Blinksportsnews247Payton Wilson, a linebacker who excelled at multiple sports before deciding to focus on football, may be the most athletic defense selected in this year’s draft class.
With his brother Bryse, a professional league pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, he played baseball growing up. At Hillsborough, North Carolina’s Orange High School, he also won the state championship in wrestling. The multisport player found that wrestling from the age of four benefitted him on the football field, even though he chose to focus on football at North Carolina State University.
Wilson stated during the Combine that “wrestling instills a lot into you just when it comes to football itself.” “Hand fighting teaches you about leverage and torque because if I have your hands on you, you’re going to fall to the ground. Wrestling, however, is distinct. When you make a mistake in football, ten other players are there to support you. However, when you make a mistake in wrestling, you end up on top of your head and look foolish in front of your parents, friends, and mom.”
Wilson said that his first three seasons at NC State were a little difficult. Although he had moments in his rookie and sophomore campaigns, he struggled with a number of injuries that kept him from playing at his peak. He demonstrated to the country, though, that his injuries would not, either literally or figuratively, slow him down following a COVID season in 2021.
Wilson was the 2023 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and the winner of the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given to the finest defensive player in college football, with 138 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, and three interceptions.
Wilson disclosed at the NFL Combine that he had a productive meeting in Indianapolis with the staff and retired NFL linebacker Antonio Pierce, in addition to having a meeting with the Raiders at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Not to mention, in nine of his eleven seasons as general manager of the Chargers, Tom Telesco, the current general manager of the Raiders, picked a linebacker.
Wilson is predicted to go in the second or third round, but after his performance during drills on Thursday night, his draft status might be rising. He matched for the fastest 10-yard split (1.54) in his position group and had the fastest 40-yard sprint (4.43) among all linebackers.
What does he think he can provide to an NFL team, no matter where he goes or which pick he is selected at?
“I grew up on a farm in a small town with 9,000 people, so whoever I met [on the field] I want to prove I’m the bigger man, the stronger man and if you beat me, I’m coming back 100 times over,” stated Wilson. “We’ll keep going until I prevail. That’s just how I think. My goal is to excel not only on the field but also globally. That’s something I was taught by my parents and my NC State coaches. This game is just so much fun for me.”
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