174. Tanner Wall, BYU Safety and Las Vegas Raider

Former BYU safety and current Las Vegas Raiders defensive back Tanner Wall joins the Especially for Athletes Podcast to discuss resilience, leadership, mental preparation, and why pursuing excellence in every area of life makes you a better athlete. Tanner shares his remarkable journey from preferred walk-on to All-Big 12 safety, the lessons he learned from Kalani Sitake and Jay Hill, and why competing with respect—not hatred—helps athletes perform at their highest level. In this episode you'll learn: * Why great competitors don't need contempt to compete * How to gain an edge through intentional preparation * Why "how you do one thing is how you do everything" * The difference between watching film and studying film * How relationships shape your future * Why excellence off the field leads to excellence on it Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or fan, this episode is filled with practical principles to help you become your best both on and off the field. 00:32:17 - Welcome & Introducing Tanner Wall 00:33:07 - Choosing BYU Over Scholarship Offers 00:36:19 - Betting on Yourself as a Preferred Walk-On 00:41:13 - Why He Never Considered Transferring 00:43:00 - Resilience, Patience & Finding an Edge 00:47:28 - Mentors Who Changed His Career 00:51:00 - Compete Without Contempt 00:55:05 - Controlling the Controllables in the NFL 00:58:32 - Watching Film vs. Studying Film 01:03:04 - Winning the Hour Through Intentional Living 01:05:35 - How You Do One Thing Is How You Do Everything 01:08:19 - Social Media, Priorities & Time Management 01:12:32 - Competing Fiercely Without Losing Character 01:16:08 - Using Your Spotlight to Bless Others 01:20:11 - Eyes Up. Do the Work. ⸻ Especially for Athletes: * Website: https://e4a.org * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspeciallyForAthletes/ * X: https://x.com/E4Afamily * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/especiallyforathletes/ * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbWc7diAvstLMfjBL-bMMQ Join the conversation using #E4APodcast ⸻ Credits: Hosted by Dustin Smith Produced by E4A and IMAGINATE STUDIO