College Football: Top Tackling Leaders-Single Season Records

By Carlos Mendes - Sports Editor

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January 13, 2026 12:04 am

College Football: Top Tackling Leaders-Single Season Records

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2026-01-12 08:15:00


  By SuperWest Sports Staff

The West has produced plenty of great college football tacklers.

The tables below rank the top defenders for the past 65+ seasons in single-season solo tackles, assisted tackles, total tackles, sacks, and tackles for loss.

This season, three players broke into the lists.

Colorado State’s Owen Long now ranks 15th in single-season total tackles with 151.

Oregon’s Bryce Boettcher moved into the 14th spot in assisted tackles with 80, and Utah State’s John Miller captured the 16th spot with 79.

Let’s get to the lists.

Best in West Single-Season Solo Tackles Leaders

Year	Player	School	Solo
2007	Jordon Dizon	Colorado	114
2010	Mason Foster	Washington	106
2019	Evan Weaver	California	103
2014	Eric Kendricks	UCLA	101
2014	Scooby Wright	Arizona	99
2018	Jordan Kunaszyk	California	95
2018	Ben Burr-Kirven	Washington	94
2017	Frank Ginda	San Jose State	94
2012	Eric Kendricks	UCLA	92
2017	Leighton Vander Esch	Boise State	91
2024	Carson Schwesinger	UCLA	90
2005	Jimmy Cottrell	New Mexico State	90
2018	Evan Weaver	California	88
2010	Corey Paredes	Hawaii	88
2017	Christian Sam	Arizona State	87
2014	Damarious Randall	Arizona State	87
2007	Spencer Larsen	Arizona	87
2007	David Vobora	Idaho	86
2021	Chad Muma	Wyoming	85
2016	Jahlani Tavai	Hawaii	85
2006	David Vobora	Idaho	84
2019	Nate Landman	Colorado	83
2015	Andrew Wingard	Wyoming	83
2017	Tony Lashley	Idaho	81
2012	Brandon Magee	Arizona State	81
2006	Matthew Castelo	San Jose State	81

Best in West Single-Season Assisted Tackles Leaders

Year	Player	School	Ast Tackles
2013	Jake Doughty	Utah State	106
2016	Rodney Butler	New Mexico State	102
2018	Javahn Fergurson	New Mexico State	90
2005	Jimmy Cottrell	New Mexico State	89
2009	Gabe Knapton	Wyoming	88
2023	MJ Tafisi	Utah State	87
2006	Matthew Castelo	San Jose State	84
2019	Javahn Fergurson	New Mexico State	83
2018	Ben Burr-Kirven	Washington	82
2018	David Woodward	Utah State	82
2009	Carmen Messina	New Mexico	82
2013	Keith Smith	San Jose State	81
2025	Bryce Boettcher	Oregon	80
2011	Bobby Wagner	Utah State	80
2025	John Miller	Utah State	79
2019	Evan Weaver	California	79
2017	Frank Ginda	San Jose State	79
2010	Chaz Walker	Utah	78
2014	Dakota Cox	New Mexico	77
2014	Zach Vigil	Utah State	77
2013	Zach Vigil	Utah State	77
2005	Matt Griebel	New Mexico State	77
2015	Nick Vigil	Utah State	76
2013	Uani Unga	Brigham Young	76
2006	Drew Fowler	Air Force	76

Best in West Single-Season Total Tackles Leaders

Year	Player	School	Tot
2019	Evan Weaver	California	182
2005	Jimmy Cottrell	New Mexico State	179
2018	Ben Burr-Kirven	Washington	176
2017	Frank Ginda	San Jose State	173
2016	Rodney Butler	New Mexico State	165
2006	Matthew Castelo	San Jose State	165
2014	Scooby Wright	Arizona	163
2010	Mason Foster	Washington	163
2009	Carmen Messina	New Mexico	162
2007	Jordon Dizon	Colorado	162
2018	Evan Weaver	California	159
2013	Keith Smith	San Jose State	159
2014	Zach Vigil	Utah State	156
2025	Owen Long	Colorado State	151
2010	Corey Paredes	Hawaii	151
2012	Eric Kendricks	UCLA	150
2014	Eric Kendricks	UCLA	149
2005	Matt Griebel	New Mexico State	149
2018	Jordan Kunaszyk	California	148
2013	Jake Doughty	Utah State	148
2007	David Vobora	Idaho	148
2011	Bobby Wagner	Utah State	147
2015	Nick Vigil	Utah State	144
2023	MJ Tafisi	Utah State	142
2021	Chad Muma	Wyoming	142
2013	Uani Unga	Brigham Young	142
2011	Carmen Messina	New Mexico	142
2019	Jahad Woods	Washington State	141
2017	Leighton Vander Esch	Boise State	141
2015	Blake Martinez	Stanford	141
2007	Matthew Castelo	San Jose State	141
2007	Solomon Elimimian	Hawaii	141

Best in West Single-Season Tackles for Loss Leaders

Year	Player	School	Loss
2014	Scooby Wright	Arizona	29
2014	Hauoli Kikaha	Washington	25
2013	Trent Murphy	Stanford	24
2012	Will Sutton	Arizona State	24
2009	Brian Price	UCLA	24
2008	Zack Follett	California	23
2019	Hamilcar Rashed Jr.	Oregon State	23
2017	Hercules Mataafa	Washington State	23
2015	Antonio Longino	Arizona State	23
2007	Nick Reed	Oregon	23
2022	Tuli Tuipulotu	USC	22
2021	Devin Lloyd	Utah	22
2018	Chase Hansen	Utah	22
2012	Kyle Van Noy	Brigham Young	22
2010	Dontay Moch	Nevada	22
2008	Jarron Gilbert	San Jose State	22
2023	Laiatu Latu	UCLA	22
2018	Colin Schooler	Arizona	22
2012	Anthony Barr	UCLA	22
2012	Travis Johnson	San Jose State	22
2008	Victor Butler	Oregon State	22
2021	Nick Heninger	Utah State	21
2014	Nate Orchard	Utah	21
2010	Victor Aiyewa	Washington	21
2021	Cameron Thomas	San Diego State	21
2014	Zach Vigil	Utah State	21
2013	Demarcus Lawrence	Boise State	21
2012	Carl Bradford	Arizona State	21

Best in West Single-Season Sacks Leaders

Year	Player	School	Sk
2014	Hauoli Kikaha	Washington	19.0
2014	Nate Orchard	Utah	18.5
2013	Trent Murphy	Stanford	15.0
2016	Hunter Dimick	Utah	14.5
2019	Hamilcar Rashed Jr.	Oregon State	14.0
2014	Scooby Wright	Arizona	14.0
2022	Tuli Tuipulotu	USC	13.5
2019	Curtis Weaver	Boise State	13.5
2012	Anthony Barr	UCLA	13.5
2007	Jan Jorgensen	Brigham Young	13.5
2023	Mohamed Kamara	Colorado State	13.0
2023	Laiatu Latu	UCLA	13.0
2019	Bradlee Anae	Utah	13.0
2012	Morgan Breslin	USC	13.0
2012	Travis Johnson	San Jose State	13.0
2012	Will Sutton	Arizona State	13.0
2012	Kyle Van Noy	Brigham Young	13.0
2008	Nick Reed	Oregon	13.0
2024	Trey White	San Diego State	12.5
2023	Ahmed Hassanein	Boise State	12.5
2014	Andrew Hudson	Washington	12.5
2013	Hauoli Kikaha	Washington	12.5
2006	Bruce Davis	UCLA	12.5
2006	Justin Hickman	UCLA	12.5
2005	John Chick	Utah State	12.5

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Carlos Mendes - Sports EditorSports Editor

Full Name: Carlos Mendes Role: Editor, Sports Category: Sports Location: Lisbon, Portugal Education: BA in Sports Journalism, University of Lisbon Experience: 13+ years in sports reporting and editorial management Expertise: Football (soccer), Olympic sports, athlete interviews, sports analytics Awards: European Sports Media Award 2021 Professional Affiliations: Member, International Sports Press Association Languages: Portuguese (native), English (fluent), Spanish (conversational) Bio: Carlos Mendes is a passionate sports journalist and editor with over 13 years of experience covering football, Olympic sports, and major international competitions. He holds a BA in Sports Journalism from the University of Lisbon. Carlos is known for his insightful match analysis, exclusive athlete interviews, and dedication to fair play in sports reporting. As Editor of the Sports section at World Today Journal, he brings readers closer to the action with expert coverage and behind-the-scenes stories.