A week before Saturday’s Blue-White game, Anthony Zettel laid out a lofty goal for this season: An All-American selection.

There’s a lot of football to be played before that’s decided, but the senior defensive tackle was named to the preseason watch list for the 12th annual Lott IMPACT Trophy. The trophy is a big honor, awarded to the top defensive player in college football who has the greatest impact on his team, both on and off the field.

Zettel is coming off of a stellar season where he snatched three interceptions (tied for the team high), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and eight pass deflections. He is a disruptive force on defense, continually wreaking havoc in opposing backfields. Zettel will look to bring the momentum from that great year into his senior campaign.

However, the Lott IMPACT Trophy goes far beyond the field. IMPACT stands for integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community, and tenacity. The honor is intended to be bestowed upon not just a football leader, but a community leader as well. Zettel fits that bill nicely, as he found himself among a group of players who led Penn State football to compile over 1,900 hours of community service during the summer and fall of 2014. He’s also one of 13 seniors on the Penn State football Leadership Council.

The trophy will be awarded at a banquet held on Dec. 13 in Newport Beach, Cal. If Zettel continues to lead the Lions both on and off the field, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to find himself coming home that night with the trophy.