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Payton Wilson Interview: How Senior Bowl Impacts His NFL Draft StockJaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

Senior Bowl

Payton Wilson Interview: How Senior Bowl Impacts His NFL Draft Stock

The 2024 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. NC State linebacker Payton Wilson plans on taking full advantage. Wilson recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.

Wilson also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, being a tackle machine, how he plans to discuss his medicals, writing his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Wilson better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.

JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?

Payton Wilson: I was actually at our facility. I was at NC State. It was a true honor. I grew up watching the Senior Bowl. I know what Jim Nagy is all about. He and I have built a pretty special connection throughout this process. For him to call me and personally invite me, it was a blessing. It meant the world to me. I’m excited to go down there and showcase my talent.

JM: What motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?

Payton Wilson: The history behind the game speaks for itself. Jim Nagy does an outstanding job running that entire week. It’s one of the better pre-draft all-star games you can attend. It features the highest level of competition, which will allow me to put my skill set on display.

JM: What are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?

Payton Wilson: I’m excited to prove that I can sustain my level of play at the next level. I don’t expect to experience any sort of drop-off whatsoever. I’m a competitor. I fly around the field with a high motor. I’m just ready to showcase that against the highest level of competition that exists.

JM: How would you write your own scouting report? Self-scout yourself.

Payton Wilson: I would point out that I play with an extremely high motor. I play with terrific effort. I’m willing to play until I can’t anymore. The speed that I have is unmatched at the linebacker position. I play the game as fast and physically as I possibly can.

JM: If you had to compare yourself to an NFL linebacker, who would you choose and why?

Payton Wilson: I’m going to give you a throwback name because he’s somebody I’ve idolized my entire life. The way that he played is the way I try to play. I want to be able to play the game at his level. It’s Luke Kuechly. His football IQ, speed, passion, and aggression for the game were very obvious on a snap-by-snap basis. He was an inspiration to me. That’s how I grew up playing the game. It’s how I want to continue playing the game.

JM: As soon as you started talking, I had a feeling it was going to be Luke Kuechly. You recorded a career-high 138 tackles this season. That's the second time you've surpassed 100 tackles in a single season. What is it about your game that allows you to always be around the ball?

Payton Wilson: Like I said earlier, I think I’d give credit to my high motor and sideline-to-sideline speed. I think whether it’s the first play or the game or whatever, this season, we had a few games where we went over 90 defensive snaps. I think my speed and physicality are the exact same from the first play to play 96.

I say this all the time. If we have to play 90 defensive snaps, I want to make 90 tackles. That’s just the mentality I play with. I love when my teammates make plays, but I want to make every single play on that field. That’s just how I was raised.

JM: I love your mentality. When you sit down with all 32 teams for the interview process, your injury history will be a topic that gets brought up. How do you plan on addressing those questions?

Payton Wilson: That’s the reason I came back for another season. I wanted to show NFL scouts and general managers that I’m capable of staying healthy. It’s exactly why I came back for one more year. 

I haven’t dealt with any injuries for quite some time now. I had a little period, and I think a lot of players go through that. I’ve reached the other side now. I was healthy all year long and my body feels great. I feel as good as ever. I’m as strong and fast as I’ve ever been.

I truly understand how to take care of my body. Nutrition, mentally, training, massages, therapy, and so on. I have a lot more knowledge of my own body nowadays.

JM: We’re thrilled that you came through on the other side. What’s on Payton Wilson’s pre-game playlist?

Payton Wilson: The pre-game playlist, huh? This is going to sound weird, but if you’ve ever watched my tape, it might make sense to you. I don’t listen to music before a game. I heard this from David Goggins.

It sounds corny, but he told me if you’re not able to self-motivate, if you need music to motivate you, what are you going to do on 3rd-and-1 in the fourth quarter when there’s no music playing? How do you motivate yourself at that moment? I prefer to motivate myself. You need to be your own internal motivator. I stay focused, calm, and relaxed before the game. It’s the calm before the storm.

JM: That’s definitely a unique approach. What does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Payton Wilson?

Payton Wilson: It means I went down to Mobile and showcased my talents. I’m going to showcase my motor and my ability to cover. I think I’m a great tackler. That’s probably one of my best traits.

A lot of the running backs that we played this season may not be NFL-caliber backs. If I can continue showing the same speed, motor, and tackling ability against the backs at the Senior Bowl, I’ll prove that I can maintain my level of play against any competition.

I’m super excited to showcase all of those traits in Mobile against the highest level of competition.

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