For as good as Tanner Wall was on the field this year, he was even better in the classroom.
BYU’s First Team All-Big 12 safety was named a First Team Academic All-American by College Sports Communicators, the program announced Tuesday morning, marking Wall’s second consecutive such honor.
“To quote President Russell M. Nelson, ‘Education is the difference between wishing you could help other people and being able to help them,’” Wall told the Deseret News.
Wall is just the second BYU player ever to earn First Team Academic All-American status in multiple seasons and the first since Chuck Cutler in 1987-88.
He graduated from BYU’s finance program with a 3.86 GPA in April of 2024 and is currently working on his MBA at the Marriott School of Business.
As a senior in 2025, Wall recorded 66 total tackles with four interceptions, including a critical pick against rival Utah and another interception returned for a touchdown against TCU.
The Arlington, Virginia, native and former walk-on receiver turned team captain made 30 total starts at safety for the Cougars since switching to the position in 2023, with BYU going 25-5 in his starts.
In addition to his All-Big 12 and Academic All-American honors, Wall was named to the Phil Steele All-America Honorable Mention team for 2025. He was also a finalist for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, which honors exemplary community service, for his work mentoring international students in the BYU Pathway program.
With Wall’s latest honor, BYU now boasts 17 total First Team Academic All-American selections, including program greats such as Steve Young, Virgil Carter and Ryan Denney.
Wall, whose wife, Corinne, is expecting the couple’s first child this summer, is currently training in Florida for April’s NFL draft.