Caden Fordham Will Wear The No. 1 Jersey In 2025

NC State head coach Dave Doeren announced today that graduate linebacker Caden Fordham will wear the No. 1 jersey in 2025.

Since 2014, that coveted jersey number has been awarded to the Wolfpack player who exhibits elite work ethic and practice and training habits, while also serving as an exemplary leader. 

Fordham was the team's leading tackler last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury in practice. The postgraduate attacked his rehab in order to return full strength for 2025, while also earning ACC Academic Honor Roll honors for the third straight year.

"Caden is the alpha wolf of our football team," said Doeren. "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."

Here's a look at the players honored with the No. 1 jersey since 2014: 

Year     Name, Pos.
2014     Jarvis Byrd, CB
2015     Hakim Jones, SAF
2016     Jaylen Samuels, TE
2017     Jaylen Samuels, TE/H
2018     Stephen Louis, WR
2019     James Smith-Williams, DE
2020     Isaiah Moore, LB
2021     Isaiah Moore, LB
2022     Isaiah Moore, LB
2023     Davin Vann, DE
2024     Davin Vann, DE
2025     Caden Fordham, LB