Wake Forest freshman safety Nick Andersen was named to the 2021 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, as announced by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation.

In its 18th year, the Lott IMPACT Trophy honors defensive players based on their impact on and off the field, including the core values of integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity. The organization has donated more than $1.6 million to schools and other charities around the country.

Of the 42 players announced to the watch list, Andersen is just one of eight from the ACC. This is the second consecutive season a Demon Deacon has been on the list after Carlos "Boogie" Basham Jr. was named to the watch list in 2020.

The Clifton, Va. native came to Wake Forest in July as a walk-on true freshman and blossomed into an ACC Rookie of the Year and Burlsworth Award Candidate (given to the top player in the country that started their career as a walk-on).

Andersen finished his historic rookie season tied eighth nationally in interceptions with four and 30th in the nation with 47 solo tackles. Andersen was awarded for his stellar campaign with All-ACC Honors by the ACC (Third Team), Phil Steele (Third Team), and the Coaches Poll (Fourth Team), as well as landing a spot on the Academic All-ACC team.

Against No. 19 Virginia Tech on Oct. 24, Andersen became the first Wake Forest player since 1987 and the first ACC player since Louisville's Gerod Holliman in 2014 to have three or more interceptions in a single game. Overall, Andersen is the first true freshman and the fourth player in program history to record three or more picks in a contest.

For his efforts, Andersen earned Jim Thorpe National Player of the Week, Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week, Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and College Sports Madness National Defensive Player of the Week honors. Additionally, he was featured on the NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt during the show's Inspiring America Series on Oct. 27 following the Deacs' game against Virginia Tech.

Heading into the 2021 campaign, Andersen has earned preseason second team All-ACC status from Athlon Sports and Lindy's Sports.

The winner of the 2021 Lott Trophy, which will be announced in December, will receive $25,000 for his university's general scholarship fund.