RALEIGH, N.C.- This time last season, linebacker Caden Fordham was recovering from knee reconstruction surgery after suffering the injury in mid-October. Now, after a season leading the Wolfpack defense and leading in tackles in both the ACC and among P4 programs, Fordham has been named a Third-Team All-American by the AP, the publication announced Monday afternoon.
Already seeing his name on the All-ACC First team, gathering more points than any other league defensive player, he led or tied for the team lead in tackles nine times in 12 games this season and had eight double-figure tackle outputs. He had set career highs with 15 stops in each of the games versus Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and Florida State.
Fordham is a semifinalist for the National Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Since 2014, the honor of wearing the No. 1 jersey has been awarded to the Wolfpack player who exhibits an elite work ethic and practice and training habits, while also serving as an exemplary leader. This season, LB Caden Fordham has earned that honor.
A team captain, Fordham, tallied 130 stops for the season - that's the second-highest total in the past 13 seasons for the Wolfpack and leads the team with 8.5 tackles for loss.
Fordham is just the fourth All-American linebacker for the Wolfpack since 2000, joining Payton Wilson (2023), Nate Irving (2010), and Levar Fisher (2000).
