The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1536961
34 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ❱ ❱ ❱ LINEBACKERS COMMANDING THE MIDDLE BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN E ven though NC State is two seasons removed from having Payton Wilson roam the middle of the defense, his presence can still be felt. Graduate student Caden Fordham, the Wolfpack's go-to linebacker, observed Wilson during his first three years at NC State. He was able to learn from the Butkus Award winner and has evoked memories of the former NC State great, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Redshirt senior Sean Brown, meanwhile, stepped in for an injured Wilson at linebacker — despite being a safety at the time — when the Pack beat Clemson during the 2023 season. Not only did Brown fill Wilson's shoes, he made 5 tackles on that one drive alone. Brown used that as momentum last sea- son with 96 total tackles in his first campaign as a full-time linebacker. So, yes, while Wilson has shined with the Steelers, NC State's linebacker corps is in good hands. And that's not even including the quartet of transfers the Wolfpack added to the room in the form of graduates Tra Thomas (Temple) and Cian Slone (Utah State), junior AJ Richardson (Norfolk State) and redshirt junior Kenny Soares Jr. (Northwestern). It's a crop of defenders that first-year coordinator D.J. Eliot is ready to deploy for the Wolfpack this fall. "I've got a good group of guys," Eliot said. "They've got great character, work ethic and leadership ability. They're very close, very tight — it's a really good unit. It's a unit that I'm glad to be working with." Thomas was the talk of spring practice. In his three seasons at Temple, he posted 72 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and 8 sacks. While Thomas is in his first season at NC State, he's well- acquainted with Eliot. The first-year defensive coordinator was on the Owls' staff in 2022 and helped Thomas develop into a high-quality FBS linebacker. "Tra's great, I'm glad to have him back," Eliot said. "He's got a chip on his shoulder. He always wants to prove something. He's very grateful to be here." BY THE NUMBERS 7.4 Number of tackles Sean Brown averaged per game last season, the ACC's ninth-best mark. 34 Quarterback pressures by Cian Slone at Utah State during the 2024 season. 100 Total tackles by AJ Richardson at Norfolk State last year, best in the Mid- Eastern Athletic Conference. ■ POSITIONAL GRADES ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTERS ★★★ NC State is expected to have a veteran-laden starting linebacker group for the 2025 season, led by graduate Caden Fordham. The Pack's top three linebackers are all experienced at the collegiate level and are able to impact the game in a hurry. EXPERIENCE ★★★ Speaking of experience, not only are the Pack's starters known commodities, but its reserves are, too. Junior AJ Richardson was a tackling machine at Norfolk State, while Cian Slone and Kenny Soares both played rotational roles on Division I programs. Kelvon McBride worked himself into the mix last year, too. DEPTH ★★★ NC State should be comfortable no matter which linebackers it trots onto the field. The top seven players at this position group are proven performers who aren't afraid of the moment. OVERALL GRADE ★★★ There isn't a preseason All-American here, and the linebackers need to play as one unit. The group struggled at times last season, especially after Fordham's in- jury. The Wolfpack is looking for a rebound to help carry the defensive load. PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTERS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 0 Sean Brown R-Sr. 6-0 216 Charlotte, N.C. 10 Caden Fordham Gr. 6-1 232 Ponte Vedra, Fla. 4 Tra Thomas Gr. 6-3 228 Glen Burnie, Md. BACKUPS 36 Kelvon McBride R-So. 6-3 227 Mobile, Ala. 35 AJ Richardson Jr. 6-1 245 Kings Mountain, N.C. 33 Kenny Soares Jr. R-Jr. 6-2 231 Trumbull, Conn. 8 Cian Slone Gr. 6-4 250 Rocklin, Calif. WAITING IN THE WINGS 12 Elijah Groves R-Fr. 6-4 225 Cross Plains, Tenn. 28 Joshua Ofor R-Fr. 6-1 220 Jonesboro, Ga. 46 Bailey Benson Fr. 6-0 200 Covington, Ga. SPOTLIGHT PLAYER GRADUATE CADEN FORDHAM Fordham was on pace for a career-best season last fall before it ended with an injury after just six games. He finished with 49 total tackles, only 4 short of his 2023 mark. Although he wasn't able to contribute on the field in the season's second half, he still made an impact, according to NC State's coaches. "He is one of the alpha leaders on our team," head coach Dave Doeren said. "He learned how to help guys without being on the field, which is a growth thing for him. He's become a better teammate through the injury. I think the perspective of being injured is a big thing as a player. You really learn how much you love the game, because you miss everything when you can't do it." Fordham enters the 2025 season with high expectations, both for his on-field play and his ability to lead the defense as the Wolfpack's middle linebacker. SEAN BROWN PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE FOOTBALL