{{Cite web |last=Way |first=Dan E. |date=February 23, 2017 |title=Football recruit Payton Wilson wins wrestling title in thrilling fashion |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/high-school/article134070974.html |access-date=September 14, 2022 |website=The News & Observer}} He had 103 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks before tearing his ACL during his senior year.{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Jonathan M. |date=November 22, 2017 |title=UNC's top defensive prospect, and NC high school star, decommits |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/article186090098.html |access-date=September 14, 2022 |website=Charlotte Observer}} Wilson was rated a four-star recruit and initially committed to play college football at North Carolina (UNC) over offers from Clemson, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech.{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2706403-4-star-lb-payton-wilson-commits-to-unc-over-ohio-state-clemson-others|title=4-Star LB Payton Wilson Commits to UNC over Ohio State, Clemson, Others|first=Alec|last=Nathan|website=Bleacher Report|date=May 1, 2017|access-date=September 14, 2022}} He later decommitted from UNC and ultimately signed to play at North Carolina State.{{Cite web |last=Pope IV |first=Jonas |date=December 1, 2017 |title=Payton Wilson, who decommitted from UNC, commits to NC State, Dave Doeren instead |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/article187614838.html |access-date=September 14, 2022 |website=The News & Observer}}
College career
Wilson suffered a second knee injury during summer training camp and redshirted his true freshman season at NC State.{{Cite web |last1=Bridges |first1=Virginia |last2=Giglio |first2=Joe |date=December 15, 2019 |title=NC State football player Payton Wilson faces multiple charges |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article238383398.html |access-date=September 14, 2022 |website=The News & Observer}} He led the Wolfpack with 69 tackles during his redshirt freshman season.{{Cite web |last=Pope IV |first=Jonas |date=October 23, 2020 |title=He's always played hard, now NC State's Payton Wilson is also playing smart |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article246632608.html |access-date=September 14, 2022 |website=The News & Observer}} Wilson made 108 tackles with 11.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions and was named first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in his redshirt sophomore season.{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=David |date=July 20, 2021 |title=N.C. State football's Payton Wilson ready to become top defender |url=https://www.fayobserver.com/story/sports/2021/07/20/nc-state-football-linebacker-payton-wilson-schedule-roster-2021/7995610002/ |access-date=September 14, 2022 |website=The Fayetteville Observer}} He suffered a season ending shoulder injury in the second game of his junior season.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/sports-college-football-dave-doeren-payton-wilson-cyrus-fagan-6adadc2482a3cc834390a8c46f6431df|title=NC State loses all-ACC LB Wilson, Fagan for year to injuries|first=Aaron|last=Beard|publisher=Associated Press|date=September 13, 2021|access-date=September 14, 2022}} In 2023, Wilson received the Butkus Award given annually to college football's best linebacker.{{Cite web |last=Eberly |first=Keaton |date=2023-12-07 |title=NC State linebacker Payton Wilson crowned as 2023 Butkus Award winner |url=https://www.cbs17.com/sports/nc-state/nc-state-linebacker-payton-wilson-crowned-as-2023-butkus-award-winner/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=CBS17.com |language=en-US}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 7/8
| weight = 233
| dash = 4.43
| ten split = 1.54
| twenty split = 2.58
| shuttle = 4.20
| cone drill = 6.85
| vertical = 34.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 11
| arm span = 30 1/2
| hand span = 9
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |last=Reuter |first=Chad |last2=Zierlein |first2=Lance |title=Payton Wilson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/payton-wilson/32005749-4c77-2747-aac4-9ba7cad134d0 |access-date=March 24, 2024 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1023481&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Payton Wilson College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 24, 2024}}
}}
=Pittsburgh Steelers=
==2024==
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Wilson in the third round (98th overall) of the 2024 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Magdziuk |first=Kate |date=2024-04-26 |title=Pittsburgh Steelers select LB Payton Wilson with 98th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft |url=https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2024/4/26/24141966/pittsburgh-steelers-select-payton-wilson-linebacker-round-3-selection-98-overall-pick-nfl-draft-news |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Behind the Steel Curtain |language=en}} The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired the third round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles after trading Kenny Pickett and a fourth round pick to the Eagles for the 98th overall selection and two seventh round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
File:Fields2024steelers.jpg in 2024]]
Ahead of the regular season, Wilson was named the team's second string left inside linebacker behind Patrick Queen, beating out Mark Robinson for the backup role.{{Cite web |title=Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 NFL Depth Chart |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/depth/_/name/pit |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=ESPN |language=en}}
On August 17, 2024, during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Bills, Wilson was tackled by Ryan Van Demark and his back leg was stepped up on and bent backwards. Despite this injury, he still made his first professional appearance in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons where he would make his first tackle on wide receiver Drake London. He would finish the game making three tackles in the 18–10 Steelers victory.https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4361652/payton-wilson By Week 6 of the season, Wilson had accumulated 18 tackles and eight assists, averaging 3.3 tackles a game.https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/payton-wilson-stats On October 13, he recorded his first tackle for loss during the Steelers' 32–13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. During the Steelers' 18–16 win over the Baltimore Ravens, Wilson intercepted a pass from Lamar Jackson intended for Justice Hill for his first career interception.{{cite web | title=Payton Wilson rips football away from Justice Hill for INT | website=YouTube | date=2024-03-06 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UubsdV5EZFg | access-date=2024-12-03}} He scored his first defensive touchdown in another divisional game, this time against the Bengals, when he returned a Joe Burrow fumble for 21 yards as the Steelers won 44–38.{{cite web | title=Steelers LB #41 Payton Wilson TD🏈29yd scoop & score | website=YouTube | date=2024-03-06 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r97pFSSjnc | access-date=2024-12-03}}{{cite web | title=Steelers 44–38 Bengals (Dec 1, 2024) | website=StatMuse | date=2024-12-01 | url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/game/12-1-2024-pit-at-cin-18667 | access-date=2024-12-03}} Wilson finished the regular season with 64 total tackles, one fumble recovery, a defensive touchdown, and an interception. The Steelers achieved a 10-7 record and clinched a playoff berth as the sixth seed.
He made his post-season debut in a 28-14 wild card loss to the Baltimore Ravens on January 11, 2025. During the game, Wilson made three solo tackles and three assisted tackles.{{cite web | title=Payton Wilson Playoffs | website=StatMuse | date=2025-01-11 | url=https://www.statmuse.com/ask?query=Payton+wilson+playoffs&preferred_domain=&direct=true&l=&t=1740511898868 | access-date=2025-02-25}}
NFL Career Statistics
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Defensive ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} | {{abbr|GS|Games started}} | {{abbr|Tot|Total tackles}} | {{abbr|PD|Pass deflections}} | {{abbr|Int|Interceptions}} | {{abbr|Yds|Interception yards}} | {{abbr|TD|Defensive touchdowns}} | {{abbr|FR|Fumble recoveries}} | {{abbr|TD|Fumble return touchdowns}} | |
| 2024 | PIT
| 17 || 4 || 64 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 | ||||||||
| colspan="2"| Career | 17 | 4 | 64 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
=Postseason=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Defensive ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} | {{abbr|GS|Games started}} | {{abbr|Tot|Total tackles}} | {{abbr|Solo|Solo tackles}} | {{abbr|Ast|Assisted tackles}} | {{abbr|PD|Pass deflections}} | {{abbr|Int|Interceptions}} | {{abbr|FR|Fumble recoveries}} | {{abbr|TD|Fumble return touchdowns}} | |
| 2024 | PIT
| 1 || 1 || 6 || 3 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||
| colspan="2"| Career | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Personal life
Wilson is the younger brother of Major League Baseball pitcher Bryse Wilson.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/bryse-wilson-on-his-brother-payton-wilson|title=This Buc's brother is a college football star|first=Justice|last=delos Santos|website=MLB.com|date=September 9, 2022|access-date=September 14, 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [https://www.steelers.com/team/players-roster/payton-wilson/ Pittsburgh Steelers bio]
- [https://gopack.com/sports/football/roster/payton-wilson/11413 NC State Wolfpack bio]
{{Pittsburgh Steelers roster navbox}}{{Navboxes|title=|list=
{{Chuck Bednarik Award}}
{{Dick Butkus Award (collegiate)}}
{{2023 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Atlantic Coast Conference football Player of the Year navbox}}
{{Steelers2024DraftPicks}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Payton}}
Category:Players of American football from North Carolina
Category:American football linebackers
Category:NC State Wolfpack football players
Category:People from Hillsborough, North Carolina
Category:Sportspeople from Orange County, North Carolina