The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football program in various categories,[1] 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 (and won) two title games (2015 and 2016).
- 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.[2] Since then, the Hilltoppers have appeared the FCS Playoffs three times and in four bowl games.
- The Hilltoppers have accumulated 5,000 yards eight times in school history, all of which came since 1997, including each year since 2012. The Hilltoppers have been especially prolific through the air since Jeff Brohm was hired as head coach in 2014. Quarterback Brandon Doughty had set the school record for passing yards with 2,857 in 2013, and then obliterated the record, passing for 4,830 and 5,055 over the next two seasons. In addition, five different players entered a single-season top 10 receiving list in 2015.
These lists are updated through the end of the 2016 season.
Passing
Passing yards
Career
Rank |
Player |
Yards |
Years |
1 | Brandon Doughty | 12,855[3] | 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 |
2 | Jeff Cesarone | 8,566 | 1984 1985 1986 1987 |
3 | Mike White | 8,540[4] | 2016 2017 |
4 | Justin Haddix | 7,929 | 2003 2004 2005 2006 |
5 | Kawaun Jakes | 7,538 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 |
6 | Johnny Vance | 4,046 | 1966 1967 1968 1969 |
7 | John Hall | 3,876 | 1977 1978 1979 1980 |
8 | Jimmy Feix | 3,780 | 1949 1950 1951 1952 |
9 | Ralph Antone | 3,555 | 1979 1980 1981 1982 |
10 | Leo Peckenpaugh | 3,532 | 1970 1971 1972 1973 |
|
Single season
Rank |
Player |
Yards |
Year |
1 | Brandon Doughty | 5,055[3] | 2015 |
2 | Brandon Doughty | 4,830 | 2014 |
3 | Mike White | 4,363[4] | 2016 |
4 | Mike White | 4,177[4] | 2017 |
5 | Brandon Doughty | 2,857 | 2013 |
6 | Jeff Cesarone | 2,737 | 1985 |
7 | Kawaun Jakes | 2,488 | 2012 |
8 | Jeff Cesarone | 2,396 | 1986 |
9 | Justin Haddix | 2,186 | 2006 |
10 | Justin Haddix | 1,976 | 2004 |
|
|
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[19] | 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[19] | 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[20] | 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 |
|
Receiving
Receiving yards
Career
Rank |
Player |
Yards |
Years |
1 | Taywan Taylor | 4,234[22] | 2013 2014 2015 2016 |
2 | Nicholas Norris | 3,091[23] | 2013 2014 2015 2016 |
3 | Curtis Hamilton | 2,324 | 2004 2005 2006 2007 |
4 | Jay Davis | 2,236 | 1968 1969 1970 1971 |
5 | Willie McNeal | 2,181 | 2010 2012 2013 2014 |
6 | Keith Paskett | 2,117 | 1983 1984 1985 1986 |
7 | Eddie Preston | 2,083 | 1976 1977 1978 1979 |
8 | Joey Stockton | 2,057 | 1995 1996 1997 |
9 | Jake Gaebler | 1,924 | 2006 2007 2008 2009 |
10 | Alan Mullins | 1,866 | 1982 1983 1984 1985 |
|
|
|
Total offense
Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[35]
Total offense yards
Career
Rank |
Player |
Yards |
Years |
1 | Brandon Doughty | 12,570[3] | 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 |
2 | Justin Haddix | 8,890 | 2003 2004 2005 2006 |
3 | Willie Taggart | 7,223 | 1995 1996 1997 1998 |
4 | Jeff Cesarone | 7,852 | 1984 1985 1986 1987 |
5 | Kawaun Jakes | 8,323 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 |
6 | Johnny Vance | 4,782 | 1966 1967 1968 1969 |
7 | Bobby Rainey | 4,595 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 |
8 | Lerron Moore | 4,334 | 2003 2004 2005 2006 |
9 | Mike White | 4,289[19] | 2016 |
10 | Eddie Thompson | 4,109 | 1991 1992 1993 |
|
Single season
Rank |
Player |
Yards |
Year |
1 | Brandon Doughty | 4,933[3] | 2015 |
2 | Brandon Doughty | 4,778 | 2014 |
3 | Mike White | 4,289[19] | 2016 |
4 | Brandon Doughty | 2,478 | 2013 |
5 | Kawaun Jakes | 2,546 | 2012 |
6 | Jeff Cesarone | 2,542 | 1985 |
7 | Willie Taggart | 2,403 | 1997 |
8 | Jason Michael | 2,303 | 2002 |
9 | Justin Haddix | 2,291 | 2004 |
10 | Justin Haddix | 2,211 | 2006 |
|
|
Defense
Interceptions
Career
Rank |
Player |
Ints |
Years |
1 | Bobby Sippio | 19 | 1999 2000 2001 |
2 | Delvechio Walls | 14 | 1995 1996 1997 1998 |
3 | James Edwards | 13 | 1984 1985 1986 1987 |
4 | Antonio Thomas | 12 | 2002 2003 2004 2005 |
5 | Reginald Johnson | 11 | 1979 1980 1981 1983 |
| Cam Thomas | 11 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 |
7 | Barry Bumm | 10 | 1978 1979 1980 1981 |
8 | Jeremy Chandler | 9 | 2000 2001 2002 2003 |
| Jonathan Dowling | 9 | 2012 2013 |
10 | Vernard Johnson | 8 | 1984 1985 1986 |
| Joseph Jefferson | 8 | 1988 1989 1990 1991 |
|
|
Single game
Rank |
Player |
Ints |
Year |
Opponent |
1 | Jim Pickens | 4 | 1948 | Eastern Kentucky |
2 | Max Stevens | 3 | 1951 | Morehead State |
| Jon Leathers | 3 | 1974 | Dayton |
| Carl Brazley | 3 | 1978 | East Tennessee State |
| Jonathan Dowling | 3[37] | 2012 | Kentucky |
| Branden Leston | 3[8] | 2014 | Marshall |
|
Tackles
Career
Rank |
Player |
Tackles |
Years |
1 | Rick Green | 525 | 1972 1973 1974 1975 |
2 | Paul Gray | 488 | 1980 1981 1982 1983 |
3 | Erik Dandy | 422 | 2000 2001 2002 2003 |
4 | Charles Thompson | 411 | 2001 2002 2003 2004 |
5 | Biff Madon | 401 | 1974 1975 1976 1977 |
6 | Melvin Wisham | 394 | 1997 1998 1999 2000 |
7 | Tony Towns | 370 | 1974 1976 1977 1978 |
8 | Carl Estelle | 355 | 1976 1977 1978 1979 |
9 | Bill Hape | 354 | 1967 1968 1969 1970 |
10 | Jim Barber | 342 | 1969 1970 1971 |
|
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
Career
Rank |
Player |
Sacks |
Years |
1 | Sherrod Coates | 30.0 | 1999 2000 2001 2002 |
2 | Quanterus Smith | 24.0 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 |
3 | Jon Drummond | 21.0 | 1999 2000 2001 2002 |
4 | Ben Witman | 20.5 | 1996 1997 1998 1999 |
5 | Sean Longstreth | 18.0 | 1994 1995 1996 1997 |
6 | Xavier Jordan | 14.0 | 1985 1986 1987 1988 |
| Ben Mooney | 14.0 | 1990 1991 1992 1993 |
| Bryan Heyward | 14.0 | 1995 1996 1997 1998 |
| Brandon Smith | 14.0 | 2003 2004 2005 |
|
Single season
Rank |
Player |
Sacks |
Year |
1 | Sherrod Coates | 13.0 | 2002 |
2 | Quanterus Smith | 12.5 | 2012 |
3 | Ben Witman | 10.5 | 1999 |
4 | Ben Mooney | 9.0 | 1993 |
| Sean Longstreth | 9.0 | 1997 |
| Karl Maslowski | 9.0 | 2003 |
| Brandon Smith | 9.0 | 2003 |
8 | Bryan Heyward | 8.0 | 1997 |
| Sherrod Coates | 8.0 | 2000 |
| Sherrod Coates | 8.0 | 2001 |
| Chad Kincaid | 8.0 | 2003 |
|
Kicking
Field goals made
Career
Rank |
Player |
FGs |
Years |
1 | Garrett Schwettman | 54[38] | 2012 2013 2014 2015 |
2 | Chris James | 51 | 2004 2005 2006 2007 |
3 | Peter Martinez | 49 | 2000 2001 2002 |
4 | Dan Maher | 47 | 1985 1986 1987 1988 |
5 | Jeff Poisel | 31 | 1996 1997 1998 1999 |
6 | Matt Lange | 23 | 2002 2003 |
7 | Jim Griffiths | 19 | 1980 1981 1982 |
8 | Chris Pino | 17 | 1990 1991 1992 1993 |
9 | Skyler Simcox | 16[39] | 2016 |
10 | Dave Betz | 15 | 1976 1977 |
|
Single season
Rank |
Player |
FGs |
Year |
1 | Matt Lange | 23 | 2003 |
2 | Peter Martinez | 18 | 2002 |
3 | Peter Martinez | 17 | 2000 |
4 | Garrett Schwettman | 16 | 2014 |
| Skyler Simcox | 16[39] | 2016 |
6 | Dan Maher | 15 | 1988 |
| Chris James | 15 | 2005 |
| Garrett Schwettman | 15[38] | 2015 |
9 | Peter Martinez | 14 | 2001 |
| Chris James | 14 | 2007 |
| Casey Tinius | 14 | 2009 |
|
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[40] | 2009 | Louisiana-Monroe |
| Garrett Schwettman | 4[36] | 2015 | Louisiana Tech |
|
Field goal percentage
|
Single season
Rank |
Player |
FG% |
Year |
1 | Garrett Schwettman | 93.8%[38] | 2015 |
2 | Matt Lange | 82.1%[42] | 2003 |
3 | Garrett Schwettman | 81.3% | 2013 |
|
References
- 1 2 "2015 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Media Guide". WKUSports.com. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
- ↑ "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. AP. 2002-08-28. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Brandon Doughty". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Mike White". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
Note that White played at South Florida through 2014, and ESPN lists his combined career totals.
- 1 2 3 "Middle Tennessee beats Western Kentucky 50-47, 3OT". ESPN.com. 2014-09-13.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Western Kentucky beats Bowling Green 59-31". ESPN.com. 2014-08-29.
- 1 2 "White throws for 517 yards as W. Kentucky beats Rice 46-14". ESPN.com. 2016-09-01.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Brandon Doughty's 8 TD passes, 2-point conversion sink Marshall". ESPN.com. 2015-11-28.
- 1 2 3 "Western Kentucky holds off Central Michigan's 34-point rally". ESPN.com. 2014-12-24.
- 1 2 3 Bahamas Bowl
- 1 2 3 4 "Howard helps Indiana in 38-35 win over W. Kentucky". ESPN.com. 2015-09-19.
- 1 2 "Doughty wins finale, WKU tops USF 45-35 in Miami Beach Bowl". ESPN.com. 2015-12-21.
- 1 2 Miami Beach Bowl
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Doughty throws 6 TDs, W. Kentucky beats Miami (Ohio) 56-14". ESPN.com. 2015-09-26.
- ↑ "Western Kentucky 66, Old Dominion 51". ESPN.com. 2014-10-25.
- ↑ "Western Kentucky 45, UTSA 7". ESPN.com. 2014-11-22.
- ↑ "Western Kentucky overwhelms Marshall in 49-28 win". ESPN.com. 2015-11-27.
- 1 2 "Higgins, Louisiana Tech hold off Western Kentucky 55-52". ESPN.com. 2016-10-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Anthony Wales". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- ↑ "Western Kentucky rushes past Army 52-24". ESPN.com. 2014-11-15.
- ↑ "Andrews leads WKU to 58-17 win over Morgan State". ESPN.com. 2013-09-21.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Taywan Taylor". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-12-20.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Nicholas Norris". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-12-20.
- 1 2 3 4 "Jared Dangerfield". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
- ↑ "W. Kentucky 26, E. Kentucky 6". ESPN.com. 2007-09-15.
- 1 2 "Blocked PAT in 2nd OT helps WKU beat Middle Tennessee 44-43". ESPN.com. 2016-10-15.
- ↑ "Middle Tennessee 21, W. Kentucky 10". ESPN.com. 2008-11-15.
- 1 2 "Norris, Baker help Western Kentucky top Miami (Ohio) 31-24". ESPN.com. 2016-09-17.
- ↑ "W Kentucky wins C-USA in shootout 58-44 over Louisiana Tech". ESPN.com. 2016-12-03.
- 1 2 "Tyler Higbee". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
- ↑ "Antwane Grant". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
- ↑ "High-octane Western Kentucky beats Middle Tennessee 58-28". ESPN.com. 2015-10-10.
- ↑ "White tosses 4 TDs, Western Kentucky tops Old Dominion 59-24". ESPN.com. 2016-10-22.
- ↑ "White throws 4 TD passes; WKU beats North Texas 45-7". ESPN.com. 2016-11-12.
- ↑ "Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Record Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-12-01. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
- 1 2 "Western Kentucky outlasts Louisiana Tech 41-38". ESPN.com. 2015-09-10.
- ↑ "Western Kentucky stuns Kentucky in overtime with trick play". ESPN.com. 2012-09-16.
- 1 2 3 4 "Garrett Schwettman". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
- 1 2 "Skyler Simcox". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- ↑ "Louisiana-Monroe 21, W. Kentucky 18". ESPN.com. 2009-11-14.
- ↑ http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/matt-lange-player
- ↑ http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/matt-lange-player
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National championship seasons in bold |