FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas — Recognition and honors keep rolling in for BYU safety Tanner Wall, who has been named an official nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy. Now in its 16th year, the Burlsworth Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding football player in American who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field.
Wall, a 6-1, 205-pound senior from Arlington, Virginia, was previously named to the prestigious 11-member 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team in September. He is currently a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy and a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award. Wall was also a semifinalist for the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy.
The Cougar defensive captain is currently second on the team in tackles (38) and interceptions (2). 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. He had a season-high 10 tackles, including a career-best seven solo takedowns. Wall intercepted Ute quarterback Devin Dampier at the BYU 36-yard line to end a Utah scoring threat with 9:24 remaining in the game and preserve a 17-14 Cougar lead. BYU then marched 64 yards for what would be the game-winning touchdown.
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 had four pass defections and 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 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 both the Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team and Commissioner's Honor Roll in both 2023 and 2024. Wall graduated from BYU with a 3.89 GPA in finance and is currently enrolled in the BYU Marriott School MBA program.
Wall has also been very involved in a variety of community service endeavors during his time at BYU. He currently coordinates the BYU football efforts with the BYU-Pathway Worldwide program to help connect with and mentor hundreds of students from across Africa and the South Pacific.
He also served as the co-chair of the BYU Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Service Committee for three years, which provides service opportunities for student-athletes in the local community.
Wall also speaks regularly at local school events and church devotionals for youth to inspire them to pursue education and value learning and discipline. Along with other members of the BYU football team, he makes regular visits to patients at Utah Valley Hospital who are struggling with illness.
ESPN College GameDay is headed to Lubbock, Texas, this week to highlight the Big 12 top-10 matchup between No. 7 BYU and No. 8 Texas Tech on Saturday. The Cougars will play their fifth away game of the season when they take on the Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium in an 11 a.m. CT kick nationally televised on ABC.