Breaking BYU Linebacker Payton Wilgar Declares for the 2023 NFL Draft

Payton Wilgar

Before coming to BYU he grew up in St. George, Utah, and played for Dixie High School. He then in 2018 walked on to BYU. After the 2018 season, they put him on a scholarship to keep him playing football for the Cougars. Wilgar has played since 2018 for the Cougars. In his career, he has played in 38 games with 156 tackles, two forced fumbles, and 5 interceptions. He is expected to once again be a big player for the BYU defense and a leader on the team. He really stepped up after Keenan Pili went down in the Arizona St game and Trajan Pili went down in the Arizona game early in the 2021 season for the Cougars. The leader the defense was looking for when some key guys went down and some younger guys had to step up and finish out the season.

Payton Wilgar played in just three games his first season in 2018. In 2019 he played in 13 games and had 54 tackles, three interceptions and one pass break up. His 2020 was nothing short of amazing with him playing in 12 games, 57 tackles, one forced fumble, five quarterback hits, and four pass breakups. 2021 he played in 10 games leaving early with a shoulder injury. In that season he had 57 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and four pass breakups.

This season ended short due to an ankle injury his seven games he played in he lead the Cougars on and off the field. He gave life to this Cougar defense and made some big plays when it counted. In those seven games he had 30 tackles, and one pass breakup.