Punt Return Yards Per Return Year-by-Year Leaders and Records

Minimum 50 punt returns.
An asterisk (*) after a player's name indicates bowl stats are included.
Read more about our data coverage.

Leaders

  • Since 1976
  • Minimum 1 punt return per school game.
Leaders Table
Year Player Avg School
2023Zachariah Branch*20.8Southern California
2022Dee Williams*18.7Tennessee
2021Kalil Pimpleton*19.1Central Michigan
2020Phillip Brooks23.7Kansas State
2019Jaylen Waddle*24.4Alabama
2018Mecole Hardman*20.1Georgia
2017Dante Pettis*20.4Washington
2016Christian Kirk*21.7Texas A&M
2015Christian Kirk*24.4Texas A&M
2014Richard Leonard23.8Florida International
2013Ryan Switzer*20.9North Carolina
2012Tramaine Thompson*19.8Kansas State
2011Dustin Harris*18.6Texas A&M
2010Shaky Smithson*19.1Utah
2009Greg Reid*18.4Florida State
2008Antonio Brown*20.5Central Michigan
2007Kevin Robinson18.9Utah State
2006Johnnie Lee Higgins Jr.23.4UTEP
2005Maurice Drew*28.5UCLA
2004Ted Ginn Jr.*25.6Ohio State
2003Lance Frazier*20.8West Virginia
2002Dan Sheldon22.7Northern Illinois
2001Roman Hollowell18Colorado
2000Aaron Lockett22.8Kansas State
1999Dennis Northcutt19Arizona
1998David Allen22.1Kansas State
1997Bobby Newcombe20.3Nebraska
1996Allen Rossum22.9Notre Dame
1995James Dye21.9Brigham Young
1994Steve Clay19.9Eastern Michigan
1993Aaron Glenn19.9Texas A&M
1992Lee Gissendaner21.8Northwestern
1991Bo Campbell18.2Virginia Tech
1990Dave McCloughan16.4Colorado
1989Larry Hargrove18.4Ohio
1988Deion Sanders15.2Florida State
1987Alan Grant16.5Stanford
1986Anthony Parker22Arizona State
1985Erroll Tucker24.3Utah
1984Ricky Nattiel15.7Florida
1983Jim Sandusky19.1San Diego State
1982Anthony Carter16.6Michigan
1981Larry Pruitt17.5Army
1980Ken Smith15.9Rutgers
1979Dave Duerson17.4Notre Dame
1978Ira Matthews16.9Wisconsin
1977Robert Woods25.4Grambling State
1976Henry Jenkins15Rutgers