On November 6th, the 12 semifinalists were announced for the 2023 Butkus Award, which is awarded annually to the best Linebacker in College Football. NC State’s Payton Wilson was 1 of 12 selected.
No Wolfpack player has ever won the Butkus Award. Levar Fisher was also a semifinalist in 2001.
When you compare Wilson to the other 11 semifinalists, where does he stack up? Is he the best Linebacker in the nation?
Below you will find a statistical comparison of all 12 semifinalists heading into Week 12.
Currently, Wilson has the 2nd highest PFF Grade behind Clemson’s Jeremiah Trotter.