NC State Redshirt Junior Linebacker Payton Wilson is 1 of 15 semifinalists for the Comeback Player of the Year in College Football.
In 2021, Wilson suffered a season ending shoulder injury in the 2nd game of the season against Mississippi State. Wilson entered the season coming off of a year in 2020 where he earned 1st Team All-ACC honors, leading the ACC tackles, becoming the first NC State player to do so since 2020.
Entering 2021, Wilson was on the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award, Bukus Award and Nagurski Trophy.
After a devastating injury at the beginning of 2021, Wilson bounced back this year, averaging 7.