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.

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Credits: Hosted by Dustin Smith

Produced by E4A and IMAGINATE STUDIO