BYU Safety Tanner Wall, Once a Blocked Receiver, Prepares for texas Tech’s ‘Air Raid’ offense
LUBBOCK, Texas – BYU safety and team captain Tanner Wall faces a significant challenge Saturday at 10 a.m. MST on ABC as the Cougars (6-4) confront the high-powered ‘Air Raid’ offense of Texas Tech (6-4) at Jones AT&T Stadium.The matchup carries added weight for Wall, a walk-on receiver from Arlington, Virginia, who remarkably transitioned to a full-scholarship defensive leader after a near-miss prospect as a freshman.
Wall arrived at BYU in 2021 following a church mission to Maceio, Brazil, eager to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing receiver. That opportunity appeared imminent late in his freshman season against Idaho State, but was thwarted when teammate Keanu Hill blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown, giving BYU a 59-14 lead.
“I was set to go in on the next possession,” Wall recalled. He never entered the game as a receiver and never caught a pass at the position.
Though, Wall’s BYU career took an unexpected turn when he switched to safety after the arrival of defensive coordinator Hill in 2023. Since then, he has recorded five interceptions – all as a safety – and earned a full scholarship. Now a senior captain, Wall describes his role as a “quarterback-of-the-defense,” focusing on reading the offense and anticipating plays.
“It’s kind of the quarterback-of-the-defense mentality, like just being back there, seeing the whole picture, seeing everything, helping to get guys lined up, helping to see what the quarterback sees and try to manipulate what he’s thinking before… the snap,” Wall explained. “It’s also fun being the guy back there (where) you don’t get accounted for in the blocking scheme. So, when I’m coming up to make a play, I’m kind of a free hitter.”
Saturday’s game will be played in the same stadium where Keanu Hill’s father, Lloyd Hill, achieved All-America and Hall of Fame status as a receiver for Texas Tech.Fortunately for both Hills, Tanner won’t be defending against the elder Hill in his prime, and at age 53, Lloyd Hill won’t be facing a hit from Wall.
