LANGHORNE, Pennsylvania — Pop Warner Little Scholars, the nation’s preeminent youth football organization, today announced that BYU safety Tanner Wall has been named one of five finalists for the 16th Annual Pop Warner College Football Award.
Established in 2010, the award honors a player who has made a positive impact on the field, in the classroom and in the community, and who serves as a role model to Pop Warner’s young student-athletes.
Wall, a 6-1, 205-pound senior from Arlington, Virginia, who has started all 11 games in 2025, currently leads the team in interceptions with four, which also ties him for the Big 12 Conference lead. He also has 53 tackles, good for third best on the team. On Oct. 20, Wall was named Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in BYU’s 24-21 win over rival Utah, which included a season-high 10 tackles and an interception that led to BYU’s game-winning touchdown.
In addition to his successes on the field, Wall has also been honored for his academic achievement in the classroom and his many acts of service off the field. In September, Wall was named to the 11-member 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. He is also currently a semifinalist Wuerffel Trophy and the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award. Wall was a candidate for two other national awards in 2025 — National Football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy and the Burlsworth Trophy.
As a junior in 2024, Wall started all 13 games, was the team co-leader in interceptions with three, ranked fourth in total tackles with 53 and added a pass breakup to help BYU go 11-2 and earn a No. 13 final ranking.
At the conclusion of the 2024 season, Wall was named to the CSC Academic All-America First Team for his excellence in the classroom and received All-Big 12 Third Team recognition by College Football Network for his play on the field. In addition, he earned recognition on the Academic All-Big 12 Team and Commissioner's Honor Roll. Wall graduated from BYU with a 3.89 GPA in business finance and is currently enrolled in the BYU Marriott School MBA program.
Wall has been very involved in a wide variety of community service endeavors during his time at BYU. He currently coordinates the BYU football team efforts with the BYU-Pathway Worldwide program, helping to connect with and mentor hundreds of students from across Africa and the South Pacific.
Along with other members of the BYU football team, Wall makes weekly visits to patients at Utah Valley Hospital who are struggling with illness. He also speaks regularly at local school events and church devotionals for youth to inspire them to pursue education and value learning and discipline.
Wall also served for three years as the co-chair of the BYU Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Service Committee, which provides service opportunities for student-athletes in the local community.
Joining Wall as a finalist for the 2025 Pop Warner College Football Award are Jalon Daniels (Kansas), Josh Kattus (Kentucky), Aaron Graves (Iowa) and Adam Randall (Clemson). The award winner will be announced Dec. 10 during the 68th Pop Warner Super Bowl in Charlotte, NC.
Wall is the second BYU football player to be named a finalist for the Pop Warner College Football Award, joining his former teammate Connor Pay who was honored as a finalist for the award during the 2024 season.
Founded in 1929 and headquartered in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, Pop Warner Little Scholars is the nation’s oldest youth football, cheerleading and dance organization and the only youth sports organization that emphasizes academics as a prerequisite for participation. Pop Warner participants enjoy the opportunity to learn and compete in an atmosphere that emphasizes fun, safety, academics and character. For more information on Pop Warner and its programs, visit popwarner.com.