NC State Linebackers Brown and Fordham Earn Spot on Bednarik Award Watch List

NC State Linebackers Brown and Fordham Earn Spot on Bednarik Award Watch List

NC State’s Sean Brown and Caden Fordham have been named to the prestigious Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, highlighting them among the top defensive talents in college football.

The Bednarik Award, presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club since 1994, honors the nation’s best defensive player. It’s named after Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik, a legendary two-way player for the Philadelphia Eagles and a Hall of Famer at both the college and professional levels.

Brown and Fordham continue NC State’s strong defensive legacy, following in the footsteps of Payton Wilson, who became the first Wolfpack player to win the award in 2023.

• Sean Brown: Finished ninth in the ACC with 7.4 tackles per game, earning honorable mention All-ACC honors in 2024. He led the team with 96 tackles and topped the ACC with three fumble recoveries, ranking fifth nationally.
• Caden Fordham: Was the team’s leading tackler before a midseason injury. He posted a career-best 14 tackles against Northern Illinois.

Their selection marks the fifth consecutive year an NC State defender has appeared on the Bednarik Watch List.

NC State’s 2025 Preseason Watch List Honorees:

• Maxwell Award: CJ Bailey
• Paul Hornung Award: Hollywood Smothers
• Allstate Wuerffel Trophy: Brandon Cleveland
• Doak Walker Award: Hollywood Smothers
• Biletnikoff Award: Justin Joly
• John Mackey Award: Justin Joly
• Chuck Bednarik Award: Sean Brown & Caden Fordham