2025 College Return Yards Allowed per Punt Leaders
Total return yards allowed divided by every punt that was not blocked, so a fair catch or an out-of-bounds punt counts as zero. College punts whose play text records no outcome are left out. It is the fairest single measure of how much a returner gets to work with.
Lowest comes first. Coverage teams share the credit. In 2025, Jack Smith (0.2) topped college football punters in return yards allowed per punt, ahead of David Chapeau (0.4) and Joshua Huiet (0.5). 124 punters qualify (minimum 30 punts). The median qualified punter had 2.8.
Final 2025 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.
| Rk | Player | Team | Ret yds/punt | Punts | Avg | Net | In 20 | In 20 % | TB % | FC % | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack Smith | Clemson | 0.2 | 45 | 42.1 | 41.1 | 22 | 49% | 4% | 56% | +8.3 |
| 2 | David Chapeau | Louisville | 0.4 | 38 | 39.7 | 37.8 | 18 | 49% | 8% | 59% | +1.2 |
| 3 | Joshua Huiet | Kennesaw State | 0.5 | 57 | 41.3 | 39.7 | 25 | 43% | 4% | 52% | +1.0 |
| 4 | Dante Atton | Temple | 0.5 | 62 | 42.2 | 41.4 | 26 | 43% | 2% | 80% | +5.7 |
| 5 | Brett Thorson | Georgia | 0.6 | 42 | 45.2 | 42.7 | 20 | 49% | 10% | 62% | +10.1 |
| 6 | Jackson Waller | Arkansas State | 0.6 | 54 | 41.4 | 40.3 | 24 | 44% | 4% | 35% | +0.9 |
| 7 | Lachlan Carrigan | Memphis | 0.6 | 42 | 43.4 | 41.2 | 20 | 47% | 9% | 67% | +7.4 |
| 8 | Ethan Craw | TCU | 0.7 | 41 | 41.5 | 38.7 | 14 | 35% | 10% | 39% | +0.8 |
| 9 | Tyler Perkins | Iowa State | 0.8 | 42 | 42.4 | 40.9 | 19 | 45% | 5% | 57% | +5.5 |
| 10 | Archie Wilson | Nebraska | 0.9 | 32 | 38.9 | 37.6 | 14 | 44% | 3% | 48% | −1.8 |
| 11 | Nick Verdugo | Fresno State | 0.9 | 47 | 40.6 | 39.6 | 16 | 33% | 2% | 74% | +7.7 |
| 12 | Keelan Crimmins | Illinois | 0.9 | 35 | 44.0 | 38.5 | 9 | 25% | 17% | 56% | −0.8 |
| 13 | Patrick Rea | James Madison | 1.0 | 43 | 40.7 | 38.9 | 17 | 40% | 5% | 62% | +0.1 |
| 14 | Bryce McFerson | Maryland | 1.0 | 56 | 44.2 | 40.4 | 20 | 36% | 15% | 47% | +0.5 |
| 15 | Orion Phillips | Utah | 1.1 | 35 | 42.9 | 40.4 | 13 | 38% | 9% | 44% | +6.2 |
| 16 | Ryan Harris | Washington State | 1.1 | 51 | 40.9 | 38.3 | 18 | 35% | 6% | 58% | +0.1 |
| 17 | Jackson Ross | Tennessee | 1.2 | 37 | 44.3 | 42.2 | 19 | 51% | 5% | 56% | +6.9 |
| 18 | James Wagenseller | Army | 1.2 | 32 | 43.1 | 40.8 | 15 | 47% | 6% | 48% | +5.6 |
| 19 | Dylan Joyce | Miami | 1.3 | 37 | 44.4 | 40.5 | 19 | 51% | 14% | 43% | +4.6 |
| 20 | Hudson Kaak | Auburn | 1.3 | 49 | 42.0 | 40.7 | 13 | 27% | 2% | 63% | +4.2 |
| 21 | Tommy Doman | Florida | 1.3 | 50 | 44.0 | 41.1 | 18 | 38% | 8% | 45% | +3.0 |
| 22 | Max Dean | New Mexico State | 1.4 | 55 | 42.3 | 39.7 | 20 | 36% | 5% | 42% | −0.8 |
| 23 | Shamus Florio | Boston College | 1.5 | 49 | 39.7 | 38.3 | 16 | 31% | 2% | 27% | +0.8 |
| 24 | Mason Love | South Carolina | 1.5 | 53 | 45.1 | 41.4 | 18 | 33% | 8% | 39% | +6.9 |
| 25 | Kade Reynoldson | Duke | 1.5 | 39 | 44.5 | 41.1 | 18 | 45% | 5% | 55% | +6.9 |
| 26 | Connor Weselman | Missouri | 1.6 | 41 | 41.8 | 39.0 | 14 | 34% | 7% | 55% | −0.6 |
| 27 | David Nunez | Texas State | 1.6 | 36 | 40.4 | 38.2 | 12 | 32% | 5% | 58% | +0.4 |
| 28 | Oscar Doyle | Boise State | 1.6 | 52 | 43.7 | 40.4 | 18 | 35% | 10% | 60% | +5.2 |
| 29 | Michael Kern | California | 1.6 | 38 | 41.6 | 38.7 | 9 | 24% | 8% | 42% | −3.7 |
| 30 | Jack McCallister | Purdue | 1.6 | 50 | 43.2 | 40.8 | 24 | 48% | 4% | 44% | +6.5 |
| 31 | Oscar Bird | Ole Miss | 1.6 | 32 | 45.9 | 43.8 | 10 | 31% | 3% | 29% | +11.0 |
| 32 | Cal Joseph | Wake Forest | 1.7 | 57 | 38.1 | 35.1 | 20 | 35% | 4% | 60% | −13.9 |
| 33 | Gabriel Nwosu | Penn State | 1.7 | 35 | 46.1 | 42.9 | 14 | 42% | 9% | 46% | +9.5 |
| 34 | Emilio Duran | Toledo | 1.7 | 60 | 40.6 | 37.3 | 23 | 38% | 10% | 47% | −5.4 |
| 35 | Nathan Totten | Marshall | 1.7 | 55 | 44.9 | 40.4 | 26 | 45% | 18% | 47% | +10.4 |
| 36 | Rhys Dakin | Iowa | 1.7 | 39 | 43.2 | 40.1 | 17 | 45% | 8% | 60% | +5.3 |
| 37 | Jack Burgess | Texas Tech | 1.7 | 40 | 43.4 | 41.0 | 19 | 48% | 5% | 53% | +7.9 |
| 38 | Wade McSparron | SMU | 1.8 | 52 | 42.4 | 39.1 | 16 | 31% | 8% | 45% | +2.1 |
| 39 | Pierse Stainton | Miami (OH) | 1.9 | 59 | 41.9 | 40.0 | 25 | 43% | 3% | 60% | +11.1 |
| 40 | Simon McClannan | Kansas State | 1.9 | 48 | 42.5 | 39.5 | 19 | 40% | 9% | 39% | +2.4 |
| 41 | Reed Harradine | Southern Miss | 1.9 | 34 | 40.8 | 38.7 | 6 | 18% | 3% | 39% | −3.5 |
| 42 | Max Morgan | Liberty | 1.9 | 46 | 41.2 | 38.8 | 14 | 31% | 9% | 53% | −4.4 |
| 43 | Magnus Haines | Ohio | 2.0 | 38 | 42.2 | 39.9 | 16 | 43% | 5% | 46% | +1.7 |
| 44 | Alec Clark | Tulane | 2.0 | 45 | 46.8 | 43.4 | 17 | 38% | 9% | 38% | +13.1 |
| 45 | Angus Davies | Tulsa | 2.0 | 46 | 43.3 | 41.6 | 21 | 43% | 0% | 42% | +0.3 |
| 46 | Ashton Logan | Middle Tennessee | 2.0 | 66 | 44.6 | 41.1 | 33 | 50% | 11% | 41% | +9.2 |
| 47 | Isaac Lovison | Arizona | 2.1 | 32 | 42.6 | 39.8 | 12 | 38% | 6% | 56% | −1.6 |
| 48 | Conor Donaghy | Jacksonville State | 2.1 | 47 | 39.6 | 37.1 | 17 | 37% | 4% | 53% | −3.0 |
| 49 | Caleb Junko | Pittsburgh | 2.1 | 48 | 44.5 | 40.7 | 12 | 25% | 10% | 41% | +0.3 |
| 50 | Connor Stutz | UConn | 2.2 | 44 | 45.5 | 41.0 | 23 | 51% | 13% | 45% | +7.8 |
| 51 | Ryan Millmore | Western Michigan | 2.2 | 53 | 42.1 | 38.4 | 22 | 42% | 10% | 49% | +4.1 |
| 52 | Nathan Torney | Louisiana | 2.2 | 50 | 42.1 | 39.4 | 10 | 20% | 4% | 37% | −6.7 |
| 53 | Cam Brown | UNLV | 2.3 | 43 | 44.0 | 41.1 | 15 | 35% | 7% | 36% | −0.1 |
| 54 | Ethan Pulliam | Mississippi State | 2.4 | 40 | 46.7 | 45.9 | 10 | 26% | 0% | 48% | +14.0 |
| 55 | Dylan Drennan | Buffalo | 2.4 | 64 | 44.8 | 41.6 | 26 | 41% | 8% | 21% | +7.8 |
| 56 | Alex Smith | Georgia Southern | 2.4 | 54 | 42.6 | 39.6 | 15 | 28% | 6% | 49% | −2.3 |
| 57 | Curtis Gerrand | Sam Houston | 2.5 | 64 | 43.0 | 40.4 | 23 | 37% | 3% | 56% | +2.5 |
| 58 | Hunter Green | San Diego State | 2.5 | 59 | 46.6 | 41.2 | 29 | 49% | 17% | 41% | +10.2 |
| 59 | Tyler White | Texas A&M | 2.7 | 44 | 44.4 | 40.9 | 18 | 41% | 5% | 42% | +4.0 |
| 60 | Jacob Carlson | Navy | 2.7 | 32 | 44.6 | 40.3 | 14 | 44% | 13% | 29% | +3.9 |
| 61 | Jakob Anderson | Rutgers | 2.8 | 33 | 44.2 | 41.8 | 12 | 36% | 3% | 62% | +4.6 |
| 62 | Blake Doud | Alabama | 2.8 | 41 | 42.9 | 38.8 | 15 | 36% | 2% | 49% | −0.4 |
| 63 | Daniel Hughes | New Mexico | 2.8 | 35 | 45.5 | 42.1 | 11 | 29% | 5% | 41% | +7.9 |
| 64 | Wes Pahl | Oklahoma State | 2.8 | 64 | 46.5 | 42.6 | 21 | 32% | 6% | 36% | +1.5 |
| 65 | John Hoyet Chance | Louisiana Tech | 2.9 | 58 | 47.0 | 42.9 | 27 | 47% | 9% | 33% | +11.3 |
| 66 | Ian Ratliff | App State | 2.9 | 54 | 43.9 | 41.1 | 11 | 20% | 2% | 52% | +6.0 |
| 67 | Tom Weston | Minnesota | 2.9 | 59 | 42.8 | 39.5 | 19 | 33% | 5% | 31% | +1.4 |
| 68 | Luke Akers | Northwestern | 3.0 | 32 | 45.4 | 40.7 | 10 | 32% | 13% | 39% | +6.8 |
| 69 | Tom Maginness | North Carolina | 3.0 | 56 | 42.7 | 39.8 | 21 | 38% | 2% | 47% | +2.8 |
| 70 | Charlie Durkin | Kent State | 3.1 | 48 | 41.1 | 37.3 | 13 | 28% | 4% | 29% | −11.3 |
| 71 | Jack Bouwmeester | Texas | 3.1 | 55 | 44.7 | 38.4 | 24 | 43% | 15% | 43% | +1.5 |
| 72 | Brenden Lach | Delaware | 3.1 | 42 | 39.5 | 35.6 | 15 | 35% | 2% | 47% | −7.4 |
| 73 | Hudson Hollenbeck | Michigan | 3.2 | 38 | 43.0 | 37.8 | 11 | 28% | 8% | 32% | −2.1 |
| 74 | Landon Rehkow | Utah State | 3.2 | 61 | 42.7 | 38.5 | 19 | 31% | 7% | 32% | −6.8 |
| 75 | Bronson Long | Charlotte | 3.2 | 70 | 42.7 | 38.4 | 19 | 28% | 6% | 48% | −5.4 |
| 76 | Ian Brandt | Old Dominion | 3.2 | 41 | 41.0 | 35.4 | 18 | 41% | 7% | 53% | −9.3 |
| 77 | Jack Stonehouse | Syracuse | 3.3 | 60 | 46.5 | 41.6 | 15 | 26% | 10% | 52% | +8.9 |
| 78 | Evan Crenshaw | Troy | 3.3 | 65 | 45.8 | 41.7 | 32 | 49% | 6% | 30% | +5.8 |
| 79 | Oliver Straw | West Virginia | 3.3 | 66 | 42.5 | 38.9 | 17 | 26% | 5% | 22% | −7.0 |
| 80 | Mitchell Tomasek | Eastern Michigan | 3.3 | 48 | 45.1 | 40.8 | 10 | 20% | 14% | 26% | +0.1 |
| 81 | Adam Saul | Ball State | 3.3 | 70 | 40.7 | 37.4 | 17 | 24% | 4% | 44% | −12.8 |
| 82 | Luke Dunne | Washington | 3.3 | 28 | 40.2 | 33.6 | 7 | 23% | 14% | 26% | −8.5 |
| 83 | Devin Bale | Arkansas | 3.4 | 34 | 45.6 | 39.0 | 14 | 40% | 12% | 35% | −0.3 |
| 84 | Makenzie Ryan | UL Monroe | 3.4 | 60 | 38.9 | 35.5 | 14 | 23% | 5% | 45% | −21.5 |
| 85 | Atticus Bertrams | Wisconsin | 3.6 | 35 | 41.8 | 35.9 | 17 | 44% | 5% | 14% | −5.6 |
| 86 | Damon Greaves | Colorado | 3.7 | 64 | 43.7 | 38.3 | 16 | 25% | 8% | 35% | −2.6 |
| 87 | Grayson Miller | Oklahoma | 3.7 | 54 | 46.2 | 40.3 | 30 | 58% | 12% | 26% | +3.5 |
| 88 | Sam Vander Haar | BYU | 3.7 | 38 | 42.5 | 38.8 | 16 | 43% | 3% | 61% | +0.4 |
| 89 | Bryan Hansen | Colorado State | 3.8 | 57 | 47.9 | 44.1 | 15 | 26% | 9% | 19% | +17.4 |
| 90 | Chase Leon | South Florida | 3.8 | 32 | 43.0 | 39.2 | 15 | 47% | 3% | 44% | −2.9 |
| 91 | Aidan Laros | Kentucky | 3.8 | 50 | 44.5 | 38.6 | 20 | 39% | 8% | 51% | +2.1 |
| 92 | Bailey Ettridge | Nevada | 3.8 | 45 | 45.1 | 41.5 | 18 | 39% | 4% | 58% | +7.7 |
| 93 | Alex Bacchetta | Rice | 3.9 | 60 | 44.6 | 39.5 | 20 | 32% | 8% | 42% | +3.3 |
| 94 | Finn Lappin | Kansas | 3.9 | 39 | 45.3 | 41.2 | 13 | 33% | 3% | 44% | +1.7 |
| 95 | Trent Carrizosa | San José State | 3.9 | 39 | 45.6 | 40.1 | 12 | 32% | 13% | 44% | −6.1 |
| 96 | Bart Edmiston | Wyoming | 3.9 | 65 | 46.1 | 38.6 | 25 | 37% | 17% | 20% | +3.1 |
| 97 | Stewart McDonald | Missouri State | 3.9 | 42 | 42.7 | 36.1 | 13 | 32% | 15% | 29% | −11.2 |
| 98 | Caden Noonkester | NC State | 4.1 | 52 | 43.6 | 39.0 | 23 | 45% | 6% | 48% | −1.5 |
| 99 | Anthony Venneri | UCF | 4.2 | 48 | 40.7 | 35.6 | 19 | 40% | 8% | 36% | −9.3 |
| 100 | Joseph Castle | Akron | 4.3 | 48 | 42.8 | 36.6 | 17 | 35% | 10% | 35% | −5.5 |
| 101 | Declan Duley | Central Michigan | 4.4 | 50 | 40.9 | 36.7 | 18 | 37% | 6% | 59% | −6.2 |
| 102 | John Henderson | Bowling Green | 4.4 | 59 | 40.5 | 35.4 | 20 | 34% | 10% | 43% | −18.4 |
| 103 | Emile Sebafundi | Coastal Carolina | 4.4 | 62 | 42.5 | 37.1 | 17 | 27% | 7% | 31% | −11.2 |
| 104 | Jake Ference | Northern Illinois | 4.5 | 30 | 43.7 | 39.9 | 7 | 23% | 3% | 48% | +0.3 |
| 105 | Aleksi Pulkkinen | South Alabama | 4.5 | 49 | 40.4 | 36.2 | 11 | 22% | 6% | 24% | −10.1 |
| 106 | Billy Gowers | Hawai'i | 4.6 | 46 | 46.4 | 41.4 | 24 | 52% | 4% | 37% | +2.6 |
| 107 | Patrick Foley | UAB | 4.7 | 30 | 41.6 | 34.2 | 6 | 19% | 10% | 33% | −17.6 |
| 108 | Noah Botsford | UTEP | 4.7 | 59 | 45.6 | 41.2 | 19 | 32% | 7% | 4% | +5.1 |
| 109 | Will Karoll | UCLA | 4.8 | 44 | 43.5 | 39.2 | 12 | 27% | 5% | 39% | −0.5 |
| 110 | Marshall Nichols | Georgia Tech | 4.8 | 31 | 47.3 | 42.0 | 13 | 42% | 10% | 29% | +7.7 |
| 111 | Cole Maynard | Western Kentucky | 4.9 | 51 | 48.7 | 42.4 | 14 | 27% | 10% | 33% | +3.7 |
| 112 | Max Fletcher | Cincinnati | 5.1 | 35 | 45.8 | 42.0 | 17 | 49% | 3% | 45% | −3.4 |
| 113 | Trey Wilhoit | Florida International | 5.3 | 50 | 43.5 | 38.6 | 14 | 28% | 4% | 52% | −3.1 |
| 114 | Aidan Flintoft | Stanford | 5.3 | 58 | 43.3 | 39.1 | 15 | 27% | 2% | 30% | −2.1 |
| 115 | Keegan Andrews | Massachusetts | 5.5 | 69 | 46.5 | 41.7 | 32 | 45% | 3% | 39% | +5.0 |
| 116 | Liam Dougherty | Houston | 5.8 | 50 | 44.3 | 37.0 | 18 | 35% | 14% | 36% | −9.2 |
| 117 | Kanyon Floyd | Arizona State | 6.4 | 36 | 41.4 | 34.5 | 8 | 22% | 6% | 36% | −13.7 |
| 118 | Grant Chadwick | LSU | 6.5 | 59 | 45.3 | 38.2 | 21 | 36% | 8% | 35% | −4.8 |
| 119 | Nick Veltsistas | Virginia Tech | 6.7 | 47 | 45.4 | 37.3 | 18 | 38% | 9% | 36% | −7.3 |
| 120 | Caile Hogan | UTSA | 6.9 | 50 | 44.9 | 39.8 | 15 | 32% | 6% | 35% | −3.4 |
| 121 | Reed Chandley | Georgia State | 7.7 | 54 | 45.8 | 39.5 | 23 | 43% | 4% | 21% | −2.4 |
| 122 | Daniel Sparks | Virginia | 8.0 | 35 | 47.5 | 37.9 | 14 | 40% | 11% | 19% | −0.4 |
| 123 | Ryan Eckley | Michigan State | 8.8 | 49 | 48.5 | 40.8 | 21 | 42% | 2% | 27% | −8.0 |
| 124 | AJ Winsor | Oregon State | 9.6 | 62 | 44.7 | 34.5 | 15 | 24% | 8% | 16% | −22.1 |
All 2025 College punter rankings
Return Yards Allowed per Punt in other seasons: 2026 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
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