Before he was a stud linebacker for the Wolfpack, he was a standout at Orange High School. After his final home game with the Wolfpack, WRAL Sports went into the vault to 2017, when Wilson was named the winner of the Tom Suiter Extra Effort Award.
BOY, IT WAS SO LOUD. I WAS FIELD SIDE. YOU COULD EVEN HEAR THE PA ANNOUNCERS SPEAK. >> DAVE DOEREN, THE REST OF THE COACHING STAFF HAS SAID THAT HE'S THE BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER IN THE COUNTRY. ALL THE STATS, ALL THE AWARDS, OF COURSE, BACK THAT UP. BUT HIS CAREER-HIGH SCENE, PLENTY OF UPS AND DOWNS, WHICH ALL STARTED ACTUALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL FOR THIS WEEK'S EXTRA EFFORT AWARD. WE DIP INTO OUR VIDEO VAULT WHERE THAT PERSEVERANCE ALL STARTED AT ORANGE HIGH SCHOOL. HERE'S JEFF BRADLEY STORY. 27 SIT. >> A YEAR AGO, PAYTON WILSON WAS THE 3 A STATE WRESTLING CHAMPION WITH A 43 AND O RECORD THIS FALL. HE PLAYED OFFENSE DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS FOR THE ORANGE PANTHERS. HIS FUTURE, THOUGH, HIS FOOTBALL AT NC STATE. WE SEE THOSE. >> THOSE GUYS TO GET INTO THE GAME WITH THE BALL IN HAND WITH THE BALL HIT TO THEM ON THE LAST PLAY OF A BASEBALL GAME. HE'S THAT TYPE OF KID. HE WANTS THE TO MAKE THE PLAY. JUST DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE WINNING TEAM. >> HE WANTS TO BE THE GUY WINS THE GAME. BUT WHY WOULD A HIGH SCHOOL AMERICAN IN THE SECOND RANKED OUTSIDE LINEBACKER IN THE NATION BE PLAYING SPECIAL TEAMS? HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO KEEP PUT WILSON OFF OF A FOOTBALL FIELD? >> AND I HOPE MY TEAM OUT ANYWAY, SOMETHING TO ME TO BE A SAFETY VALVE ON TO CAUSE AND SOMEBODY RETURN, ALTHOUGH I DO IT UNFORTUNATELY ON THE OPENING KICKOFF OF THE 9TH GAME OF THE SEASON, PAYTON TORE HIS ACL, HIS HIGH SCHOOL, ATHLETIC OR EAR WAS OVER. I MEAN, IT WAS HARD TO COME THROUGH, BUT IT ALSO MADE ME LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENT LIKE HOUSE TAKING FOOTBALL FOR GRANTED WAY AHEAD OF WHAT THEY EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. >> YOU KNOW, MY MARTY WALKING ON IT AND I'M DOING A LOT OF THINGS THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE DOING IT A MONTH OUT OF SURGERY. >> NEVER ISLAND SPORTS OR ACADEMICS. PAYTON CARRIES A 3.9 GPA AND WANTS TO WORK IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. >> PROBABLY THE THING I AM MOST IMPRESSED WITH THIS WHEN HE'S IN THE LONG TERM TAKES THE TIME TO SPEAK TO A SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS AND IS ENJOYED INTERACTING WITH THEM. AND YOU KNOW, IT. IT MAKES YOU HAPPY WHEN YOU WALK IN AND THEY'RE GIVING YOU A HUG AND SMILE AND FEEL LIKE YOU'RE MAKING THEIR DEBUT. REALLY. THEY'RE MAKING US. >> PEYTON'S PLAN IS TO GRADUATE FROM ORANGE HIGH NEXT WEEKS. >> THOSE IN THE FAMILY TO MY DAD WENT HERE SO I MEAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY HERE. >> HIS BROTHER BRYCE WAS A FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL STAR FOR THE PANTHERS. AN EXTRA EFFORT AWARD WINNER 2 YEARS AGO. WHO IS NOW PITCHING IN THE ATLANTA BRAVES ORGANIZATION. >> SO IT'S LIKE BROTHER LEE RIVAL. YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO BE BETTER. AND BUT ALSO LIKE HE'S REALLY HUMBLE KID. AND HE DID GOOD IN SCHOOLS A PLACE TO BE LIKE HIM. >> FOLLOWING IN HIS BROTHER'S PAT PAYTON WILSON IS THIS