Bolles alumnus Caden Fordham ’21, a graduate student linebacker on the North Carolina State University football team, concluded the 2025 season with multiple honors. Following a season-ending knee injury in 2024, Fordham returned to the field in 2025 as a team captain and led the Wolfpack defense with 143 total tackles including 3.5 sacks along with two interceptions and a fumble recovery. He earned Second Team All-America honors from The Sporting News, Third Team All-America from the Associated Press and was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team.

Fordham and the Wolfpack finished the season with a 31-7 win over Memphis in the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa on December 19. Fordham became the first defensive player in the bowl game’s history to earn MVP honors after he tallied 13 tackles and returned an interception 55 yards to the three-yard line to set up an NC State touchdown on the following play.

Fordham led all Power-Four conference players in total tackles on the season and ranked fourth overall in the Football Bowl Subdivision.