NC State receives ACC Defensive Player, Rookie of the Year honors

N.C. State linebacker Payton Wilson and wide receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion earned ACC season honors, the league announced Wednesday.

Wilson received the Defensive Player of the Year award after leading the conference in total tackles (138/11.5 per game) and tackles for a loss (17.5/1.46 per game). He ranked No. 5 in tackles and No. 6 in tackles for a loss.

The sixth-year graduate student added 69 solo tackles, six sacks, six passes defended, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He is just the third NC State player to earn the honor, with Bradley Chubb earning the award in 2017 and Levar Fisher bringing home the hardware in 2000.

He was named to the All-ACC first team on Tuesday for the second time in his career. Wilson was also an All-ACC first-teamer in 2020.

Kevin “KC” Concepcion also picked up a pair of distinctions on Wednesday when he was named ACC Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The true freshman ended the regular season with 64 catches for 767 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Concepcion also set new program records for most touchdown catches and receptions by a rookie.

He added 297 rushing yards on 38 carries and passed for a 17-yard touchdown against Virginia Tech.

Concepcion ranks in the ACC top 10 for touchdown scoring, receiving, receiving yards and all-purpose yards.

He is the 10th player in Wolfpack history to be named rookie of the year, with Russell Wilson being the most recent in 2008.

On Tuesday, Concepcion was named to All-ACC second team and signed a deal with the Savage Wolves NIL collective that keeps him with the Pack.

Both players helped the Wolfpack turn things around to finish 9-3 overall and 6-2 in league play, good enough for third place.

Since the team’s 28-3 loss at Duke, Concepcion accounted for 555 all-purpose yards and six TDs. Meanwhile, Wilson added 57 tackles and 10 tackles for a loss.

The ACC will announce its Coach of the Year honoree on Thursday.