College Football Defensive Touchdowns Leaders

Defensive touchdowns count scores credited to the defense, such as touchdowns on interception or fumble returns. Last updated

What Are Defensive Touchdowns?

Defensive touchdowns count scores credited to the defense, such as touchdowns on interception or fumble returns. This table ranks college football players for the selected season and displays the applicable minimum qualifier where one is used.

Which players lead college football in defensive touchdowns in 2026?

Jaylon Hawkins of San Diego State is the 2026 college football leader in defensive touchdowns at 3, through games played October 29, 2026. Easton Messer of Florida Atlantic, Javon Tracy of Minnesota, D'kyah Banks of Bowling Green, Dijon Lee Jr. of Alabama, Austin Brawley of New Mexico, Darren James-Hamilton of Ohio, Vicari Swain of South Carolina, Vernell Brown III of Florida, Austin Romaine of Texas Tech, Caleb Nix of Jacksonville State, Jaylen Thomas of Washington State, Michael Scott of James Madison, Ayden Duncanson of East Carolina, Kalen Woods of Middle Tennessee, Leonard Farrow of Florida Atlantic & De'Marcus Peters of New Mexico State are tied for second at 2. Hawkins's total puts him 1 touchdown clear of second place & 2 ahead of the 25th-ranked player.

D'kyah Banks of Bowling Green is the highest-ranked safety on the board at 2 touchdowns, second overall.

One touchdown separates second from 18th, the widest single step anywhere below the top four. Jake Ripp of Boise State, Caleb Smith of Arizona, Suntarine Perkins of Ole Miss, Darius Givance of North Dakota State, Joel Boamah of Missouri State, Rahkeem Smith of Georgia Tech, Jordan Ross of LSU & Billy Pullen of UL Monroe are tied 18th at 1.

All 24 players are within 1 touchdown of each other. Florida Atlantic is the only program with two players in the top 25. Seven of the 25 are wide receivers; the seven safeties are Banks second, Brawley second, James-Hamilton second, Nix second, Thomas second, Woods second & Givance 18th; the three defensive backs are Lee second, Swain second & Duncanson second; the four linebackers are Romaine second, Ripp 18th, Perkins 18th & Pullen 18th; the only running back is Farrow second; the two cornerbacks are Peters second & Boamah 18th; the only defensive end is Ross 18th. Two ranks inside the top 25 are shared by more than one player.

How this ranking is measured

These 25 are drawn from 5,637 college football players ranked in the 2026 regular season. No minimum tackle threshold is applied. Defensive touchdowns count scores credited to the defense, such as touchdowns on interception or fumble returns. Figures are as of October 29, 2026 & are recalculated on StatRankings after each game's play-by-play is processed.