PROVO, Utah — BYU safety Tanner Wall was today named to the 2024 Academic All-America® First Team by College Sports Communicators.
The CSC Academic All-America award recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. To be eligible for nomination, the student-athlete must be a starter or significant contributor in addition to their academic achievements.
A redshirt junior from Arlington, Virginia, Wall is majoring in finance and currently has a cumulative GPA of 3.89. One of eight Cougars to receive recognition on the 2024 CSC Academic All-District teams earlier this month, Wall earned a place on the Academic All-America ballot before being selected as one of 25 first-team FBS honorees, who collectively boast an average GPA of 3.82.
A 2024 Co-Captain, Wall started all 13 games at free safety and finished the year as BYU’s co-leader in interceptions with three and was fourth in total tackles with 53, including 31 unassisted. For his on-field efforts, he was named All-Big 12 Third Team by College Football Network. Wall has achieved recognition on both the Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team and Commissioner's Honor Role in each of BYU's two seasons in the Big 12. He was also named to the Academic All-Big 12 Football First Team in 2023 with the 2024 team yet to be announced.
Wall was one of five BIg 12 athletes to earn first-team Academic All-America recogntion this season, including defensive back/wide receiver Travis Hunter from the University of Colorado, who was named the Academic All-America Team Member of the Year. Joining Wall and Hunter on the first team representing the Big 12 were defensive back Beau Freyler from Iowa State, running back Tahj Brooks from Texas Tech and offensive lineman Easton Kilty from Kansas State. In addition, K-State defensive lineman Brendan Mott, Cincinnati offensive lineman Luke Kandra and Kansas tight end Jared Casey earned second-team honors.
Established in 1952, the distinguished Academic All-America® program is the longest running and premier award for athletic and academic success across championship college sports at all NCAA levels, the NAIA, two-year colleges and Canadian institutions.
Wall becomes the 28th BYU football player to earn CSC Academic All-America® status and the 16th to earn first-team honors. Overall, BYU players have combined to earn 33 different Academic All-America awards, including 17 first-team citations, since Virgil Carter became the program's first Academic All-American in 1965.
BYU Academic All-Americans
| Year | Athlete | Team | Position |
| 1965 | Virgil Carter | 1st | QB |
| 1972 | Dan Taylor | 2nd | RB |
| 1973 | Dan Taylor | 2nd | RB |
| 1973 | Steve Stratton | 1st | RB |
| 1976 | Steve Miller | 2nd | OG |
| 1980 | Scott Phillips | 1st | RB |
| 1981 | Dan Plater | 1st | WR |
| 1983 | Steve Young* | 2nd | QB |
| 1984 | Marv Allen | 2nd | LB |
| 1986 | Ty Mattingly | 2nd | DL |
| 1987 | Chuck Cutler | 1st | WR |
| 1988 | Chuck Cutler | 1st | WR |
| 1988 | Tim Clark | 1st | DL |
| 1989 | Fred Whittingham | 1st | RB |
| 1990 | Andy Boyce | 1st | WR |
| 1992 | Brad Clark | 2nd | DB |
| 1992 | Bruce Jenne | 2nd | OL |
| 1992 | Eric Drage | 2nd | WR |
| 1993 | Eric Drage | 1st | WR |
| 1994 | Alan Boardman | 2nd | P |
| 1994 | Cory Cook | 2nd | DB |
| 1996 | Alan Boardman | 2nd | P |
| 1997 | Ben Cahoon | 2nd | WR |
| 2000 | Jared Lee | 1st | DB |
| 2001 | Ryan Denney | 1st | DL |
| 2005 | Nathan Meikle | 2nd | WR |
| 2008 | David Oswald | 1st | OL |
| 2008 | Kellen Fowler | 1st | DB |
| 2008 | Matthew Bauman | 1st | LB |
| 2009 | Matthew Bauman | 2nd | LB |
| 2009 | Scott Johnson | 1st | DB |
| 2010 | Bryan Kariya | 2nd | RB |
| 2024 | Tanner Wall | 1st | S |