Top G5 players: Defensive Statistics

2014 saw several young players step up on the defensive side of the ball with excellent defensive seasons including national leaders in certain categories.

Tackles:

• Dakota Cox, New Mexico, LB: 39 solo, 77 assists, 116 total, 12.9 tpg.
• Nate Holley, Kent State, DB: 75 solo, 62 assists, 137 total, 12.5 tpg.
• Jovan Santos-Knox, Massachusetts, LB: 53 solo, 90 assists, 143 total, 11.9 tpg.
• Great Ibe, EMU, LB: 69 solo, 64 assists, 133 total, 11.1 tpg.
• Zeek Bigger, East Carolina, LB: 66 solo, 74 assists, 140 total, 10.8 tpg.
• Rodney Butler, New Mexico St., LB: 58 solo, 61 assists, 119 total, 9.9 tpg.
• Tyler Matakevich, Temple, LB: 88 solo, 29 assists, 117 total, 9.8 tpg.
• Jeremy Timpf, Army, LB: 79 solo, 38 assists, 117 total, 9.8 tpg.
• Joseph Peterson, Georgia St., LB: 62 solo, 35 assists, 97 total, 9.7 tpg.
• Christian Tago, San Jose St., LB: 61 solo, 35 assists, 96 total, 9.6 tpg.
• Nick Vigil, Utah State, LB: 60 solo, 63 assists, 123 total, 9.5 tpg.
• Michael Mudoh, Tulsa, DB: 55 solo, 58 assists, 113 total, 9.4 tpg.
• Zach Edwards, Cincinnati, DB: 67 solo, 54 assists, 121 total, 9.3 tpg.
• Marc Millan, Idaho, LB: 64 solo, 38 assists, 102 total, 9.3 tpg.
• Lee Skinner, Buffalo, LB: 45 solo, 52 assists, 97 total, 8.8 tpg.

Tackles for Loss: 

• Kamalei Correa, Boise State, DL: 19.0 tfl
• Jake Ganus, UAB, LB: 16.5 tfl
• Nick Vigil, Utah State, LB: 16.5 tfl
• Michael Johnson, ULM, LB: 16.0 tfl
• Marc Millan, Idaho, LB: 14.5 tfl

Sacks:

• Kamalei Correa, Boise State, DL: 12.0 sacks
• Ja'Von Rolland-Jones, Arkansas State, DL: 8.5 sacks
• Michael Wakefield, FIU, DL: 8.0 sacks
• Michael Johnson, ULM, LB: 8.0 sacks
• Ian Seau, Nevada, DL: 8.5 sacks
• Bronson Kaufusi, BYU, LB: 7.0 sacks
• Praise Martin-Oguike, Temple, DL: 7.5 sacks
• Pat O'Connor, EMU, DL: 7.5 sacks
• Derrick Alexander, Tulsa, DL: 7.5 sacks
• Thomas Niles, UCF, DL: 7.5 sacks
• Brian Nordstrom, Rice, DL: 7.5 sacks
• Chad Polk, UNT, DL: 5.5 sacks
• Quinton Bradley, Idaho, DL: 6.0 sacks
• Miles Pace, UCF, DL: 6.0 sacks

Interceptions:

• Jacoby Glenn, UCF, DB: 7 INT
• Darian Thompson, Boise State, DB: 7 INT, 1 TD
• Kevin Byard, MTSU, DB: 6 INT
• Donte Deayon, Boise State, DB: 6 INT, 2 TD
• Montres Kitchens, Troy, DB: 6 INT, 1 TD
• Parry Nickerson, Tulane, DB: 6 INT
• Weston Steelhammer, Air Force, DB: 6 INT
• Xaiver Woods, Louisiana Tech, DB: 6 INT, 2 TD
• Richard Leonard, FIU, DB: 5 INT, 2 TD
• David Mims, Texas State, DB: 5 INT, 1 TD
• Joshua Hawkins, East Carolina, DB: 5 INT
• Adrian McDonald, Houston, DB: 5 INT
• Adairius Barnes, Louisiana Tech, DB: 5 INT
• Nick Johnson, Bowling Green, DB: 5 INT
• Germod Williams, Texas State, DB: 4 INT
• Clint Stephens, Bowling Green, DB: 4 INT
• Andrew Adams, UConn, DB: 4 INT
• Josh Jenkins, Army, DB: 4 INT
• Randall Jette, Massachusetts, DB: 4 INT
• A.J. Leggett, Marshall, DB: 4 INT

Forced Fumbles: 

• Nigel Harris, USF, LB: 6
• Praise Martin-Oguike, Temple: DL: 5
• Nick Vigil, Utah State, LB: 5
• Michael Wakefield, FIU, DL: 4
• Roy Robertson, UTEP, DL: 4
• Kentrell Brice, Louisiana Tech, DB: 4
• Jordan Italiano, Kent State, DB: 3
• Nate D. Smith, Temple, LB: 3
• Boye Aromire, Temple, DB: 3
• Jatavis Brown, Akron, LB: 3
• Tre Clifton, Miami (OH) LB: 3
• Kawe Johnson, New Mexico State, DB: 3
• Jovan Santos-Knox, Massachusetts, LB: 3
• Steven Taylor, Houston, LB: 3

Fumble Recoveries: 

• Richard Leonard, FIU, DB: 4
• Taylor Royster, Bowling Green, DL: 4
• Devin Centers, Utah State, DB: 3
• Davison Colimon, FIU, LB: 3
• Sharif Finch, Temple, DL: 3
• Cody Grice, Akron, DL: 3
• Nigel Haikins, Nevada, DB: 3
• Maleki Harris, USA, LB: 3
• Terrell Hartsfield, Cincinnati, DL: 3
• J'Terius Jones, Miami (OH), DE: 3
• Jarrell Jones, Miami (OH), DB: 3
• Adrian McDonald, Houston, DB: 3
• Jonathan McNeal, Nevada, LB: 3
• Averee Robinson, Temple, DL: 3
• Tanner Vallejo, Boise State, LB: 3
• Trey Wafford, MTSU, LB: 3
• Michael Wakefield, FIU, DL: 3
• Eric Wilson, Cincinnati, LB: 3