PROVO, Utah — Eight student-athletes from the 2024 BYU football team have been named 2024 Academic All-District by College Sports Communicators, including center Connor Pay, safeties Talan Alfrey, Raider Damuni and Tanner Wall, defensive lineman Blake Mangelson, kicker Will Ferrin, punter Sam Vander Haar, and deep snapper Dalton Riggs.The CSC Academic All-District award recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. To be eligible for nomination, the student-athlete must be a starter or significant contributor and maintain a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA. Pay is a three-time CSC Academic All-District honoree, having previously been recognized in 2022 and 2023, while Ferrin and Mangelson are both repeat selections from the 2023 season. Based on their high academic and athletic achievements, Pay, Ferrin and Wall have advanced to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. Academic All-Americans will be announced for the 2024 season in late January. A 6-5, 315-pound senior from Alpine, Utah, Pay was one of four national finalists for the Pop Warner College Football Award and was a semifinalist for the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy. He was also on the watchlists for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy as well as the Rimington Trophy for a third-consecutive season. Pay excels in the classroom as well with a 3.70 GPA in entrepreneurial management and was previously selected to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team following the 2023 season. A Lou Groza Award Semifinalist, Ferrin set a new BYU record for field goals in a season with 24 and tied the school record for consecutive field goals made with 16. In addition, the 6-3, 175-pound junior from Kaysville, Utah, was a perfect 41 of 41 in extra points and led all Big 12 kickers in scoring with 113 points (8.7 per game). Ferrin was named the 2024 Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year and was also the College Football Network Big 12 Kicker of the Year. In addition, he was named first-team All-Big 12 by the Coaches, AP, College Football Network and Phil Steele. Ferrin also excels in the classroom with a 3.52 GPA in business management and was selected Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2023. Wall from Arlington, Virginia, has a 3.89 GPA in the finance program at the Marriott Business School. The 6-1, 200-pound junior safety has played in 31 games for the Cougars since 2021, including 13 starts in 2024. Wall, who was named CFN All-Big 12 Third Team, finished the 2024 season as BYU’s co-leader in interceptions with 3 and was fourth in tackles with 53. Previously he was named Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2023. A 6-2, 205-pound junior from Auburn, Washington, Alfrey played in 12 games for BYU in 2024 where he collected nine tackles. The Cougar co-captain is majoring in exercise science and has a 3.74 cumulative GPA. Alfrey, who returned an onside kick 58 yards for a touchdown in BYU's 30-18 win over Houston on Nov. 30, has played in 29 games over his BYU career and was named Academic All-Big 12 First Team following the 2023 season. Damuni, from Provo, Utah, has a 3.73 GPA in business management and was on the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Preseason Watch List. The 6-1, 200-pound sophomore safety played in 21 games for the Cougars over the past two seasons. Damuni finished the 2024 season with 26 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss. He also recorded his first career sack in a 36-14 win over No. 23 Colorado in Valero Alamo Bowl. Vander Haar, from Melbourne Australia, transferred to BYU for the 2024 season after playing in 12 games for Pitt as a freshman. The 6-0, 219-pound redshirt-sophomore punted in all 13 games for BYU in 2024. He averaged 42.8 yards per kick while downing 14 of his 33 punts inside the opponent 20-yard line. Vander Haar is majoring in communications with a 3.72 communicative GPA. Previously he was named to the All-ACC Academic Football Team in 2022. A 6-5, 275-pound senior from Nephi, Utah, Mangelson finished the season ranked in the top four at BYU in several defensive categories, including 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. He was named 2024 CFN All-Big 12 Third Team, Phil Steele Big 12 All-Conference Fourth Team and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention by the Coaches. Mangelson has a 3.56 cumulative GPA in family studies and was named Academic All-Big 12 First Team and CSC Academic All-District in 2023. Riggs from Eagle, Idaho, maintained a 3.73 cumulative GPA as a business management major. The 6-3, 230-pound sophomore deep snapper played in all 12 regular-season games for BYU. Riggs, Ferrin and Vander Harr were honored with the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Play of the Week for their double snap fake field goal in BYU’s 37-24 win over UCF on October 26. For more information about CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.

A 6-5, 275-pound senior from Nephi, Utah, Mangelson finished the season ranked in the top four at BYU in several defensive categories, including 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. He was named 2024 CFN All-Big 12 Third Team, Phil Steele Big 12 All-Conference Fourth Team and All-Big 12 […]

A 6-5, 275-pound senior from Nephi, Utah, Mangelson finished the season ranked in the top four at BYU in several defensive categories, including 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. He was named 2024 CFN All-Big 12 Third Team, Phil Steele Big 12 All-Conference Fourth Team and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention by the Coaches. Mangelson has a 3.56 cumulative GPA in family studies and was named Academic All-Big 12 First Team and CSC Academic All-District in 2023.PROVO, Utah — Eight student-athletes from the 2024 BYU football team have been named 2024 Academic All-District by College Sports Communicators, including center Connor Pay, safeties Talan Alfrey, Raider Damuni and Tanner Wall, defensive lineman Blake Mangelson, kicker Will Ferrin, punter Sam Vander Haar, and deep snapper Dalton Riggs.
Pay excels in the classroom as well with a 3.70 GPA in entrepreneurial management and was previously selected to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team following the 2023 season.
Wall from Arlington, Virginia, has a 3.89 GPA in the finance program at the Marriott Business School. The 6-1, 200-pound junior safety has played in 31 games for the Cougars since 2021, including 13 starts in 2024. Wall, who was named CFN All-Big 12 Third Team, finished the 2024 season as BYU’s co-leader in interceptions with 3 and was fourth in tackles with 53. Previously he was named Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2023.
Vander Haar, from Melbourne Australia, transferred to BYU for the 2024 season after playing in 12 games for Pitt as a freshman. The 6-0, 219-pound redshirt-sophomore punted in all 13 games for BYU in 2024. He averaged 42.8 yards per kick while downing 14 of his 33 punts inside the opponent 20-yard line. Vander Haar is majoring in communications with a 3.72 communicative GPA. Previously he was named to the All-ACC Academic Football Team in 2022.
For more information about CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
Based on their high academic and athletic achievements, Pay, Ferrin and Wall have advanced to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. Academic All-Americans will be announced for the 2024 season in late January.
A Lou Groza Award Semifinalist, Ferrin set a new BYU record for field goals in a season with 24 and tied the school record for consecutive field goals made with 16. In addition, the 6-3, 175-pound junior from Kaysville, Utah, was a perfect 41 of 41 in extra points and led all Big 12 kickers in scoring with 113 points (8.7 per game).
The CSC Academic All-District award recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. To be eligible for nomination, the student-athlete must be a starter or significant contributor and maintain a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA.
Riggs from Eagle, Idaho, maintained a 3.73 cumulative GPA as a business management major. The 6-3, 230-pound sophomore deep snapper played in all 12 regular-season games for BYU. Riggs, Ferrin and Vander Harr were honored with the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Play of the Week for their double snap fake field goal in BYU’s 37-24 win over UCF on October 26.
Pay is a three-time CSC Academic All-District honoree, having previously been recognized in 2022 and 2023, while Ferrin and Mangelson are both repeat selections from the 2023 season.
Damuni, from Provo, Utah, has a 3.73 GPA in business management and was on the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Preseason Watch List. The 6-1, 200-pound sophomore safety played in 21 games for the Cougars over the past two seasons. Damuni finished the 2024 season with 26 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss. He also recorded his first career sack in a 36-14 win over No. 23 Colorado in Valero Alamo Bowl.
Ferrin was named the 2024 Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year and was also the College Football Network Big 12 Kicker of the Year. In addition, he was named first-team All-Big 12 by the Coaches, AP, College Football Network and Phil Steele. Ferrin also excels in the classroom with a 3.52 GPA in business management and was selected Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2023.
A 6-5, 315-pound senior from Alpine, Utah, Pay was one of four national finalists for the Pop Warner College Football Award and was a semifinalist for the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy. He was also on the watchlists for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy as well as the Rimington Trophy for a third-consecutive season.
A 6-2, 205-pound junior from Auburn, Washington, Alfrey played in 12 games for BYU in 2024 where he collected nine tackles. The Cougar co-captain is majoring in exercise science and has a 3.74 cumulative GPA. Alfrey, who returned an onside kick 58 yards for a touchdown in BYU’s 30-18 win over Houston on Nov. 30, has played in 29 games over his BYU career and was named Academic All-Big 12 First Team following the 2023 season.