Graduate linebacker Caden Fordham has been awarded NC State football’s coveted No. 1 jersey for the 2025 season, head coach Dave Doeren announced Tuesday.

“Caden is the alpha wolf of our football team,” Doeren said. “He learned under some of the best linebackers in school history — Payton Wilson, Drake Thomas and Isaiah Moore — and is carrying that tradition forward. I look forward to watching him lead on and off the field this season.”

The announcement came just hours after Doeren named Fordham a team captain, along with sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey, graduate guard Anthony Carter Jr. and graduate linebacker Sean Brown.

Fordham joins a line of Wolfpack standouts who have worn the number, most recently defensive end Davin Vann in 2023 and 2024. Since 2014, Doeren has awarded the jersey to a player who demonstrates elite work ethic and training habits, as well as leadership on and off the field.

A second-year starter, Fordham led the team in tackles last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury in practice. The injury derailed an already struggling defense and left a void at linebacker. NC State finished 15th in the ACC in rushing yards allowed.

“Anytime we go out on the field as an NC State defense, we expect to dominate,” Fordham said. “Last year wasn’t our standard. But this year is a new year, and we’re going to come out and prove that we’re back. We’re going to uphold that standard and play ball on defense.”

The Wolfpack opens its season against ECU next Thursday, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.