Poised with new opportunities, Payton Wilson leaving NC State with gratitude and growth

N.C. State linebacker Payton Wilson walked off the field at Carter-Finley Stadium one last time. The lights shone down on him as fans gave him one last round of applause.

He finished his career with a 39-20 win over North Carolina on Saturday, recording 15 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack.

It felt like a movie, but this wasn’t a Netflix special. Wilson earned the recognition and left an indelible mark on the program as a player, but who he is — beyond the highlights and statistics — becomes the actual legacy he leaves.

“I can’t thank Wolfpack nation enough for my senior day, and the applause that I got. It means the world to me,” Wilson said. “I love this university. I love this team. I love this fan base. It sucks that it’s my last one, but I’m looking forward to the next chapter, and hopefully I left a good mark here.”

Photos: A look back at career of NC State’s Payton Wilson

Wilson grew up about 35 miles away from Carter-Finley Stadium in Hillsborough — a town of roughly 9,700 — and started his athletic career at 4. He started in wrestling, continuing through high school, and joined peewee football at 6.

Sports have been part of virtually his entire life. That’s what people, understandably, know him for. When he steps away from the field, he’s a simple guy.

Wilson doesn’t love attention — the guy hasn’t posted on Instagram since 2021 — and rarely focuses on himself during interviews. The most important things in life boil down to family and friends, football and his faith.

“What you see is what you get,” Wilson said. “The person that you see in these interviews, that you see on the field, that’s just who I am. I’m not an exciting person. If you want to come hang out with me, I promise we’re not gonna do much. I keep it simple. I play video games, I play football, and I love my family. That’s pretty much it.”

‘The right people around’

Wilson is on the quieter side, not one to bring attention to himself, but that doesn’t mean his relationships are shallow.

Grayson Ketchie, the 12-year-old superfan, became one of Wilson’s friends. In a visit to the Ketchie home, Wilson followed Grayson — hand in hand — to a spot on the floor where they played toss. A few days later, the two saw each other at an event and Wilson talked to Grayson like one of his teammates.

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The Wilson family tailgates in the Carter-Finley parking lot at every home game. He often hugs his parents during the pregame Walk of Champions.

Wilson doesn’t recall his parents missing a game, except during COVID. His brother, Bryse, is a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers and role model for Payton Wilson.

“Our mom and dad provided us with endless opportunities. They pushed us hard,” Bryse Wilson said. “We were both pretty talented growing up, we’ve always worked really hard and had the right people around us to push us to be better.”

Wilson’s relationship with Bryse taught him how to handle success with grace and humility, and he’s never forgotten where he came from. Plus, seeing his older brother pitch in the majors inspires him daily.

“He’s in a different state every single day with baseball, but my brother never changes,” Payton Wilson said. “He’s still the same person that he was when he was in high school; never left his friends, never turned his back on anyone.”

Wilson took those lessons to heart, extending his relationship maintenance beyond his family and the Wolfpack. His favorite pastime is logging onto his computer for a round of video games.

The 23-year-old is no stranger to Call of Duty, Madden or 2K, but he’s currently into Rocket League — a vehicular soccer game, per its description — and another shooter game called Apex Legends. They’re fun and they allow him to connect with longtime friends, even if they’re no longer in Hillsborough.

“We’re football, football, football all day, every day,” Payton Wilson said. “So just being able to disconnect, rest your mind and just talk to some of the people that I grew up in a sandbox with — just still playing video games — it’s just something that relieves me and takes my mind off of things.”

‘He is a generational player’

Wilson stood on the sideline at Carter-Finley Stadium exactly seven years ago on Nov. 25, 2017, watching N.C. State beat North Carolina, 33-21. He had decommitted from the Tar Heels three days prior.

A lot of people turned on him when he made that decision, and he experienced at an early age what the rivalry means, Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren said Wednesday. Wilson didn’t let the negativity deter him and got to work.

“Every player matters. You just never know who that player might be in the recruiting class when you get them,” Doeren said. “It doesn’t always turn out the way people think, and sometimes it’s more than advertised with some kids. That one turned out in our favor in a big way.”

Wilson missed the 2018 season with a knee injury and came off the bench a year later. In 2020, he earned First Team All-ACC honors and ranked No. 4 in the FBS for total tackles (108).

The Orange High School graduate earned a spot on multiple 2021 preseason watchlists and All-ACC lists. Unfortunately, he didn’t earn those awards after sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 2.

He made his return last fall, recording 82 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, earning a semifinalist nod for the 2022 National Comeback Player of the Year award.

It was a good season, and Wilson had a chance to pursue NFL opportunities, but instead returned to the Pack.

Six years later, he will end his career as one of the best — his name alongside the likes of Bradley Chubb, Dantonio Burnette and Bill Cowher — to put on a red jersey.

Wilson finished his career, with the exception of N.C. State’s bowl game, with 402 tackles, 15 sacks, 13 pass breakups, seven interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Oh, and one pick six.

He ranks No. 5 in career tackles, surpassing Cowher and Isaiah Moore, and ranks in the top 20 for total sacks. Wilson ranks No. 3 in tackles for loss (48), surpassing Drake Thomas on Saturday.

Plus, he’s a two-time All-ACC First Team selection and became the Wolfpack’s first ACC Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday. It was the first DPOY honor for the Pack since Bradley Chubb in 2017.

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

“He’s a stud. All the accolades he’s getting are so deserved. He’s earned them,” Doeren said after the team’s win at Virginia Tech. “And, boy, has he suffered to earn them – physically and the emotions of not playing as many times as he’s had to watch. Some players can watch a game and have fun. They’re dancing to music. For him, it’s depressing to watch a game. He wants to be on the field. I’m so happy for him and I’m enjoying watching him too. I’m definitely taking it in, because I know he is a generational player.”

Here are the awards NC State linebacker Payton Wilson is up for after a standout season

‘Never seen anybody grow as much’

Wilson spoke into a microphone for a TV interview after the Wolfpack’s win over Wake Forest, lights illuminating him from behind. He smiled as he talked about the victory.

At first glance, it didn’t seem out of the ordinary. He’s a captain and one of the Pack’s go-to speakers. In reality, that moment represented a piece of his growth since stepping on campus.

Everyone mentions leadership — not just his athletic prowess — when talking about Wilson. Doeren said the Hillsborough local developed into a vocal leader who used to be “scared to death” of public speaking but is now giving interviews, speeches and mentoring others.

Caden Fordham credited Wilson for his own success this year, teaching the sophomore how to identify formations and execute cleanly. Jordan Poole moved from the linebacker room to running backs this season. Wilson said last week, “It makes me tear up almost every time I see him out there.”

His teammates’ success is his own success regardless of their position.

“That guy has just matured so much and has stepped up, not only his game, but just his maturity level, his leadership skills and what he brings to this football team on and off the field,” defensive coordinator Tony Gibson said. “I’ve never seen anybody grow as much over the last couple years as what he has.”

His growth doesn’t stop at public speaking or individual mentorship, though. Doeren called Wilson a “commander” and someone who sets the standard for the entire program.

He’s running down opposing players — his 23.4 miles per hour against Notre Dame was a school record — and when there’s a tackle, Wilson is in or around the pile. His jerseys feature blood, dirt and grass stains more often than not and he holds teammates to similar expectations. It’s a big reason for the team’s turnaround.

“He treats everybody with such care and respect in the locker room and in the building, and because of how hard he plays and how respectful he is, he can then be very demanding of people,” Doeren said in September.

The growth didn’t come overnight. It took adversity, mistakes, accountability, his faith and time. It also took people like Gibson and Doeren seeing his potential and settling for nothing less than greatness.

The 23-year-old attributes much of his sustained success to his faith, to which he recommitted after his most recent shoulder injury. Now, he uses his platform gained through football success to better the world.

“I love football. I love sports,” Wilson said. “But, at the end of the day, I think that’s why we’re put in this world: to help people to impact people’s lives and to help them grow closer to Jesus Christ.”

‘One of the most fulfilling things’

Growing up, the Wilson brothers were like many young boys, running around, tossing a football or baseball around in the family backyard. Two little boys from Hillsborough, wishing to one day become professional athletes.

“I think it was both of our dreams,” Bryse Wilson said. “We were both pretty talented growing up. We’ve always worked really hard and had the right people around us to push us to be better, so there was a little bit of an idea, but we never really thought it would actually come true.”

The Atlanta Braves selected Bryse Wilson in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. He made his MLB debut with Atlanta in 2018 before moving on to Milwaukee.

Seven years later, Payton is on the cusp of a new beginning. He’s months away from potentially becoming the Wilson family’s next professional.

“When you’re sitting in the back of the team room as a freshman, when all the seniors are up there saying this flies by, you’re like, ‘Man, I’m still a freshman taking all these classes,’” Wilson said at Virginia Tech. “Going into my last game, I’m just excited. Sad, excited, ready for the next chapter, but at the same time, (I) want to finish this out as strong as we possibly can.”

No one knows where this sport will take him or what things he might achieve, but they do know the kind of person embarking on this next adventure.

The lights will never be so bright nor will the crowds be so big that he forgets where he’s from. He won’t forget who got him to this point; a lesson he took from Bryse.

He’ll always be that boy in the backyard; the one who always comes back to family, friends, faith and football.

“I’m more proud of who he’s become and where he’s at now in his career than anything that I’ve ever done personally,” Bryse said. “Seeing him and watching him succeed is one of the most fulfilling things that I have in my life.”