The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1538921
player who best exemplifies the leader- ship skills and work ethic that NC State aims to instill. "Caden is the alpha wolf of our foot- ball team," Doeren said. "He learned un- der some of the best linebackers in school h i s to r y — P a y - ton Wilson, Drake Thomas and Isaiah Moore — and is car- rying that tradition forward. I look for- ward to watching him lead on and off the field this season." Ready To Rebound Now that the 2025 season is underway, Fordham is looking to build on his electric start to the previous campaign. He felt like he was rolling at the time of his injury, and his goal is to find that form as quickly as possible. Although that would likely lead to ca- reer-best totals, Fordham doesn't care about his own stat line in a given game. He posted a pair of double-digit tackle performances a year ago, but all he wants is for the Wolfpack defense to take a step forward under Eliot. The linebacker corps made several off- season additions via the transfer portal, with graduate Tra Thomas arriving from Temple, redshirt junior Kenny Soares Jr. from Northwestern and junior AJ Rich- ardson from Norfolk State. In addition, the Pack brings back redshirt senior Sean Brown and redshirt sophomore Kelvon McBride. It's a formidable collection of lineback- ing talent, and Fordham is excited to see it in action throughout the fall campaign. "I just want to go out there and succeed as a team and as a unit," he said. "I want to give NC State what they want, and that's to win, to be a top school in the nation. My biggest goal this year is to make sure we come out as a team and defense to show people what we're capable of." Those goals will require players to ex- cel on an individual basis. Fordham could become the most recent case study of an NC State linebacker coming back stronger than before after suffering a major injury. He doesn't have to look too far for living proof, either. During the Wolfpack's 2021 campaign, Wilson and Moore both went down with season-ending in- juries. Wilson, who mentored Fordham early in his NC State career, was waylaid by a shoulder prob- lem, while Moore, now an assistant linebackers coach at his alma mater, saw his season cut short by a knee injury. Both players put together All-ACC campaigns upon returning to action, and Wilson won the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation's top linebacker. He later was chosen in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. There's a track record of success after injury. Now, Fordham is looking to add his name to the list of Pack standouts who were better than ever after rebounding from their setbacks. "I love this game so much," he said with a smile. "It's given me and my family so much, I can't wait to get out there and play. I'm so excited for this season." ■ When Northwestern transfer linebacker Kenny Soares Jr. was looking for a new place to call home, one prospective coach was seemingly calling him every chance he could: NC State assistant linebackers coach Isaiah Moore. No matter what else was going on within the program, Moore was a constant presence in Soares' recruitment. The former All-ACC linebacker was deter - mined to bring the graduate student to Raleigh. In the end, he got his man. "It just made me feel more comfortable coming here than a lot of other places," said Soares, who commit- ted to the Pack in early April. "I'm big on family. I'm big on having everybody around me being close to me and being able to cherish moments with each other. I felt like I'd be able to do that here — be the most comfortable and be myself in that situation." For Soares, picking NC State was an easy choice. The Wolfpack's coaching staff, led by Moore, showed the most interest, but it also had the pieces in place to help him develop as a middle linebacker in defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot's scheme. "I can't beat it," Soares said. "Coach Moore was one of the best players to come through here. Coach Eliot coached some of the best players that play in the league now. You can't beat it, in my opinion." While Soares believed in the development timeline, his fit inside Eliot's new-look defense was also a big part of his choice. He was one of three defenders to commit af - ter an official visit to the Pack's spring game, joined by edge rushers Cian Slone (Utah State) and Sabastian Harsh (Wyoming). Soares, who played in 24 games as a rotational linebacker the past two seasons at Northwestern, is capable of handling multiple positions. He played both Will line - backer and outside linebacker for the Wildcats and provides versatility within Eliot's position group. The 6-foot-2, 233-pound defender has been cast as an inside linebacker at NC State but could slide to the outside spot occupied by Temple graduate transfer Tra Thomas and Slone, if needed. For Soares, however, it doesn't matter where he's playing. He's more than willing to hunt the football. After all, in the Big Ten, he was used to bulldozing a fullback to make a play, something he won't have to worry about as often in the ACC's pass-heavy league. "Being able to be a headhunter, looking to hit somebody every single play — I bring that to this linebackers room and encourage everyone to do the same," Soares said. Soares has logged 57 career tackles, including 5.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks, while add - ing 3 pass breakups. His 83.5 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus would have ranked second on NC State's roster, behind only standout defensive end Davin Vann. So yes, Soares fits the mold of what Eliot is looking for in his linebacker corps. It appears he will be a rotational player for the Wolfpack this fall, but in a crowded posi- tion group filled with plenty of veterans, Soares knows he'll have to play at the same level as the team's starters. "Our motto is to play fast, play physical and do your job," he said. "When you have depth … it's not a step back when other guys come into the game." The linebackers are focused on setting the tone on defense this fall. Soares and his teammates have embraced their role in helping the team excel. "We're going to run through your face every single play," he said. "We're not going to stop. Every single play." — Noah Fleischman Kenny Soares Jr. Finds The Right Fit With Wolfpack " I know I can push through a lot more than I thought I could. As far as the knee goes, it feels great. I feel like I've taken a step as a leader and gotten to see things from a differ- ent perspective." Fordham SOARES SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 ■ 29