Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football statistical leaders

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

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Passing yards

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Passing touchdowns

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Rushing

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Rushing yards

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Rushing touchdowns

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Receiving

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Receptions

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Receiving yards

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Receiving touchdowns

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Total offense

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Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[27]

Total offense yards

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Touchdowns responsible for

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"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

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Interceptions

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Tackles

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Sacks

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Kicking

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Field goals made

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Field goal percentage

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Minimum of 20 career attempts and 10 single-season attempts.

Footnotes

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b c This was the regularly scheduled game between the two teams. They also played in the 2021 C-USA championship game.
  3. ^ Sterns began his college career at Houston Baptist in 2018, playing three seasons before transferring to Western.
  4. ^ a b Narveson began his college career at Iowa State in 2019, transferring to Western Kentucky after that season.

References

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  1. ^ a b "2015 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Media Guide". WKUSports.com. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  2. ^ "2021 WKU Football Media Guide" (PDF). Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  3. ^ "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. AP. August 28, 2002. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Austin Reed". ESPN.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Bailey Zappe". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Caden Veltkamp". ESPN.com.
  7. ^ a b "Box Score: Ryan Conference USA Championship". ESPN.com. December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d "UTSA vs. Western Kentucky Box Score". ESPN.com. October 9, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Western Kentucky vs. South Alabama Box Score". ESPN.com. December 21, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Western Kentucky vs. Michigan State Box Score". ESPN.com. October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "UT Martin vs. Western Kentucky Box Score". ESPN.com. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c "Box Score: Florida Atlantic vs. Western Kentucky". ESPN.com. November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d "Box Score: RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl". ESPN.com. November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Western Kentucky vs. Charlotte Box Score". ESPN.com. November 5, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Western Kentucky vs. Middle Tennessee Box Score". ESPN.com. September 14, 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Malachi Corley". ESPN.com.
  17. ^ a b c d "Jerreth Sterns". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c "Mitchell Tinsley". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  19. ^ "Western Kentucky vs. Florida International Box Score". ESPN.com. October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion Box Score". ESPN.com. October 16, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  21. ^ "Troy vs. Western Kentucky Box Score". ESPN.com. October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  22. ^ a b "Western Kentucky vs. Louisiana Tech Box Score". ESPN.com. October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Box Score: Western Kentucky vs. Rice". ESPN.com. November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  24. ^ "Dalvin Smith". ESPN.com.
  25. ^ "Austin Peay vs. Western Kentucky Box Score". ESPN.com. August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  26. ^ "Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion Box Score". ESPN.com. December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  27. ^ "2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. p. 9. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  28. ^ "2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. p. 12. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  29. ^ a b c d "DeAngelo Malone". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  30. ^ "Juwuan Jones". ESPN.com.
  31. ^ "JaQues Evans". ESPN.com.
  32. ^ a b c d e f "Brayden Narveson". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  33. ^ a b c d "Lucas Carneiro". ESPN.com.
  34. ^ a b c "Cory Munson". ESPN.com.
  35. ^ "Box Score: Western Kentucky vs. Marshall". ESPN.com. November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  36. ^ "Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State Box Score". ESPN.com. November 30, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
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