Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football statistical leaders explained
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, 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| 1 | | 12,855 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 |
| 2 | Jeff Cesarone | 8,566 | 1984 1985 1986 1987 |
| 3 | | 8,540 | 2016 2017 |
| 4 | | 8,084 | 2022 2023 |
| 5 | Justin Haddix | 7,929 | 2003 2004 2005 2006 |
| 6 | Kawaun Jakes | 7,538 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 |
| 7 | | 5,967[4] | 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| 1 | | 5,967 | 2021 |
| 2 | | 5,055 | 2015 |
| 3 | | 4,830 | 2014 |
| 4 | | 4,744 | 2022 |
| 5 | Mike White | 4,363 | 2016 |
| 6 | Mike White | 4,177 | 2017 |
| 7 | | 3,340 | 2023 |
| 8 | | 2,857 | 2013 |
| 9 | Jeff Cesarone | 2,737 | 1985 |
| 10 | Ty Storey | 2,567 | 2019 | |
Passing touchdowns
Rushing
Rushing yards
Career| 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| 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| 1 | Leon Allen | 345 | | Army |
| 2 | Eddie Thompson | 309 | | Southern Illinois |
| 3 | Clarence Jackson | 297 | | Butler |
| 4 | Willie Taggart | 289 | | Southern Illinois |
| 5 | Joe Arnold | 260 | | North Carolina A&T |
| 6 | Rod Smart | 258 | | Eastern Illinois | |
Rushing touchdowns
Single game| 1 | | 5 | | Morgan State |
| 2 | 5 times | 4 | Most recent: Anthony Wales, 2016 vs. Louisiana Tech | |
Receiving
Receptions
Receiving yards
Career| 1 | Taywan Taylor | 4,234 | 2013 2014 2015 2016 |
| 2 | Nicholas Norris | 3,091 | 2013 2014 2015 2016 |
| 3 | Malachi Corley | 3,033 | 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.[23]
Total offense yards
Career| 1 | Brandon Doughty | 12,570 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 |
| 2 | Justin Haddix | 8,890 | 2003 2004 2005 2006 |
| 3 | | 8,408 | 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 | | 5,984 | 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| 1 | | 5,984 | 2021 |
| 2 | | 4,968[24] | 2022 |
| 3 | | 4,933 | 2015 |
| 4 | | 4,778 | 2014 |
| 5 | Mike White | 4,289 | 2016 |
| 6 | | 3,440 | 2023 |
| 7 | | 2,478 | 2013 |
| 8 | Kawaun Jakes | 2,546 | 2012 |
| 9 | Jeff Cesarone | 2,542 | 1985 |
| 10 | Willie Taggart | 2,403 | 1997 | |
Touchdowns responsible for
"Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.[26] 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
Single game| 1 | Jim Pickens | 4 | | Eastern Kentucky |
| 2 | Max Stevens | 3 | | Morehead State |
| Jon Leathers | 3 | | Dayton |
| Carl Brazley | 3 | | East Tennessee State |
| Jonathan Dowling | 3 | | Kentucky |
| Branden Leston | 3 | | Marshall | |
Tackles
Single season| 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| 1 | Matt Lange | 5 | | Eastern Kentucky |
| 2 | Steve Donisi | 4 | | Eastern Kentucky |
| Chris Pino | 4 | | Jacksonville State |
| Casey Tinius | 4 | | Louisiana-Monroe |
| Garrett Schwettman | 4 | | Louisiana Tech |
| | 4[32] | | Marshall |
| Lucas Carneiro | 4[33] | | Jacksonville State | |
Field goal percentage
Minimum of 20 career attempts and 10 single-season attempts.
Single season| 1 | Garrett Schwettman | 93.8% | 2015 |
| 2 | | 92.9% | 2020 |
| 3 | Chris Pino | 92.3% | 1993 |
| 4 | Will Sweeney | 90.0% | 1994 |
| 5 | Chris James | 88.2% | 2005 |
| 6 | Matt Lange | 82.1% | |
| 7 | Garrett Schwettman | 81.3% | 2013 |
| 8 | | 79.3% | 2021 |
| 9 | Peter Martinez | 77.3% | 2000 |
| 10 | Garrett Schwettman | 76.9% | 2012 | |
Notes and References
- Web site: 2015 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Media Guide. 2015-11-07. WKUSports.com.
- Web site: 2021 WKU Football Media Guide . Western Kentucky Hilltoppers . October 26, 2021.
- Web site: NCAA changes policy on football stats. 2002-08-28. 2014-09-11. ESPN.com. AP.
- Web site: Bailey Zappe . ESPN.com . December 18, 2021.
- Web site: Box Score: Ryan Conference USA Championship . ESPN.com . December 3, 2021 . December 4, 2021.
- Web site: UTSA vs. Western Kentucky Box Score. ESPN.com. October 9, 2021. October 11, 2021.
- Web site: UT Martin vs. Western Kentucky Box Score. September 2, 2021. September 3, 2021. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Box Score: Florida Atlantic vs. Western Kentucky . ESPN.com . November 20, 2021 . November 20, 2021.
- Web site: Box Score: RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl . ESPN.com . November 20, 2021 . November 20, 2021.
- Web site: Western Kentucky vs. Charlotte Box Score. ESPN.com. November 5, 2022. December 3, 2022.
- Web site: Western Kentucky vs. Middle Tennessee Box Score. ESPN.com. September 14, 2024. September 15, 2024.
- Web site: Malachi Corley. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Jerreth Sterns . ESPN.com . December 18, 2021.
- Web site: Mitchell Tinsley . ESPN.com . December 4, 2021.
- Web site: Western Kentucky vs. Michigan State Box Score. ESPN.com. October 2, 2021. October 3, 2021.
- Web site: Western Kentucky vs. Florida International Box Score. ESPN.com. October 23, 2021. October 26, 2021.
- Web site: Troy vs. Western Kentucky Box Score. October 1, 2022. October 4, 2022. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion Box Score. ESPN.com. October 16, 2021. October 18, 2021.
- Web site: Box Score: Western Kentucky vs. Rice . ESPN.com . November 13, 2021 . November 13, 2021.
- Web site: Austin Peay vs. Western Kentucky Box Score. ESPN.com. August 27, 2022. August 29, 2022.
- Web site: Western Kentucky vs. Louisiana Tech Box Score. ESPN.com. October 5, 2023. October 8, 2023.
- Web site: Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion Box Score. ESPN.com. December 18, 2023. December 23, 2023.
- Web site: 2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records . NCAA . 9 . December 4, 2021.
- Web site: Austin Reed. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Western Kentucky vs. South Alabama Box Score. ESPN.com. December 21, 2022. December 25, 2022.
- Web site: 2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records . NCAA . 12 . December 4, 2021.
- Web site: DeAngelo Malone. ESPN.com . December 18, 2021.
- Web site: Juwuan Jones. ESPN.com.
- Web site: JaQues Evans. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Brayden Narveson . ESPN.com . December 18, 2021.
- Web site: Cory Munson. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Box Score: Western Kentucky vs. Marshall . ESPN.com . November 27, 2021 . November 27, 2021.
- Web site: Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State Box Score. ESPN.com. November 30, 2024. December 4, 2024.
