Donnel Pumphrey  leads the Aztecs and the entire FBS  in rushing yards. 
The San Diego State Aztecs football statistical leaders  are individual statistical leaders of the San Diego State Aztecs football  program in various categories,[ 1]   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. The Aztecs represent San Diego State University  in NCAA Division I  as a member of the Mountain West Conference  (MW).
Although San Diego State began competing in intercollegiate football in 1921,[ 1]   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, San Diego State has been grouped in the same MW football division as Hawaii  since divisional play began in 2013, meaning that it plays 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 have not chosen to do so in any season since the start of divisional play.  
Since 2013, the MW has held a conference championship game . The Aztecs have appeared in this game twice (2015 and 2016), giving players in those seasons an extra game to accumulate statistics. 
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.[ 2]   The Aztecs have played in eight bowl games since this decision (all since 2010), giving many recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics. 
These lists are updated through the end of the 2017 season . Of particular note is running back Donnel Pumphrey , who leads the entire Division I FBS  in rushing yards.
 
Passing 
Passing yards 
Career
 
Rk
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Years
  
1 
Ryan Lindley  
12,690 
2008  2009  2010  2011 
 
2 
Todd Santos  
11,425 
1984  1985  1986  1987 
 
3 
Billy Blanton 
8,165 
1993  1994  1995  1996 
 
4 
Kevin O'Connell  
7,689 
2004  2005  2006  2007 
 
5 
Dan McGwire  
7,484 
1989  1990 
 
6 
David Lowery 
5,998 
1989  1991  1992  1993 
 
7 
Brian Sipe  
5,707 
1969  1970  1971 
 
8 
Dennis Shaw  
5,324 
1968  1969 
 
9 
Adam Hall 
5,173 
2001  2002  2003 
 
10 
Quinn Kaehler 
5,164 
2013  2014 
 
 
Single season
 
Rk
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Year
  
1 
Todd Santos  
3,932 
1987 
 
2 
Dan McGwire  
3,833 
1990 
 
3 
Ryan Lindley  
3,830 
2010 
 
4 
Dan McGwire  
3,651 
1989 
 
5 
Dennis Shaw  
3,394 
1969 
 
6 
Matt Kofler  
3,337 
1981 
 
7 
Billy Blanton 
3,300 
1995 
 
8 
Adam Hall 
3,253 
2002 
 
9 
Billy Blanton 
3,221 
1996 
 
10 
Ryan Lindley  
3,153 
2011 
 
 
 
  
 
Passing touchdowns 
Rushing 
Rushing yards 
Career
 
Rk
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Years
  
1 
Donnel Pumphrey  
6,405[ 4]  
2013  2014  2015  2016 
 
2 
Marshall Faulk  
4,786 
1991  1992  1993 
 
3 
Larry Ned  
3,792 
1998  1999  2000  2001 
 
4 
Rashaad Penny  
3,643[ 5]  
2014  2015  2016  2017 
 
5 
Ronnie Hillman  
3,384 
2010  2011 
 
6 
Jonas Lewis 
3,015 
1996  1997  1998  1999 
 
7 
Adam Muema 
2,959 
2011  2012  2013 
 
8 
George Jones  
2,904 
1995  1996 
 
9 
Norm Nygaard 
2,766 
1952  1953  1954 
 
10 
Wayne Pittman 
2,498 
1991  1992  1993  1994 
 
 
Single season
 
Rk
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Year
  
1 
Rashaad Penny  
2,248[ 5]  
2017 
 
2 
Donnel Pumphrey  
2,133[ 4]  
2016 
 
3 
Donnel Pumphrey  
1,867[ 4]  
2014 
 
4 
George Jones  
1,842 
1995 
 
5 
Ronnie Hillman  
1,711 
2011 
 
6 
Donnel Pumphrey  
1,653[ 4]  
2015 
 
7 
Marshall Faulk  
1,630 
1992 
 
8 
Marshall Faulk  
1,586 
1991 
 
9 
Larry Ned  
1,549 
2001 
 
10 
Ronnie Hillman  
1,532 
2010 
 
 
 
  
 
Rushing touchdowns 
Receiving 
Receptions 
Receiving yards 
Career
 
Rk
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Years
  
1 
J. R. Tolver  
3,572 
1999  2000  2001  2002 
 
2 
Darnay Scott  
3,139 
1991  1992  1993 
 
3 
Vincent Brown  
3,110 
2007  2008  2009  2010 
 
4 
Will Blackwell  
2,896 
1994  1995  1996 
 
5 
Jeff Webb  
2,890 
2001  2003  2004  2005 
 
6 
Patrick Rowe  
2,678 
1987  1988  1990  1991 
 
7 
Az-Zahir Hakim  
2,622 
1994  1995  1996  1997 
 
8 
Tim Delaney 
2,535 
1968  1969  1970 
 
9 
DeMarco Sampson  
2,242 
2005  2008  2009  2010 
 
10 
Monty Gilbreath 
2,241 
1986  1987  1988  1989 
 
 
Single season
 
Rk
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Year
  
1 
J. R. Tolver  
1,785 
2002 
 
2 
Kassim Osgood  
1,552 
2002 
 
3 
Patrick Rowe  
1,392 
1990 
 
4 
Vincent Brown  
1,352 
2010 
 
5 
Craig Scoggins 
1,301 
1966 
 
6 
Tim Delaney 
1,300 
1969 
 
7 
Gary Garrison  
1,272 
1964 
 
8 
Darnay Scott  
1,262 
1993 
 
9 
Tom Nettles 
1,227 
1968 
 
10 
DeMarco Sampson  
1,220 
2010 
 
 
 
  
 
Receiving touchdowns 
Total offense 
Total offense  is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[ 9]  
Total offense yards 
Career
 
Rk
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Years
  
1 
Ryan Lindley  
12,415  
2008  2009  2010  2011 
 
2 
Todd Santos  
10,513  
1984  1985  1986  1987 
 
3 
Kevin O'Connell  
9,001  
2004  2005  2006  2007 
 
4 
Billy Blanton 
8,014  
1993  1994  1995  1996 
 
5 
Dan McGwire  
7,087  
1989  1990 
 
6 
Donnel Pumphrey  
6,421 [ 4]  
2013  2014  2015  2016 
 
7 
David Lowery 
5,930  
1989  1991  1992  1993 
 
8 
Brian Sipe  
5,374  
1969  1970  1971 
 
9 
Dennis Shaw  
5,371  
1968  1969 
 
10 
Adam Hall 
5,007  
2001  2002  2003 
 
 
Single season
 
Rk
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Year
  
1 
Ryan Lindley  
3,799  
2010 
 
2 
Todd Santos  
3,688  
1987 
 
3 
Dan McGwire  
3,664  
1990 
 
4 
Matt Kofler  
3,528  
1981 
 
5 
Kevin O'Connell  
3,471  
2007 
 
6 
Dan McGwire  
3,423  
1989 
 
7 
Billy Blanton 
3,324  
1995 
 
8 
Dennis Shaw  
3,197  
1969 
 
9 
Billy Blanton 
3,161  
1996 
 
10 
Adam Hall 
3,143  
2002 
 
 
 
  
 
Touchdowns responsible for 
"Touchdowns responsible for" is the official NCAA term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.[ 10]  
 
 
Single game
 
Rk
 
Player
 
TDs
 
Year
 
Opponent
  
1 
Dennis Shaw  
9  
1969  
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.[ 11]  
Statistics are from the 2017 San Diego State football record book[ 1]   as updated to reflect the 2017 season.
Career
 
Rk
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Years
  
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
 
Rk
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Year
  
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 
 
 
 
  
 
Defense 
Interceptions 
 
 
Single game
 
Rk
 
Player
 
Ints
 
Year
 
Opponent
  
1 
Dick Adair 
4 
1949  
New Mexico State
  
2 
Ed Ricketts 
3 
1951  
San Diego Marines
  
 
Damontae Kazee 
3[ 14]  
2015  
San Diego
  
 
Luq Barcoo 
3[ 15]  
2019  
Colorado State
  
 
  
 
Tackles 
 
 
Single game
 
Rk
 
Player
 
Tackles
 
Year
 
Opponent
  
1 
Russell Allen  
22 
2007  
Utah
  
2 
Ty Youngs 
21 
1971  
Iowa State
  
 
Alan Dale 
21 
1981  
Iowa State
  
 
Corey Boudreaux 
21 
2008  
Air Force
  
5 
Whip Walton 
20 
1977  
Tulsa
  
 
Lee Brannon 
20 
1988  
Hawaii
  
 
  
 
Sacks 
 
 
Single game
 
Rk
 
Player
 
Sacks
 
Year
 
Opponent
  
1 
Mike Douglass 
5.0 
1976  
UTEP
  
2 
Andy Coviello 
4.5 
1991  
New Mexico
  
3 
Levi Esene 
3.5 
1986  
BYU
  
 
Kyle Kelley 
3.5[ 20]  
2015  
Cincinnati 
 
 
  
 
Kicking 
Field goals made 
Field goal percentage 
 
Single season
 
Rk
 
Player
 
FG%
 
Year
  
1 
Gabriel Plascencia 
92.9% [ 27]  
2024 
 
2 
John Baron II 
91.3% [ 21]  
2016 
 
3 
Chris O'Brien 
89.5%  
1985 
 
4 
Garrett Palmer 
88.2%  
2005 
 
5 
Garrett Palmer 
86.7%  
2007 
 
6 
Chris O'Brien 
84.6%  
1984 
 
 
Matt Araiza 
84.6% [ 22]  
2019 
 
8 
Donny Hageman 
80.0%  
2014 
 
 
John Baron II 
80.0% [ 21]  
2017 
 
 
Jack Browning 
80.0% [ 23]  
2022 
 
 
  
 
Scoring 
Points 
Touchdowns 
Unlike the "Total touchdowns" lists in the "Total offense" section, these lists count touchdowns scored . Accordingly, these lists include rushing, receiving, and return touchdowns, but not passing touchdowns.
References 
^ a   b   c   "Records"  (PDF) . 2017 San Diego State Aztecs Media Guide . San Diego State Aztecs. Archived from the original  (PDF)  on December 29, 2017. Retrieved December 28,  2017 . 
 
^   "NCAA changes policy on football stats" . ESPN.com . Associated Press . August 28, 2002. Retrieved August 20,  2016 . 
 
^ a   b   "Jordan Wynn's career night lifts No. 23 Utah past SDSU" . ESPN.com . November 20, 2010. 
 
^ a   b   c   d   e   f   g   h   "Donnel Pumphrey" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 18,  2016 . 
 
^ a   b   c   d   "Rashaad Penny" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 23,  2017 . 
 
^   "Pumphrey breaks record as San Diego St. beats Cal 45-40" . ESPN.com . September 10, 2016. 
 
^   "Aztecs roll behind Pumphrey's 267 yards, 3 TDs" . ESPN.com . November 29, 2014. 
 
^   "Jesse Matthews" . ESPN.com . 
 
^   "2022 Football Bowl Subdivision Records"  (PDF) . NCAA. p. 12. Retrieved October 15,  2022 . 
 
^   "2022 Football Bowl Subdivision Records"  (PDF) . NCAA. p. 12. Retrieved October 15,  2022 . 
 
^   "2022 Football Bowl Subdivision Records"  (PDF) . NCAA. p. 6. Retrieved October 15,  2022 . 
 
^   "Tariq Thompson" . ESPN.com . 
 
^   "Luq Barcoo" . ESPN.com . 
 
^   "San Diego State with 5 interceptions, beats San Diego 37-3" . ESPN.com . September 5, 2015. 
 
^   "San Diego Stat vs. Colorado State Box Score" . ESPN.com . October 5, 2019. Retrieved December 8,  2019 . 
 
^   "Kyahva Tezino" . ESPN.com . 
 
^ a   b   "Jonah Tavai" . ESPN.com . 
 
^ a   b   "Cameron Thomas" . ESPN.com . 
 
^   "Trey White" . ESPN.com . 
 
^   "San Diego State beats Cincinnati 42-7 in Hawaii Bowl" . ESPN.com . December 24, 2015. 
 
^ a   b   c   d   e   f   "John Baron II" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 16,  2017 . 
 
^ a   b   c   d   e   "Matt Araiza" . ESPN.com . 
 
^ a   b   c   d   "Jack Browning" . ESPN.com . 
 
^   "Garoppolo's 3 TD passes sink San Diego St., 40-19" . ESPN.com . August 31, 2013. 
 
^   "San Diego State 40, Utah State 13" . ESPN.com . October 28, 2016. 
 
^   "San Diego State vs. Fresno State Box Score" . ESPN.com . November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 30,  2023 . 
 
^ a   b   "Gabriel Plascencia" . ESPN.com . 
 
  
Venues 
College Field / Aztec Field (1921, 1923–1925, 1927–1928, 1934–1935) 
Navy "Sports" Field (1922, 1926, 1929–1931, 1933–1934) 
Balboa Stadium  (1921–1925, 1927–1929, 1932, 1934–1935, 1940–1941, 1945–1947, alternate in several other seasons) 
Aztec Bowl  (1936–1942, 1947–1966) 
San Diego Stadium  (1967–2019) 
Dignity Health Sports Park  (2020–2021) 
Snapdragon Stadium  (2022–present) 
 Bowls & rivalries People Seasons National championship seasons in bold