BYU safety Tanner Wall earns First Team Academic All-American honors
For the first time since 2010, BYU football boasts a First Team Academic All-American.
Cougars safety Tanner Wall has been named to the Academic All-America First Team by College Sports Communicators, the program announced Tuesday morning.
ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM@YsTanman11 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/JUkw2JO3ej
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) January 28, 2025
Wall, a finance major, currently holds a GPA of 3.89, according to a BYU press release.
The Arlington, Virginia, native was one of five All-American selections from the Big 12, joining Colorado superstar and Heisman winner Travis Hunter, as well as Texas Tech standout running back Tahj Brooks.
Wall has appeared in 34 games for the Cougars since 2021, including starting all 13 contests at free safety in 2024.
A key contributor to Jay Hill's much-improved BYU defense, Wall tied for the team lead with three interceptions, finished fourth in total tackles with 53 and allowed a minuscule 55.2 opposing passer rating in coverage.
PRESSURE ➡️ PICK@BYUfootball brings the heat and leads to a beautiful INT by Tanner Wall 🤌#Big12FB | 📺 @CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/xEeqvjNj68
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 12, 2024
Wall — a walk-on who served as a co-captain in 2024 — will return to the Cougars in 2025 for his redshirt senior campaign as one of the team's most experienced defenders and leaders.
BYU now has 16 First Team Academic All-American selections in its history, with Wall becoming the first since running back Bryan Kariya in 2010 and joining other past honorees such as Steve Young, Virgil Carter, Eric Drage and Ryan Denney.
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