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Payton Wilson

Payton Wilson
refer to caption
Wilson with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024
No. 41 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (2000-04-21) April 21, 2000 (age 24)
Hillsborough, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:242 lb (110 kg)
Career information
High school:Orange (Hillsborough)
College:NC State (2018–2023)
NFL draft:2024 / round: 3 / pick: 98
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 7, 2024
Total tackles:64
Fumble recoveries:1
Pass deflections:2
Interceptions:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

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 at NC State, 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

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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.[1] Wilson also won the North Carolina 3A 220-pound wrestling state championship during his junior year.[2] He had 103 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks before tearing his ACL during his senior year.[3] 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.[4] He later decommitted from UNC and ultimately signed to play at North Carolina State.[5]

College career

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Wilson suffered a second knee injury during summer training camp and redshirted his true freshman season at NC State.[6] He led the Wolfpack with 69 tackles during his redshirt freshman season.[7] 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.[8] He suffered a season ending shoulder injury in the second game of his junior season.[9] In 2023, Wilson received the Butkus Award given annually to college football's best linebacker.[10]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 3+7⁄8 in
(1.93 m) 		233 lb
(106 kg) 		30+1⁄2 in
(0.77 m) 		9 in
(0.23 m)		 4.43 s 1.54 s 2.58 s 4.20 s 6.85 s 34.5 in
(0.88 m)		 9 ft 11 in
(3.02 m)
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[11][12]

2024 season

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Wilson during a Steelers practice with Justin Fields in 2024

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Wilson in the third round (98th overall) of the 2024 NFL draft.[13] 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.

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.[14]

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.[15] By Week 6 of the season, Wilson had accumulated 18 tackles and eight assists, averaging 3.3 tackles a game.[16] 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.[17] 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.[18][19]

Personal life

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Wilson is the younger brother of Major League Baseball pitcher Bryse Wilson.[20]

References

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  1. ^ Alexander, Jonathan M. (May 2, 2017). "Payton Wilson, No. 2 linebacker in the country, picks UNC". NewsObserver.com. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  2. ^ Way, Dan E. (February 23, 2017). "Football recruit Payton Wilson wins wrestling title in thrilling fashion". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  3. ^ Alexander, Jonathan M. (November 22, 2017). "UNC's top defensive prospect, and NC high school star, decommits". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  4. ^ Nathan, Alec (May 1, 2017). "4-Star LB Payton Wilson Commits to UNC over Ohio State, Clemson, Others". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  5. ^ Pope IV, Jonas (December 1, 2017). "Payton Wilson, who decommitted from UNC, commits to NC State, Dave Doeren instead". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  6. ^ Bridges, Virginia; Giglio, Joe (December 15, 2019). "NC State football player Payton Wilson faces multiple charges". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  7. ^ Pope IV, Jonas (October 23, 2020). "He's always played hard, now NC State's Payton Wilson is also playing smart". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  8. ^ Thompson, David (July 20, 2021). "N.C. State football's Payton Wilson ready to become top defender". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  9. ^ Beard, Aaron (September 13, 2021). "NC State loses all-ACC LB Wilson, Fagan for year to injuries". Associated Press. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  10. ^ Eberly, Keaton (December 7, 2023). "NC State linebacker Payton Wilson crowned as 2023 Butkus Award winner". CBS17.com. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  11. ^ "Payton Wilson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  12. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Payton Wilson College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  13. ^ Magdziuk, Kate (April 26, 2024). "Pittsburgh Steelers select LB Payton Wilson with 98th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft". Behind the Steel Curtain. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  14. ^ "Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 NFL Depth Chart". ESPN. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  15. ^ https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4361652/payton-wilson
  16. ^ https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/payton-wilson-stats
  17. ^ "Payton Wilson rips football away from Justice Hill for INT". YouTube. March 6, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  18. ^ "Steelers LB #41 Payton Wilson TD🏈29yd scoop & score". YouTube. March 6, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  19. ^ "Steelers 44–38 Bengals (Dec 1, 2024)". StatMuse. December 1, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  20. ^ delos Santos, Justice (September 9, 2022). "This Buc's brother is a college football star". MLB.com. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
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