Virginia Tech Football Records
Defense

Game Highs & Lows Since 1950

Total Defense

Plays
37
Fewest
at West Virginia - 1966
at Richmond - 1963
100
Most
Syracuse - 2016
Syracuse - 2002
vs. William & Mary - 1971
at Ohio - 1971
Yards Allowed
35
Fewest
Duke - 2005
833
Most
at Alabama - 1973
TDs
11
Most
at Alabama - 1973

Rushing Defense

Rushing Attempts
15
Fewest
Rhode Island - 2019
78
Most
Georgia Tech - 2018
vs. Wake Forest - 1971
Yards Allowed
-28
Fewest
Arkansas State - 1997
at Tampa - 1967
748
Most
at Alabama - 1973
TDs
9
Most
at Alabama - 1973

Pass Defense

Passing Attempts
1
Fewest
Georgia Tech - 2018
67
Most
Clemson - 2007
Completions
0
Fewest
Georgia Tech - 2018
six times
38
Most
Clemson - 2007
Yards Allowed
0
Fewest
Georgia Tech - 2018
at Clemson - 1956
at West Virginia - 1957
498
Most
Maryland - 1993
TDs
6
Most
at Vanderbilt - 1982

Punt Returns

Returns
0
Fewest
Several times, Most Recent:
Rutgers - 2024
9
Most
Syracuse - 1988
Yards Allowed
-18
Fewest
NC State - 2022
187
Most
at Maryland - 1950
TDs
1
Most
Several times, Most Recent:
Maryland - 2021

Kickoff Returns

Returns
0
Fewest
Several times, Most Recent:
Clemson - 2024
9
Most
Several times, Most Recent:
Duke - 2007
Yards Allowed
-1
Fewest
vs. Wake Forest - 1979
226
Most
North Carolina - 2012
TDs
1
Most
Several times, Most Recent:
Wake Forest - 2023

First Downs

FDs Allowed
4
Fewest
at Pennsylvania - 1955
35
Most
Georgia Tech - 2018
Rushing FDs Allowed
0
Fewest
Maryland - 2008
31
Most
Georgia Tech - 2018
Passing FDs Allowed
0
Fewest
Several times, Most Recent:
Georgia Tech - 2018
22
Most
Pitt - 2020
East Carolina - 1992
FDs by Penalty
0
Fewest
Several times, Most Recent:
Georgia Tech - 2024
8
Most
West Virginia - 2022

Fumbles

Fumbles Caused
11
Most
at Florida State - 1958
Fumbles Recovered
5
Most
several times

Season Highs & Lows Since 1950

Total Defense

Plays
691
Fewest
1997 (11 games)
960
Most
2007 (14 games)
Yards Allowed
2,401
Fewest
1980 (11 games)
5,702
Most
2018 (13 games)
Yards Per Game
218.0
Fewest
1980 (11 games)
466.0
Most
1973 (11 games)
Yards Per Play
3.00
Fewest
1984 (11 games)
6.39
Most
2018 (13 games)

Rushing Defense

Rushing Attempts
367
Fewest
1983 (11 games)
610
Most
1973 (11 games)
Yards Allowed
544
Fewest
1982 (11 games)
3,453
Most
1973 (11 games)
Yards Per Game
49.5
Fewest
1982 (11 games)
313.9
Most
1973 (11 games)
Yards Per Carry
1.0
Fewest
1982 (11 games)
5.5
Most
2018 (13 games)
TDs
2
Fewest
1982 (11 games)
37
Most
1973 (11 games)

Pass Defense

Passing Attempts
177
Fewest
1952 (11 games)
518
Most
2007 (14 games)
Completions
87
Fewest
1952 (11 games)
277
Most
2007 (14 games)
Yards Allowed
1,064
Fewest
1952 (11 games)
3,009
Most
2003 (13 games)
Yards Per Game
96.0
Fewest
1952 (11 games)
266.0
Most
2020 (11 games)
Yards Per Attempt
5.17
Fewest
2001 (11 games)
8.0
Most
1973 (11 games)
Yards Per Completion
10.35
Fewest
2006 (13 games)
16.0
Most
1973 (11 games)
TDs Passing
6
Fewest
1975 (11 games)
1983 (11 games)
2006 (13 games)
21
Most
2019 (13 games)
Completion Pct.
43.0
Fewest
1980 (11 games)
61.7
Most
2020 (11 games)

Scoring Defense

Points Allowed
91
Fewest
1983 (11 games)
403
Most
2018 (13 games)
Points Per Game
8.27
Fewest
1983 (11 games)
34.5
Most
1973 (11 games)
TDs
11
Fewest
1980 (11 games)
1982 (11 games)
1983 (11 games)
53
Most
2018 (13 games)

Punt Returns

Returns
7
Fewest
2020 (11 games)
40
Most
1970 (11 games)
Yards Allowed
28
Fewest
2020 (11 games)
529
Most
1952 (11 games)
Yards Per Return
2.0
Fewest
1986 (11 games)
15.1
Most
2021 (13 games)
TDs
2
Most
1970 (11 games)
1988 (11 games)
2008 (14 games)
2013 (13 games)

Kickoff Returns

Returns
8
Fewest
2018 (13 games)
63
Most
2007 (14 games)
2009 (13 games)
Yards Allowed
160
Fewest
2018 (13 games)
1,461
Most
2010 (14 games)
Yards Per Return
15.0
Fewest
1980 (11 games)
27.2
Most
2022 (11 games)
TDs
1
Most
Several times, Most Recent:
1987 (11 games)

First Downs

FDs Allowed
143
Fewest
1980 (11 games)
266
Most
2021 (13 games)
Rushing FDs Allowed
46
Fewest
1982 (11 games)
151
Most
1973 (11 games)
Passing FDs Allowed
34
Fewest
1952 (11 games)
139
Most
2020 (11 games)
FDs by Penalty
2
Fewest
1952 (11 games)
29
Most
2015 (13 games)

Fumbles

Opponent Fumbles
13
Fewest
2019 (13 games)
2020 (11 games)
48
Most
1975 (11 games)
Fumbles Recovered
4
Fewest
2021 (13 games)
29
Most
1972 (11 games)

Tackling Records Since 1974

Most Tackles

Game:
30
Rick Razzano at Kentucky - 1977

Season:
177
Scott Hill - 1987

Rick Razzano - 1975

Career:
634
Rick Razzano - 1974-1977

Most Unassisted Tackles

Game:
21
Rick Razzano vs. Richmond - 1975

Season:
102
Rick Razzano - 1975

Career:
368
Rick Razzano - 1974-1977

Most Assisted Tackles

Game:
15
Mike Johnson vs. Miami - 1982
Ashley Lee vs. Richmond - 1981

Season:
110
Scott Hill - 1987

Career:
266
Rick Razzano - 1974-1977

Most Quarterback Sacks

Game:
4
Antwaun Powell-Ryland vs. Boston College - 2024
Antwaun Powell-Ryland at Old Dominion - 2024
Antwaun Powell-Ryland vs. Wake Forest - 2023
J.C. Price vs. Miami - 1995
Bruce Smith vs. William & Mary - 1984
Bruce Smith vs. Duke - 1983

Season:
22
Bruce Smith - 1983

Career:
46
Bruce Smith - 1981-1984

Most Tackles For Loss
(Includes Sacks)

Season:
31
Bruce Smith - 1983

Career:
71
Bruce Smith - 1981-1984

Career Defensive Leaders (since 1987)

NameYears PlayedTotal TacklesUA/ATFLSACKS
Rick Razzano 1974-1977 634 368/266 0 0
Vince Hall 2004-2007 404 162/242 30 9.5
George DelRicco 1992-1995 401 207/194 23 9
Dax Hollifield 2018-2022 355 147/208 30 12
Ken Brown 1991-1994 342 195/147 18 12
Andrew Motuapuaka 2014-2017 333 166/167 32.5 11.5
Scott Hill 1987-1989 329 168/161 21 16
Ben Taylor 1998-2001 318 178/140 31 7
Chamarri Conner 2018-2022 315 208/107 21 7.5
Jimmy Whitten 1987-1990 308 124/184 8 13
Alan Tisdale 2019-2023 306 135/171 21.5 8
Cornell Brown 1993-1996 302 164/138 29 36
Jamel Smith 1996-1999 301 165/136 27 6
Mikal Baaqee 2001-2004 299 166/133 18.5 5.5
Chuck Clark 2013-2016 296 173/123 14 2.5
Rayshard Ashby 2018-2020 294 156/138 34 10
Xavier Adibi 2004-2007 291 133/158 30 11
Brandon Semones 1993-1996 288 182/106 21 12
Jack Tyler 2010-2013 286 123/163 32.5 8.5
Randy Cockrell 1987-1989 271 167/104 11 0
Willie Pile 1999-2002 268 161/107 5 1
Torrian Gray 1993-1996 261 169/92 6 3
Waverly Jackson 1993-1996 257 107/150 12 9
J.C. Price 1992-1995 256 125/131 30 17
John Engelberger 1996-1999 253 153/100 25 26.5
Kyshoen Jarrett 2011-2014 249 155/94 8.5 0.5
Pierson Prioleau 1995-1998 237 138/99 7 3
Reggie Floyd 2016-2019 230 139/91 14 0.5
Bruce Taylor 2009-2012 226 110/116 33.5 16.5
Tremaine Edmunds 2015-2017 226 122/104 35 10
Brandon Manning 2001-2004 221 115/106 11 2

Year-By-Year Leaders

YearNameTotal
1974 Rick Razzano 165
1975 Rick Razzano 177
1976 Rick Razzano 140
1977 Rick Razzano 152
1978 Chip Keatley 102
1979 Chris Cosh 86
1980 Ashley Lee 95
1981 Ashley Lee 146
1982 Mike Johnson 148
1983 Mike Johnson 135
1984 Vince Daniels 113
1985 Paul Nelson 103
1986 Paul Nelson 104
1987 Scott Hill 177
1988 Horacio Moronta 81
1989 Bobby Martin 79
1990 Archie Hopkins 89
1991 Wooster Pack 70
1992 Melendez Byrd 89
1992 P.J. Preston 89
1993 Ken Brown 113
1994 George DelRicco 130
1995 George DelRicco 137
1996 Brandon Semones 88
1997 Steve Tate 104
1998 Jamel Smith 99
1999 Jamel Smith 89
2000 Ben Taylor 103
2001 Ben Taylor 121
2002 Mikal Baaqee 112
2003 Michael Crawford 131
2004 Mikal Baaqee 71
2005 Vince Hall 112
2006 Vince Hall 128
2007 Xavier Adibi 115
2008 Purnell Sturdivant 99
2009 Cody Grimm 106
2010 Bruce Taylor 91
2011 Antone Exum 89
2012 Jack Tyler 119
2013 Jack Tyler 100
2014 Kyshoen Jarrett 88
2015 Chuck Clark 107
2016 Andrew Motuapuaka 114
2017 Tremaine Edmunds 109
2018 Rayshard Ashby 105
2019 Rayshard Ashby 120
2020 Chamarri Conner 81
2021 Dax Hollifield 92
2022 Dax Hollifield 82
2023 Keli Lawson 80
2024 Jaden Keller 64

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