The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football program in various categories,[1][2] including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Hilltoppers represent Western Kentucky University (WKU) in the NCAA's Conference USA (C-USA).
Although Western Kentucky began competing in intercollegiate football in 1908,[1] the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun the 1950s. Records from before this decade are often incomplete and inconsistent, and they are generally not included in these lists.
These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
- Since 1951, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length.
- C-USA has held a championship game since 2005. Since joining the league in 2014, WKU has appeared in three title games, winning in 2015 and 2016 and losing in 2021.
- The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers.
- Postseason games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.[3] Since then, the Hilltoppers have appeared the FCS Playoffs three times and in eight bowl games.
- Due to COVID-19, the NCAA declared that the 2020 season would not count against any player's athletic eligibility, thus giving anyone who appeared in a game during that season five years of eligibility instead of the standard four.
These lists are updated through the 2021 season.
Passing
Passing yards
Career
Rank
|
Player
|
Yards
|
Years
|
1 |
Brandon Doughty |
12,855 |
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
|
2 |
Jeff Cesarone |
8,566 |
1984 1985 1986 1987
|
3 |
Mike White |
8,540 |
2016 2017
|
4 |
Austin Reed |
8,084[4] |
2022 2023
|
5 |
Justin Haddix |
7,929 |
2003 2004 2005 2006
|
6 |
Kawaun Jakes |
7,538 |
2009 2010 2011 2012
|
7 |
Bailey Zappe |
5,967[5][a] |
2021
|
8 |
Johnny Vance |
4,046 |
1966 1967 1968 1969
|
9 |
John Hall |
3,876 |
1977 1978 1979 1980
|
10 |
Jimmy Feix |
3,780 |
1949 1950 1951 1952
|
|
Single season
Rank
|
Player
|
Yards
|
Year
|
1 |
Bailey Zappe |
5,967[5] |
2021
|
2 |
Brandon Doughty |
5,055 |
2015
|
3 |
Brandon Doughty |
4,830 |
2014
|
4 |
Austin Reed |
4,744[4] |
2022
|
5 |
Mike White |
4,363 |
2016
|
6 |
Mike White |
4,177 |
2017
|
7 |
Austin Reed |
3,340[4] |
2023
|
8 |
Caden Veltkamp |
3,108[6] |
2024
|
9 |
Brandon Doughty |
2,857 |
2013
|
10 |
Jeff Cesarone |
2,737 |
1985
|
|
|
Passing touchdowns
Rushing
Rushing yards
Career
Rank
|
Player
|
Yards
|
Years
|
1 |
Bobby Rainey |
4,542 |
2008 2009 2010 2011
|
2 |
Lerron Moore |
4,396 |
2003 2004 2005 2006
|
3 |
Willie Taggart |
3,997 |
1995 1996 1997 1998
|
4 |
Antwan Floyd |
3,775 |
1993 1994 1995 1996
|
5 |
Antonio Andrews |
3,674 |
2010 2011 2012 2013
|
6 |
Joe Arnold |
3,570 |
1985 1986 1987 1988
|
7 |
Dickie Moore |
3,560 |
1965 1966 1967 1968
|
8 |
Anthony Wales |
3,342 |
2013 2014 2015 2016
|
9 |
Clarence Jackson |
2,584 |
1970 1971 1972 1973
|
10 |
Jimmy Woods |
2,479 |
1975 1976 1977 1978
|
|
Single season
Rank
|
Player
|
Yards
|
Year
|
1 |
Antonio Andrews |
1,730 |
2013
|
2 |
Antonio Andrews |
1,728 |
2012
|
3 |
Bobby Rainey |
1,695 |
2011
|
4 |
Joe Arnold |
1,668 |
1988
|
5 |
Bobby Rainey |
1,649 |
2010
|
6 |
Anthony Wales |
1,621 |
2016
|
7 |
Leon Allen |
1,542 |
2014
|
8 |
Jon Frazier |
1,537 |
2002
|
9 |
Lerron Moore |
1,490 |
2003
|
10 |
Dickie Moore |
1,444 |
1967
|
|
Single game
Rank
|
Player
|
Yards
|
Year
|
Opponent
|
1 |
Leon Allen |
345 |
2014 |
Army
|
2 |
Eddie Thompson |
309 |
1992 |
Southern Illinois
|
3 |
Clarence Jackson |
297 |
1971 |
Butler
|
4 |
Willie Taggart |
289 |
1997 |
Southern Illinois
|
5 |
Joe Arnold |
260 |
1987 |
North Carolina A&T
|
6 |
Rod Smart |
258 |
1999 |
Eastern Illinois
|
|
Rushing touchdowns
|
|
Single game
Rank
|
Player
|
TDs
|
Year
|
Opponent
|
1 |
Antonio Andrews |
5 |
2013 |
Morgan State
|
2 |
5 times |
4 |
Most recent: Anthony Wales, 2016 vs. Louisiana Tech
|
|
Receiving
Receptions
Receiving yards
Career
Rank
|
Player
|
Yards
|
Years
|
1 |
Taywan Taylor |
4,234 |
2013 2014 2015 2016
|
2 |
Nicholas Norris |
3,091 |
2013 2014 2015 2016
|
3 |
Malachi Corley |
3,033[16] |
2020 2021 2022 2023
|
4 |
Lucky Jackson |
2,691 |
2016 2017 2018 2019
|
5 |
Curtis Hamilton |
2,324 |
2004 2005 2006 2007
|
6 |
Jay Davis |
2,236 |
1968 1969 1970 1971
|
7 |
Willie McNeal |
2,181 |
2010 2012 2013 2014
|
8 |
Keith Paskett |
2,117 |
1983 1984 1985 1986
|
9 |
Eddie Preston |
2,083 |
1976 1977 1978 1979
|
10 |
Joey Stockton |
2,057 |
1995 1996 1997
|
|
|
|
Receiving touchdowns
Total offense
Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[27]
Total offense yards
Career
Rank
|
Player
|
Yards
|
Years
|
1 |
Brandon Doughty |
12,570 |
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
|
2 |
Justin Haddix |
8,890 |
2003 2004 2005 2006
|
3 |
Austin Reed |
8,408[4] |
2022 2023
|
4 |
Willie Taggart |
7,223 |
1995 1996 1997 1998
|
5 |
Jeff Cesarone |
7,852 |
1984 1985 1986 1987
|
6 |
Kawaun Jakes |
8,323 |
2009 2010 2011 2012
|
7 |
Bailey Zappe |
5,984[5][a] |
2021
|
8 |
Johnny Vance |
4,782 |
1966 1967 1968 1969
|
9 |
Bobby Rainey |
4,595 |
2008 2009 2010 2011
|
10 |
Lerron Moore |
4,334 |
2003 2004 2005 2006
|
|
Single season
Rank
|
Player
|
Yards
|
Year
|
1 |
Bailey Zappe |
5,984[5] |
2021
|
2 |
Austin Reed |
4,968[4] |
2022
|
3 |
Brandon Doughty |
4,933 |
2015
|
4 |
Brandon Doughty |
4,778 |
2014
|
5 |
Mike White |
4,289 |
2016
|
6 |
Austin Reed |
3,440[4] |
2023
|
7 |
Caden Veltkamp |
3,258[6] |
2024
|
8 |
Brandon Doughty |
2,478 |
2013
|
9 |
Kawaun Jakes |
2,546 |
2012
|
10 |
Jeff Cesarone |
2,542 |
1985
|
|
|
Touchdowns responsible for
"Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.[28] Note that Western's most recent (2021) football media guide does not list leaders in this statistic over any time frame, though past media guides have done so.
Defense
Interceptions
Tackles
|
Single season
Rank
|
Player
|
Tackles
|
Year
|
1 |
Rick Green |
213 |
1975
|
2 |
Paul Gray |
173 |
1981
|
3 |
Melvin Wishman |
171 |
2000
|
4 |
Erik Dandy |
165 |
2003
|
5 |
Charles Thompson |
159 |
2002
|
6 |
Richard Grice |
156 |
1992
|
7 |
Erik Dandy |
155 |
2001
|
8 |
Paul Grant |
149 |
1982
|
9 |
Biff Madon |
148 |
1976
|
10 |
Biff Madon |
143 |
1977
|
|
Sacks
Kicking
Field goals made
|
|
Single game
Rank
|
Player
|
FGs
|
Year
|
Opponent
|
1 |
Matt Lange |
5 |
2003 |
Eastern Kentucky
|
2 |
Steve Donisi |
4 |
1990 |
Eastern Kentucky
|
|
Chris Pino |
4 |
1993 |
Jacksonville State
|
|
Casey Tinius |
4 |
2009 |
Louisiana-Monroe
|
|
Garrett Schwettman |
4 |
2015 |
Louisiana Tech
|
|
Brayden Narveson |
4[35] |
2021 |
Marshall
|
|
Lucas Carneiro |
4[36] |
2024 |
Jacksonville State
|
|
Field goal percentage
Minimum of 20 career attempts and 10 single-season attempts.
- ^ a b c d Zappe began his college career at Houston Baptist in 2017, redshirting that season before playing three seasons. He transferred to Western after graduating from HBU in 2021.
- ^ a b c This was the regularly scheduled game between the two teams. They also played in the 2021 C-USA championship game.
- ^ Sterns began his college career at Houston Baptist in 2018, playing three seasons before transferring to Western.
- ^ a b Narveson began his college career at Iowa State in 2019, transferring to Western Kentucky after that season.
References
- ^ a b "2015 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Media Guide". WKUSports.com. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ "2021 WKU Football Media Guide" (PDF). Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. AP. August 28, 2002. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Austin Reed". ESPN.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Bailey Zappe". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Caden Veltkamp". ESPN.com.
- ^ a b "Box Score: Ryan Conference USA Championship". ESPN.com. December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "UTSA vs. Western Kentucky Box Score". ESPN.com. October 9, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ a b "Western Kentucky vs. South Alabama Box Score". ESPN.com. December 21, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ a b "Western Kentucky vs. Michigan State Box Score". ESPN.com. October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ a b "UT Martin vs. Western Kentucky Box Score". ESPN.com. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Box Score: Florida Atlantic vs. Western Kentucky". ESPN.com. November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Box Score: RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl". ESPN.com. November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ^ a b "Western Kentucky vs. Charlotte Box Score". ESPN.com. November 5, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ a b "Western Kentucky vs. Middle Tennessee Box Score". ESPN.com. September 14, 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Malachi Corley". ESPN.com.
- ^ a b c d "Jerreth Sterns". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Mitchell Tinsley". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
- ^ "Western Kentucky vs. Florida International Box Score". ESPN.com. October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ a b "Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion Box Score". ESPN.com. October 16, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ "Troy vs. Western Kentucky Box Score". ESPN.com. October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ a b "Western Kentucky vs. Louisiana Tech Box Score". ESPN.com. October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "Box Score: Western Kentucky vs. Rice". ESPN.com. November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ "Dalvin Smith". ESPN.com.
- ^ "Austin Peay vs. Western Kentucky Box Score". ESPN.com. August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ "Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion Box Score". ESPN.com. December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
- ^ "2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. p. 9. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. p. 12. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "DeAngelo Malone". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ "Juwuan Jones". ESPN.com.
- ^ "JaQues Evans". ESPN.com.
- ^ a b c d e f "Brayden Narveson". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Lucas Carneiro". ESPN.com.
- ^ a b c "Cory Munson". ESPN.com.
- ^ "Box Score: Western Kentucky vs. Marshall". ESPN.com. November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ "Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State Box Score". ESPN.com. November 30, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
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Culture & lore | |
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National championship seasons in bold |