The San Diego State Aztecs football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the San Diego State Aztecs football program in various categories, including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, all-purpose yardage, defensive stats, kicking, and scoring. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. As of the upcoming 2026 season, the Aztecs represent San Diego State University in NCAA Division I as a member of the Division I FBS Pac-12 Conference.
Although San Diego State began competing in intercollegiate football in 1921, the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in 1947. Records from before this year 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 1947, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length. Additionally, during San Diego State's tenure in the Mountain West Conference (MW) from 1999 through 2025, with the conference having adopted a divisional alignment for football from 2013–2022, the Aztecs were grouped in the same division as Hawaii, meaning that it played at Hawaii every other year. This is relevant because the NCAA allows teams that play at Hawaii in a given season to schedule 13 regular-season games instead of the normal 12. However, the Aztecs never did so in any season during the MW's divisional era. Since 2013, the MW has held a conference championship game. The Aztecs appeared in this game twice (2015 and 2016), giving players in those seasons an extra game to accumulate statistics. Similarly, the Pac-12 will reinstate its championship game in 2026, giving future SDSU players an opportunity for an extra game. 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. Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002. The Aztecs have played in eight bowl games since this decision (all since 2010), giving many recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics. Since 2018, players have been allowed to participate in as many as four games in a redshirt season; previously, playing in even one game "burned" the redshirt. Since 2024, postseason games have not counted against the four-game limit. These changes to redshirt rules have given very recent players several extra games to accumulate statistics.
These lists are updated through the end of the 2025 season. Of particular note is running back Donnel Pumphrey, who leads the entire Division I FBS in rushing yards.
Passing
Passing yards
+ Career1Ryan Lindley12,6902008 2009 2010 2011 2Todd Santos11,4251984 1985 1986 1987 3Billy Blanton8,1651993 1994 1995 1996 4Kevin O'Connell7,6892004 2005 2006 2007 5Dan McGwire7,4841989 1990 6David Lowery5,9981989 1991 1992 1993 7Brian Sipe5,7071969 1970 1971 8Dennis Shaw5,3241968 1969 9Adam Hall5,1732001 2002 2003 10Quinn Kaehler5,1642013 2014
+ Single season1Todd Santos3,9321987 2Dan McGwire3,8331990 3Ryan Lindley3,8302010 4Dan McGwire3,6511989 5Dennis Shaw3,3941969 6Matt Kofler3,3371981 7Billy Blanton3,3001995 8Adam Hall3,2532002 9Billy Blanton3,2211996 10Ryan Lindley3,1532011
+ Single game1David Lowery5681991 BYU2Todd Santos5361987 Stanford3Dan McGwire5301990 New Mexico4Ryan Lindley5282010 Utah5Dennis Shaw5241968 Southern Miss6Adam Hall5162002 Arizona State7Mark McKay5131982 Hawaii8Dan McGwire5101989 Utah9Adam Hall5062002 Idaho10Dennis Shaw4631969 Pacific
Passing touchdowns
+ Career1Ryan Lindley902008 2009 2010 2011 2Todd Santos701984 1985 1986 1987 3Billy Blanton671993 1994 1995 1996 4Dennis Shaw581968 1969 5Kevin O'Connell462004 2005 2006 2007 6Brian Sipe441969 1970 1971 David Lowery441989 1991 1992 1993 8Dan McGwire431989 1990 9Don Horn391965 1966 Christian Chapman392015 2016 2017 2018 10Mark Halda361977 1978 1979 1980 Tim Gutierrez361992 1993 1994
+ Single season1Dennis Shaw391969 2Billy Blanton291996 3Ryan Lindley282010 4Dan McGwire271990 5Todd Santos261987 6Joe Davis241977 Tim Gutierrez241993 8Brian Sipe231970 Billy Blanton231995 Ryan Lindley232009 Ryan Lindley232011
+ Single game1Dennis Shaw91969 New Mexico State2Dennis Shaw71968 Southern MissDennis Shaw71969 Pacific4Rod Dowhower61964 Fresno StateRyan Lindley62009 Colorado State
Rushing
Rushing yards
+ Career1Donnel Pumphrey6,4052013 2014 2015 2016 2Marshall Faulk4,7861991 1992 1993 3Larry Ned3,7921998 1999 2000 2001 4 Rashaad Penny 3,643 2014 2015 2016 2017 5 Ronnie Hillman3,3842010 2011 6 Jonas Lewis3,0151996 1997 1998 1999 7 Adam Muema2,9592011 2012 2013 8 George Jones2,9041995 1996 9 Norm Nygaard2,7661952 1953 1954 10 Wayne Pittman2,4981991 1992 1993 1994
+ Single season 1 Rashaad Penny 2,248 2017 2 Donnel Pumphrey 2,133 2016 3 Donnel Pumphrey 1,867 2014 4 George Jones1,8421995 5 Ronnie Hillman1,7112011 6 Donnel Pumphrey 1,653 2015 7 Marshall Faulk1,6301992 8 Marshall Faulk1,5861991 9 Larry Ned1,5492001 10 Ronnie Hillman1,5322010
+ Single game1Marshall Faulk3861991 Pacific2Marshall Faulk3001992 Hawaii3Marshall Faulk2991992 BYU4Larry Ned2852001 Eastern Illinois5Donnel Pumphrey2812016 California6George Jones2751996 UNLV7Jim Allison2711964 San Francisco State8George Jones2701995 Fresno State9Donnel Pumphrey2612014 San Jose State10Paul Hewitt2591988 Air Force
Rushing touchdowns
+ Career1Donnel Pumphrey622013 2014 2015 2016 2Marshall Faulk571991 1992 1993 3 Rashaad Penny 38 2014 2015 2016 2017 4 Larry Ned361998 1999 2000 2001 Ronnie Hillman362010 2011 6 George Jones341995 1996 Adam Muema342011 2012 2013 8 Paul Hewitt281987 1988 9 Chris Hardy221983 1984 1985 1986 10 Casey Brown211982 1983 1984 1985
+ Single season1George Jones231995 Rashaad Penny 23 2017 3 Marshall Faulk211991 Marshall Faulk211993 5 Donnel Pumphrey202014 6 Ronnie Hillman 19 2011 7 Paul Hewitt181987 8 Ronnie Hillman172010 Donnel Pumphrey172015 Donnel Pumphrey172016
+ Single game1Marshall Faulk71991 Pacific2Marshall Faulk51991 HawaiiGeorge Jones51995 Fresno StateGeorge Jones51996 New Mexico
Receiving
Receptions
+ Career1J. R. Tolver2621999 2000 2001 2002 2Jeff Webb2342001 2003 2004 2005 3Vincent Brown2092007 2008 2009 2010 4Will Blackwell1971994 1995 1996 5Monty Gilbreath1871986 1987 1988 1989 6Tim Delaney1801968 1969 1970 7Darnay Scott1781991 1992 19938Jesse Matthews1742019 2020 2021 20229Patrick Rowe1551987 1988 1990 1991 10Gary Garrison1481964 1965
+ Single season1J. R. Tolver1282002 2Kassim Osgood1082002 3Jeff Webb922005 4Dwight McDonald861974 Will Blackwell861995 6Tim Delaney851969 7Webster Slaughter821985 8Craig Scoggins811966 9Monty Gilbreath801989 10Gary Garrison781964
+ Single game1J. R. Tolver182002 Hawaii2Tom Reynolds171971 Utah StateDon Roberts171982 CaliforniaCurtis Shearer171994 Air Force5Tim Delaney161969 New Mexico StateJ. R. Tolver162002 Utah7Craig Scoggins151966 Cal State Los AngelesWebster Slaughter151985 OregonWill Blackwell151995 BYUDeMarco Sampson152009 Colorado State
Receiving yards
+ Career1J. R. Tolver3,5721999 2000 2001 2002 2Darnay Scott3,1391991 1992 1993 3Vincent Brown3,1102007 2008 2009 2010 4Will Blackwell2,8961994 1995 1996 5Jeff Webb2,8902001 2003 2004 2005 6Patrick Rowe2,6781987 1988 1990 1991 7Az-Zahir Hakim2,6221994 1995 1996 1997 8Tim Delaney2,5351968 1969 1970 9DeMarco Sampson2,2422005 2008 2009 2010 10Monty Gilbreath2,2411986 1987 1988 1989
+ Single season1J. R. Tolver1,7852002 2Kassim Osgood1,5522002 3Patrick Rowe1,3921990 4Vincent Brown1,3522010 5Craig Scoggins1,3011966 6Tim Delaney1,3001969 7Gary Garrison1,2721964 8Darnay Scott1,2621993 9Tom Nettles1,2271968 10DeMarco Sampson1,2202010
+ Single game1Tom Nettles3621968 Southern Miss2J. R. Tolver2962002 Arizona State3Tom Reynolds2901971 Utah State4Gary Garrison2891964 Fresno State5J. R. Tolver2832002 Hawaii6Will Blackwell2801996 California7Tim Delaney2751969 New Mexico State8Darnay Scott2741992 UTEP9DeMarco Sampson2572009 Colorado State10Jeff Webb2532003 BYU
Receiving touchdowns
+ Career1Tom Reynolds311969 1970 1971 2Gary Garrison261964 1965 3Darnay Scott251991 1992 1993 Will Blackwell251994 1995 1996 5Vincent Brown232007 2008 2009 2010 6Tim Delaney221968 1969 1970 7Az-Zahir Hakim211994 1995 1996 1997 8Jeff Webb202001 2003 2004 2005 9J. R. Tolver181999 2000 2001 2002 DeMarco Sampson182005 2008 2009 2010
+ Single season1Tom Reynolds181969 2Tim Delaney141970 3J. R. Tolver132002 4Ken Burrow121970 Ronnie Smith121977 6Will Blackwell111996 7Webster Slaughter101985 Dennis Arey101990 Darnay Scott101993 Jeff Webb102005 Vincent Brown102010
+ Single game1Tim Delaney61969 New Mexico State2Gary Garrison41964 Fresno StateTom Nettles41968 Southern MissWill Blackwell41996 California
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.
Total offense yards
+ Career1Ryan Lindley12,415 2008 2009 2010 2011 2Todd Santos10,513 1984 1985 1986 1987 3Kevin O'Connell9,001 2004 2005 2006 2007 4Billy Blanton8,014 1993 1994 1995 1996 5Dan McGwire7,087 1989 1990 6Donnel Pumphrey6,421 2013 2014 2015 2016 7David Lowery5,930 1989 1991 1992 1993 8Brian Sipe5,374 1969 1970 1971 9Dennis Shaw5,371 1968 1969 10Adam Hall5,007 2001 2002 2003
+ Single season1Ryan Lindley3,799 2010 2Todd Santos3,688 1987 3Dan McGwire3,664 1990 4Matt Kofler3,528 1981 5Kevin O'Connell3,471 2007 6Dan McGwire3,423 1989 7Billy Blanton3,324 1995 8Dennis Shaw3,197 1969 9Billy Blanton3,161 1996 10Adam Hall3,143 2002
+ Single game1Dan McGwire5281990 New MexicoDavid Lowery5281991 BYU3Dennis Shaw5261968 Southern Miss4Ryan Lindley5182010 Utah5Matt Kofler5171981 Iowa State6Mark McKay5101982 Hawaii7Todd Santos5041987 Stanford8Dan McGwire4981989 Utah9Adam Hall4972002 Arizona State10Adam Hall4962002 Idaho
Touchdowns responsible for "Touchdowns responsible for" is the official NCAA term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
+ Career1Ryan Lindley92 2008 2009 2010 2011 2Dennis Shaw72 1968 1969 3Todd Santos71 1984 1985 1986 1987 4Billy Blanton68 1993 1994 1995 1996 5Kevin O'Connell65 2004 2005 2006 2007 6Donnel Pumphrey63 2013 2014 2015 2016 7David Lowery48 1989 1991 1992 1993 8Dan McGwire46 1989 1990 9Brian Sipe45 1969 1970 1971
+ Single season1Dennis Shaw45 1969 2Billy Blanton30 1996 3Matt Kofler28 1981 Dan McGwire28 1990 Ryan Lindley28 2010
+ Single game1Dennis Shaw91969 New Mexico State
All-purpose yardage All-purpose yardage is the sum of all yards credited to a player who is in possession of the ball. It includes rushing, receiving, and returns, but does not include passing.
Statistics are from the 2017 San Diego State football record book as updated to reflect the 2017 season.
+ Career 1 Donnel Pumphrey 7,515 2013 2014 2015 2016 2 Rashaad Penny 6,654 2014 2015 2016 2017 3 Marshall Faulk 5,595 1991 1992 1993 4 Darnay Scott 4,658 1991 1992 1993 5 Monty Gilbreath 4,376 1986 1987 1988 1989 6 Colin Lockett 4,376 2010 2011 2012 2013 7 Vincent Brown 3,957 2007 2008 2009 2010 8 Patrick Rowe 3,940 1987 1988 1990 1991 9 Larry Ned 3,957 1998 1999 2000 2001 10 Az-Zahir Hakim 3,704 1994 1995 1996 1997
+ Single season 1 Rashaad Penny 2,974 2017 2 Donnel Pumphrey 2,340 2016 3 Marshall Faulk 2,174 1993 4 Donnel Pumphrey 2,069 2015 5 Donnel Pumphrey 2,027 2014 6 Ronnie Hillman 1,981 2011 7 George Jones 1,961 1995 8 Jim Sandusky 1,877 1983 9 J. R. Tolver 1,804 2002 10 Webster Slaughter 1,812 1985
+ Single game 1 Rashaad Penny 429 2017 Nevada 2 Marshall Faulk 422 1991 Pacific 3 Darnay Scott 354 1992 UTEP 4 Rashaad Penny 353 2017 Arizona State 5 Darnay Scott 347 1991 BYU 6 Patrick Rowe 330 1990 UCLA 7 Ron Slack 322 1989 Long Beach State 8 Larry Ned 319 2001 Eastern Illinois 9 Donnel Pumphrey 310 2016 California 10 George Jones 306 1995 Fresno State
Defense
Interceptions