CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – NC State linebacker and ACC Defensive Player of the Year Payton Wilson added to his hardware on Friday, as he was named the 2023 Chuck Bednarik Award winner, which recognizes the best defensive player in college football.
 
Wilson won the 2023 Butkus Award on Wednesday, which is awarded to the top defensive linebacker in college football.

The near-unanimous 2023 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-ACC selection, Wilson led the league and ranked fifth in the FBS in tackles with 138 and in tackles per game at 11.5 per contest. He also led the ACC in tackles-for-loss with 17.5, the sixth-most in all of FBS. Wilson also notched six sacks, 10 pass breakups, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and three interceptions, returning one for a score.

Wilson led the Wolfpack in tackles in 10 games on the season and was a five-time ACC Linebacker of the Week. He was named the Butkus Linebacker of the Month for September and was also a finalist for the Nagurski Award.

Wilson is the first NC State player ever to win the Bednarik Award and the first ACC player to earn the honor since Aaron Donald of Pittsburgh in 2013.