Photo by NC State Athletics
Born: Apr. 21, 2000 – Hillsborough, NC
High School: Orange
College: NC State
Height: 6’3″ Weight: 233 lbs
Payton Wilson is a rangy linebacker. He has good speed and good pursuit angles, with surprising bend for the position. He has good tackle strength, but often leads with a bad pad level. His poor pad level is a major reason he can’t get off blocks once engaged, however. Once he is engaged, you’ll likely never see him released without relying on a spin move – the only move that allows him to break free. He will need to get much better at this in the NFL.
Wilson is good in zone coverages, understanding where he needs to be on the field. However, he really struggles in man coverage, often over pursuing or loses focus. He lacks instincts as a linebacker, and often is the last player on the field to realize where the ball is on RPO’s, play action, and misdirection. Payton Wilson is a Day 3 prospect who is likely to be drafted on Day 2 because of his length and speed, but he shouldn’t be. – Thomas Christopher
(Games Watched: vs Clemson 2022, vs UConn 2022, vs Notre Dame 2023, vs Wake Forest 2023, vs Marshall 2023)
Troy Andersen
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