Photo by: Bryce Mitchell / Wake Forest Athletics
Andersen Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
9/24/2025 11:01:00 AM | Football
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest football redshirt senior defensive back Nick Andersen was named as a semifinalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, as announced by the National Football Foundation on Wednesday.
Since 2016, the Demon Deacons have had eight semifinalists for the award, including Ryan Javion who was a finalist for the Campbell Trophy in 2016.
Entering his second year as a team captain, Andersen has been a cornerstone of the defense during his entire career. After a breakout three-interception performance against nationally-ranked Virginia Tech in 2020, he was honored on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt in their "inspirational" stories piece following the aforementioned performance.
Since then, Andersen has become a fan favorite and one of the best football players in the ACC, leading the conference and ranking in the top 10 nationally with 122 tackles last season.
Academically, he has excelled with remarkable distinction. Andersen graduated with a BA. in Communications and a minor in Entrepreneurship, and he is currently pursuing his graduate degree at Wake Forest in project management. He has earned recognition as a four-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree, a testament to his consistent academic excellence.
Nick's performance extends beyond the field and classroom. His involvement in community service is commendable, with participation in 13 different initiatives, including Santa's Helper, the Juneteenth Annual Kickball Tournament and Wake Forest Victory Day. His dedication to service reflects his commitment to making a positive impact on those around him. Andersen exemplifies the spirit of teamwork, dedication, and excellence that the William V. Campbell Trophy honors.
About the Campbell Trophy
Selected by the NFF Awards Committee in October, the finalists and the winner are all honored at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas in December. Each finalist receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. During the event, one member of the class is selected as the recipient of the Campbell Trophy® as the best football scholar-athlete in the nation and has his postgraduate scholarship increased to a total of $25,000.
Each recipient also receives a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy that was designed based on the vintage NFF logo, which was the organization's primary mark from 1959 to 2010.
Following the NFF Annual Awards Dinner, the recipient of the Campbell Trophy® is honored at several prestigious events. He will take part in ESPN's virtual "The Home Depot College Football Awards" on Thursday, where he will be interviewed live during the show. Finally, he is honored on the field during the College Football Playoff National Championship in January.
More on Andersen on the Field
Through three games, Andersen leads the team in tackles, totaling 23, including a team-high 11 against NC State.
In 12 games last season, Andersen was one of the best tacklers in the country and led the Demon Deacons with 122 total tackles (10.2), which is 28 more than the next closest player on the team. Andersen was one of just 17 players nationally with 120 or more tackles last season.
In addition to leading the team in this category, Andersen was also the ACC leader with the next closest player totaling 117 tackles last season. Andersen's 10.2 tackles per game also ranked seventh nationally:
Rank School Tackles/Game
1. Shaun Dolac Buffalo 12.9
2. Red Murdock Buffalo 12.0
3. Travion Barnes FIU 11.7
4. Isaac Smith Miss. State 11.5
5. Carson Schwesinger UCLA 11.3
6. Stone Blanton Miss. State 10.4
7. Nick Andersen Wake Forest 10.2
8. Marques W-Trent Ga. Southern 10.0
8. Bryan McCoy Akron 10.0
10. Colin Ramos Navy 9.9
His 122 tackles are the most by a Demon Deacon in the College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.):
1. Nick Andersen (2024) - 122
2. Ryan Smenda Jr. (2022) - 117
3. Ryan Janvion (2014) - 115
Andersen has recorded eight interceptions during his career, including a pair during the 2024 season. He sits just outside the top 10 in program history and in the College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.):
Career Interceptions in CFB Era (2014-Pres.)
Rank Name Career INTs
1. Nick Andersen (2020-Pres.) 8
T2. Amari Henderson (2016-19) 7
T2. Jessie Bates III (2015-17) 6
T2. Ja'Sir Taylor (2017-21) 6
5. Essang Bassey (2016-19) 5
Since 2016, the Demon Deacons have had eight semifinalists for the award, including Ryan Javion who was a finalist for the Campbell Trophy in 2016.
Entering his second year as a team captain, Andersen has been a cornerstone of the defense during his entire career. After a breakout three-interception performance against nationally-ranked Virginia Tech in 2020, he was honored on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt in their "inspirational" stories piece following the aforementioned performance.
Since then, Andersen has become a fan favorite and one of the best football players in the ACC, leading the conference and ranking in the top 10 nationally with 122 tackles last season.
Academically, he has excelled with remarkable distinction. Andersen graduated with a BA. in Communications and a minor in Entrepreneurship, and he is currently pursuing his graduate degree at Wake Forest in project management. He has earned recognition as a four-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree, a testament to his consistent academic excellence.
Nick's performance extends beyond the field and classroom. His involvement in community service is commendable, with participation in 13 different initiatives, including Santa's Helper, the Juneteenth Annual Kickball Tournament and Wake Forest Victory Day. His dedication to service reflects his commitment to making a positive impact on those around him. Andersen exemplifies the spirit of teamwork, dedication, and excellence that the William V. Campbell Trophy honors.
About the Campbell Trophy
Selected by the NFF Awards Committee in October, the finalists and the winner are all honored at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas in December. Each finalist receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. During the event, one member of the class is selected as the recipient of the Campbell Trophy® as the best football scholar-athlete in the nation and has his postgraduate scholarship increased to a total of $25,000.
Each recipient also receives a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy that was designed based on the vintage NFF logo, which was the organization's primary mark from 1959 to 2010.
Following the NFF Annual Awards Dinner, the recipient of the Campbell Trophy® is honored at several prestigious events. He will take part in ESPN's virtual "The Home Depot College Football Awards" on Thursday, where he will be interviewed live during the show. Finally, he is honored on the field during the College Football Playoff National Championship in January.
More on Andersen on the Field
Through three games, Andersen leads the team in tackles, totaling 23, including a team-high 11 against NC State.
In 12 games last season, Andersen was one of the best tacklers in the country and led the Demon Deacons with 122 total tackles (10.2), which is 28 more than the next closest player on the team. Andersen was one of just 17 players nationally with 120 or more tackles last season.
In addition to leading the team in this category, Andersen was also the ACC leader with the next closest player totaling 117 tackles last season. Andersen's 10.2 tackles per game also ranked seventh nationally:
Rank School Tackles/Game
1. Shaun Dolac Buffalo 12.9
2. Red Murdock Buffalo 12.0
3. Travion Barnes FIU 11.7
4. Isaac Smith Miss. State 11.5
5. Carson Schwesinger UCLA 11.3
6. Stone Blanton Miss. State 10.4
7. Nick Andersen Wake Forest 10.2
8. Marques W-Trent Ga. Southern 10.0
8. Bryan McCoy Akron 10.0
10. Colin Ramos Navy 9.9
His 122 tackles are the most by a Demon Deacon in the College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.):
1. Nick Andersen (2024) - 122
2. Ryan Smenda Jr. (2022) - 117
3. Ryan Janvion (2014) - 115
Andersen has recorded eight interceptions during his career, including a pair during the 2024 season. He sits just outside the top 10 in program history and in the College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.):
Career Interceptions in CFB Era (2014-Pres.)
Rank Name Career INTs
1. Nick Andersen (2020-Pres.) 8
T2. Amari Henderson (2016-19) 7
T2. Jessie Bates III (2015-17) 6
T2. Ja'Sir Taylor (2017-21) 6
5. Essang Bassey (2016-19) 5
Players Mentioned
DB
/ FootballFootball Media Availability (9/24/25)
Wednesday, September 24
Football Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23
Wake Forest Football Head Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (Week 5)
Tuesday, September 23
Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (Sept. 22, 2025)
Monday, September 22