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

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

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Brandon Doughty 593 2014 Middle Tennessee 2 Bailey Zappe 577[7] 2021 UTSA (C-USA Championship Game) 3 Brandon Doughty 569 2014 Bowling Green 4 Bailey Zappe 523[8] 2021 UTSA[b] 5 Mike White 517 2016 Rice 6 Austin Reed 497[9] 2022 South Alabama 7 Jeff Cesarone 494 1985 Akron 8 Brandon Doughty 491 2014 Marshall 9 Bailey Zappe 488[10] 2021 Michigan State 10 Brandon Doughty 486 2014 Central Michigan (Bahamas Bowl)

Passing touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Brandon Doughty 111 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2 Austin Reed 71[4] 2022 2023 3 Mike White 63 2016 2017 4 Bailey Zappe 62[5][a] 2021 5 Kawaun Jakes 51 2009 2010 2011 2012 6 Justin Haddix 50 2003 2004 2005 2006 7 Jeff Cesarone 46 1984 1985 1986 1987 8 Leo Peckenpaugh 35 1970 1971 1972 1973 9 Jimmy Feix 30 1949 1950 1951 1952 John Hall 30 1977 1978 1979 1980 Willie Taggart 30 1995 1996 1997 1998 Caden Veltkamp 30[6] 2022 2023 2024

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Bailey Zappe 62[5] 2021 2 Brandon Doughty 49 2014 3 Brandon Doughty 48 2015 4 Austin Reed 40[4] 2022 5 Mike White 37 2016 6 Austin Reed 31[4] 2023 7 Mike White 26 2017 8 Caden Veltkamp 25[6] 2024 9 Kawaun Jakes 22 2012 10 Jeff Cesarone 18 1985

Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Brandon Doughty 8 2014 Marshall 2 Bailey Zappe 7[11] 2021 UT Martin 3 Brandon Doughty 6 2014 Bowling Green Brandon Doughty 6 2015 Miami (Ohio) Bailey Zappe 6[12] 2021 Florida Atlantic Bailey Zappe 6[13] 2021 Appalachian State (Boca Raton Bowl) Austin Reed 6[14] 2022 Charlotte 8 14 times by 7 players 5 Most recent: Caden Veltkamp, 2024 vs. Middle Tennessee[15]

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

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Willie Taggart 47 1995 1996 1997 1998 2 Lerron Moore 43 2003 2004 2005 2006 Anthony Wales 43 2013 2014 2015 2016 4 Clarence Jackson 37 1970 1971 1972 1973 5 Bobby Rainey 35 2008 2009 2010 2011 6 Dickie Moore 34 1965 1966 1967 1968 7 Antonio Andrews 29 2010 2011 2012 2013 8 Joe Arnold 28 1985 1986 1987 1988 9 Antwan Floyd 27 1993 1994 1995 1996 10 Latravis Powell 24 1994 1995 1996 1997

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Anthony Wales 27 2016 2 Dickie Moore 19 1967 3 Willie Taggart 16 1997 Antonio Andrews 16 2013 5 Willie Taggart 15 1998 Bobby Rainey 15 2010 7 Joe Arnold 14 1988 Jason Michael 14 2002 Brian Porter 14 2004 10 Lerron Moore 13 2003 Bobby Rainey 13 2011 Leon Allen 13 2014

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

Career Rank Player Rec Years 1 Malachi Corley 259[16] 2020 2021 2022 2023 2 Taywan Taylor 253 2013 2014 2015 2016 3 Lucky Jackson 210 2016 2017 2018 2019 4 Nicholas Norris 194 2013 2014 2015 2016 5 Willie McNeal 171 2010 2012 2013 2014 6 Jake Gaebler 168 2006 2007 2008 2009 7 Jack Doyle 162 2009 2010 2011 2012 8 Jared Dangerfield 151 2014 2015 9 Jerreth Sterns 150[17][c] 2021 10 Curtis Hamilton 149 2004 2005 2006 2007

Single season Rank Player Rec Year 1 Jerreth Sterns 150[17] 2021 2 Malachi Corley 101[16] 2022 3 Taywan Taylor 98 2016 4 Lucky Jackson 94 2019 5 Mitchell Tinsley 87[18] 2021 6 Taywan Taylor 86 2015 7 Jared Dangerfield 82 2015 8 Malachi Corley 79[16] 2023 9 Nicholas Norris 76 2016 Jahcour Pearson 76 2019

Single game Rank Player Rec Year Opponent 1 Lucky Jackson 17 2019 Western Michigan (First Responder Bowl) Jerreth Sterns 17[10] 2021 Michigan State 3 Lucky Jackson 16 2019 Marshall Jerreth Sterns 16[8] 2021 UTSA 5 Jay Davis 15 1969 Akron 6 Jerreth Sterns 14[19] 2021 FIU 7 Jerreth Sterns 13[20] 2021 Old Dominion Jerreth Sterns 13[13] 2021 Appalachian State (Boca Raton Bowl) 9 Pat McKenzie 12 1984 Eastern Illinois Curtis Hamilton 12 2007 Eastern Kentucky Taywan Taylor 12 2014 Bowling Green Taywan Taylor 12 2016 Middle Tennessee Jerreth Sterns 12[12] 2021 Florida Atlantic Daewood Davis 12[21] 2022 Troy

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

Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Jerreth Sterns 1,902[17] 2021 2 Taywan Taylor 1,730 2016 3 Taywan Taylor 1,467 2015 4 Mitchell Tinsley 1,402[18] 2021 5 Nicholas Norris 1,318 2016 6 Malachi Corley 1,293[16] 2022 7 Lucky Jackson 1,133 2019 8 Porter Williams 1,107 1973 9 Malachi Corley 984[16] 2023 10 Nicholas Norris 971 2015

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Joey Stockton 276 1995 Austin Peay 2 Jerreth Sterns 221[20] 2021 Old Dominion 3 Malachi Corley 207[22] 2023 Louisiana Tech 4 Mitchell Tinsley 198[23] 2021 Rice 5 Taywan Taylor 197 2016 Middle Tennessee 6 Taywan Taylor 196 2015 Indiana 7 Jerreth Sterns 195[8] 2021 UTSA[b] 8 Joey Stockton 194 1997 Murray State Taywan Taylor 194 2016 Louisiana Tech (C-USA Championship) Lucky Jackson 194 2019 Florida Atlantic

Receiving touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Taywan Taylor 41 2013 2014 2015 2016 2 Malachi Corley 29[16] 2020 2021 2022 2023 3 Nicholas Norris 26 2013 2014 2015 2016 4 Eddie Preston 22 1976 1977 1978 1979 5 Porter Williams 21 1970 1971 1972 1973 Willie McNeal 21 2010 2012 2013 2014 Dalvin Smith 21[24] 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 8 Jay Davis 19 1968 1969 1970 Curtis Hamilton 19 2004 2005 2006 2007 Jared Dangerfield 19 2014 2015

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Taywan Taylor 17 2015 Taywan Taylor 17 2016 Jerreth Sterns 17[17] 2021 4 Nicholas Norris 14 2016 Mitchell Tinsley 14[18] 2021 6 Porter Williams 11 1973 Jared Dangerfield 11 2014 Malachi Corley 11[16] 2022 Malachi Corley 11[16] 2023 10 Curtis Hamilton 10 2006

Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Porter Williams 4 1973 Murray State 2 Porter Williams 3 1971 East Tennessee State Eddie Preston 3 1978 Morehead State Tyler Higbee 3 2014 Marshall Taywan Taylor 3 2015 Middle Tennessee Nicholas Norris 3 2016 Louisiana Tech Taywan Taylor 3 2016 Old Dominion Taywan Taylor 3 2016 North Texas Jerreth Sterns 3[13] 2021 Appalachian State (Boca Raton Bowl) Malachi Corley 3[25] 2022 Austin Peay Malachi Corley 3[22] 2023 Louisiana Tech Dalvin Smith 3[26] 2023 Old Dominion

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

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Bailey Zappe 582[7] 2021 UTSA (C-USA Championship Game) 2 Brandon Doughty 579 2014 Middle Tennessee 3 Brandon Doughty 567 2014 Bowling Green 4 Bailey Zappe 525[8] 2021 UTSA[b] 5 Austin Reed 522[9] 2022 South Alabama 6 Mike White 517 2016 Rice 7 Brandon Doughty 495 2015 Indiana 8 Brandon Doughty 490 2014 Central Michigan (Bahamas Bowl) 9 Jeff Cesarone 484 1985 Akron 10 Bailey Zappe 477[23] 2021 Rice

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.

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Brandon Doughty 114 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Austin Reed 83[4] 2022 2023 3 Willie Taggart 77 1995 1996 1997 1998 4 Justin Haddix 70 2003 2004 2005 2006 5 Kawaun Jakes 65 2009 2010 2011 2012 Bailey Zappe 65[5][a] 2021 7 Jeff Cesarone 48 1984 1985 1986 1987 Mike White 48 2016 9 Lerron Moore 43 2003 2004 2005 2006 Anthony Wales 43 2013 2014 2015 2016

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Bailey Zappe 65[5] 2021 2 Brandon Doughty 51 2014 3 Brandon Doughty 49 2015 4 Mike White 48 2016 Austin Reed 48[4] 2022 6 Austin Reed 35[4] 2023 7 Caden Veltkamp 32[6] 2024 8 Willie Taggart 27 1997 Anthony Wales 27 2016 10 Kawaun Jakes 25 2012

Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Brandon Doughty 8 2014 Marshall 2 Bailey Zappe 7[11] 2021 UT Martin 3 Brandon Doughty 6 2014 Bowling Green Brandon Doughty 6 2015 Miami (Ohio) Bailey Zappe 6[12] 2021 Florida Atlantic Bailey Zappe 6[13] 2021 Appalachian State (Boca Raton Bowl) Austin Reed 6[14] 2022 Charlotte Caden Veltkamp 6[15] 2024 Middle Tennessee

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 season Rank Player Ints Year 1 Bobby Sippio 10 2000 2 James Edwards 7 1987 Antonio Thomas 7 2004 4 Joseph Jefferson 6 2000 Jonathan Dowling 6 2012 6 Carl Brazley 5 1978 Reginald Johnson 5 1981 Hayes Thomas 5 2000 Bobby Sippio 5 2001 Jeremy Chandler 5 2002 Bo Smith 5 2007 Cam Thomas 5 2013

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 2012 Kentucky Branden Leston 3 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 Devon Key 350 2017 2018 2019 2020 DeAngelo Malone 350[29] 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

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 DeAngelo Malone 34.0[29] 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2 Sherrod Coates 30.0 1999 2000 2001 2002 3 Quanterus Smith 24.0 2009 2010 2011 2012 4 Jon Drummond 21.0 1999 2000 2001 2002 5 Ben Witman 20.5 1996 1997 1998 1999 6 Juwuan Jones 19.5[30] 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 7 Sean Longstreth 18.0 1994 1995 1996 1997 8 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 DeAngelo Malone 11.5[29] 2019 4 Ben Witman 10.5 1999 5 Ben Mooney 9.0 1993 Sean Longstreth 9.0 1997 Karl Maslowski 9.0 2003 Brandon Smith 9.0 2003 DeAngelo Malone 9.0[29] 2021 JaQues Evans 9.0[31] 2022

Kicking

Field goals made

Career Rank Player FGs Years 1 Garrett Schwettman 54 2012 2013 2014 2015 2 Chris James 51 2004 2005 2006 2007 Brayden Narveson 51[32][d] 2020 2021 2022 4 Peter Martinez 49 2000 2001 2002 5 Dan Maher 47 1985 1986 1987 1988 6 Jeff Poisel 31 1996 1997 1998 1999 7 Lucas Carneiro 27[33] 2023 2024 8 Matt Lange 23 2002 2003 9 Cory Munson 20[34] 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 10 Jim Griffiths 19 1980 1981 1982

Single season Rank Player FGs Year 1 Matt Lange 23 2003 Brayden Narveson 23[32] 2021 3 Peter Martinez 18 2002 Lucas Carneiro 18[33] 2024 5 Peter Martinez 17 2000 Cory Munson 17[34] 2019 7 Garrett Schwettman 16 2014 Skyler Simcox 16 2016 9 Dan Maher 15 1988 Chris James 15 2005 Garrett Schwettman 15 2015 Brayden Narveson 15[32] 2022

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.

Career Rank Player FG% Years 1 Lucas Carneiro 87.1% [33] 2023 2024 2 Matt Lange 82.1% 2002 2003 3 Garrett Schwettman 81.8% 2012 2013 2014 2015 4 Brayden Narveson 79.7%[32][d] 2020 2021 2022 5 Chris James 76.1% 2004 2005 2006 2007 6 Skyler Simcox 72.7% 2016 7 Peter Martinez 71.0% 2000 2001 2002 8 Dan Maher 64.4% 1985 1986 1987 1988 9 Chris Pino 63.0% 1990 1991 1992 1993 10 Cory Munson 62.5%[34] 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Single season Rank Player FG% Year 1 Lucas Carneiro 94.7% [33] 2024 2 Garrett Schwettman 93.8% 2015 3 Brayden Narveson 92.9%[32] 2020 4 Chris Pino 92.3% 1993 5 Will Sweeney 90.0% 1994 6 Chris James 88.2% 2005 7 Matt Lange 82.1% 2003 8 Garrett Schwettman 81.3% 2013 9 Brayden Narveson 79.3%[32] 2021 10 Peter Martinez 77.3% 2000

Footnotes

1. 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. 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. Narveson began his college career at Iowa State in 2019, transferring to Western Kentucky after that season.