What Are Kick Returns?
Kick returns count kickoffs returned by a player. This table ranks college football players for the selected season and displays the applicable minimum qualifier where one is used.
College Football Kick Returns Leaders
| Player | Team | Pos | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Davis Jr. |  | RB | 21 | 2 | 7 | 11 | - | 12 | 9 |
| 2 | Rahkeem Smith |  | WR | 19 | 6 | 12 | 16 | - | 14 | 5 |
| 2 | Brandon Hills |  | WR | 19 | 4 | - | - | - | 6 | 13 |
| 4 | Kenneth Williams |  | RB | 18 | 1 | 8 | 15 | - | 12 | 6 |
| 4 | Jaylon Hawkins |  | WR | 18 | 1 | 6 | 12 | - | 11 | 7 |
| 6 | Alijah Cason |  | WR | 17 | 4 | 10 | - | - | 9 | 8 |
| 7 | Trequan Jones |  | RB | 16 | 4 | 7 | 11 | - | 8 | 8 |
| 8 | Da'Realyst Clark |  | WR | 15 | 1 | 9 | - | - | 5 | 10 |
| 8 | Bryson Graves |  | WR | 15 | 2 | 9 | - | - | 10 | 5 |
| 8 | Triston Morgan |  | RB | 15 | - | - | - | - | 11 | 4 |
| 11 | Darren James-Hamilton |  | S | 14 | 1 | - | - | - | 5 | 9 |
| 12 | Zion Frink |  | CB | 13 | 1 | - | - | - | 11 | 2 |
| 12 | Rahshawn Clark |  | CB | 13 | 3 | 6 | 11 | - | 10 | 3 |
| 12 | Chris Johnson Jr. |  | RB | 13 | 1 | 3 | 10 | - | 8 | 5 |
| 12 | Santana Fleming |  | WR | 13 | 1 | - | - | - | 11 | 2 |
| 12 | TJ Horton |  | RB | 13 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 10 |
| 12 | Niles Davis |  | DB | 13 | - | - | - | - | 8 | 5 |
| 18 | London Montgomery |  | RB | 12 | 5 | 9 | - | - | 5 | 7 |
| 18 | Demonte Greene |  | WR | 12 | 2 | - | - | - | 8 | 4 |
| 18 | Michael Scott |  | WR | 12 | - | 3 | 7 | - | 8 | 4 |
| 21 | Jackson Williams |  | WR | 11 | 1 | 7 | 9 | - | 6 | 5 |
| 21 | Derrick Eley |  | WR | 11 | 2 | 7 | - | - | 7 | 4 |
| 21 | Chris Culliver |  | WR | 11 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 7 |
| 21 | Quayd Hendryx |  | WR | 11 | 1 | 6 | 9 | - | 5 | 6 |
| 21 | Scoop Smith |  | WR | 11 | 3 | 5 | - | - | 2 | 9 |
| 21 | Dominique McKenzie |  | WR | 11 | 1 | - | - | - | 6 | 5 |
| 21 | Leonard Farrow |  | RB | 11 | 4 | 7 | 10 | - | 5 | 6 |
| 28 | Nakai Amachree |  | RB | 10 | - | - | - | - | 7 | 3 |
| 28 | Nyziah Hunter |  | WR | 10 | 3 | - | - | - | 6 | 4 |
| 28 | Keenan Phillips |  | RB | 10 | 2 | 4 | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| 28 | Ja'Corian Norris |  | WR | 10 | 3 | - | - | - | 4 | 6 |
| 28 | Jaren Hamilton |  | WR | 10 | 1 | 5 | 9 | - | 7 | 3 |
| 33 | Ky Woods |  | RB | 9 | 1 | - | - | - | 5 | 4 |
| 33 | Dedrick Latulas |  | WR | 9 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 3 |
| 33 | Eric Richardson |  | WR | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | 9 |
| 33 | Jaylen Jenkins |  | RB | 9 | 4 | - | - | - | 7 | 2 |
| 33 | Phillip Folmar |  | WR | 9 | - | - | - | - | 7 | 2 |
| 33 | Wayne Knight |  | RB | 9 | 1 | 3 | 7 | - | 5 | 4 |
| 39 | Bryson Kuzdzal |  | RB | 8 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 2 |
| 39 | Jmariyae Robinson |  | WR | 8 | 1 | 5 | - | - | 1 | 7 |
| 39 | Adam Taylor |  | CB | 8 | 2 | 6 | - | - | 4 | 4 |
| 39 | Joshua Franklin |  | DB | 8 | 4 | - | - | - | 3 | 5 |
| 39 | TK King |  | WR | 8 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 7 |
| 39 | Dijon Lee Jr. |  | DB | 8 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 3 |
| 39 | Joseph Himon II |  | RB | 8 | 1 | - | - | - | 4 | 4 |
| 39 | Robby Washington |  | WR | 8 | 1 | 4 | - | - | 3 | 5 |
| 39 | Jamill Williams |  | WR | 8 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 3 |
| 39 | Ja'Kayden Ferguson |  | WR | 8 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 5 |
| 39 | Zylan Perry |  | RB | 8 | - | - | - | - | 7 | 1 |
| 39 | MJ Johnson |  | WR | 8 | 2 | 7 | - | - | 5 | 3 |
| 39 | Jeremiah Ware |  | WR | 8 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 5 |
| 39 | Isaiah Stone |  | WR | 8 | 2 | - | - | - | 3 | 5 |
| 53 | J'Koby Williams |  | RB | 7 | 4 | - | - | - | 3 | 4 |
| 53 | Cameron Pettaway |  | RB | 7 | - | - | - | - | 7 | - |
| 53 | Tyreek Robinson |  | WR | 7 | - | - | - | - | 7 | - |
| 53 | Zay Robinson |  | WR | 7 | 1 | 3 | 5 | - | 3 | 4 |
| 53 | Taevion Swint |  | RB | 7 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 3 |
| 53 | TJ Green |  | DB | 7 | 2 | - | - | - | 3 | 4 |
| 53 | Bryson Hammer |  | WR | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | - | 4 | 3 |
| 53 | TJ Smith |  | DB | 7 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 5 |
| 53 | Reed Linder |  | WR | 7 | 2 | 5 | - | - | 6 | 1 |
| 53 | Davian Jackson | | RB | 7 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 3 |
| 53 | DeKalon Taylor |  | RB | 7 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 4 |
| 64 | Cameron Seldon |  | WR | 6 | 1 | 3 | - | - | 5 | 1 |
| 64 | Nate Palmer |  | RB | 6 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 2 |
| 64 | DaMarion Fowlkes |  | WR | 6 | 1 | 1 | 5 | - | 2 | 4 |
| 64 | Justin Cook | | RB | 6 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 6 |
| 64 | Dominique Henry | | WR | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | 6 |
| 64 | Nik Henry |  | WR | 6 | 1 | - | - | - | 6 | - |
| 64 | King Mack |  | S | 6 | 4 | - | - | - | - | 6 |
| 64 | Ethan Feaster |  | WR | 6 | 2 | - | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| 64 | Junior Sherrill |  | WR | 6 | - | - | - | - | 6 | - |
| 64 | Brandon High Jr. |  | RB | 6 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 1 |
| 64 | Jon Monteiro |  | WR | 6 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| 64 | Traylon Ray |  | WR | 6 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 4 |
| 64 | Alante Brown |  | WR | 6 | 1 | - | - | - | 5 | 1 |
| 64 | Max Mosey |  | WR | 6 | 1 | 4 | - | - | 5 | 1 |
| 64 | Isaac Brown |  | RB | 6 | 1 | 6 | - | - | 1 | 5 |
| 64 | Adarion Nettles |  | RB | 6 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 4 |
| 64 | Jordan Malau'ulu |  | WR | 6 | - | 4 | 4 | - | 4 | 2 |
| 64 | Deshonne Redeaux | | RB | 6 | - | - | - | - | 6 | - |
| 82 | Chad Alexander | | RB | 5 | 2 | - | - | - | 3 | 2 |
| 82 | Jeffrey Overton Jr. |  | RB | 5 | 1 | - | - | - | 3 | 2 |
| 82 | Girard Pringle Jr. |  | RB | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | 5 |
| 82 | Ryan Niblett |  | RB | 5 | - | - | 3 | - | 4 | 1 |
| 82 | Kourdey Glass |  | RB | 5 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 4 |
| 82 | Mel Brown |  | RB | 5 | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | 3 |
| 82 | Andre Brown |  | WR | 5 | 2 | - | - | - | 3 | 2 |
| 82 | Kezion Dia-Johnson |  | WR | 5 | 2 | - | - | - | 3 | 2 |
| 82 | Jay Harris |  | RB | 5 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 2 |
| 82 | Isaiah Sategna III |  | WR | 5 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 2 |
| 82 | Turbo Richard |  | RB | 5 | - | - | - | - | 5 | - |
| 82 | Tim Burns Jr. | | WR | 5 | - | 1 | 2 | - | 3 | 2 |
| 82 | Peyton Zachary |  | WR | 5 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 2 |
| 82 | Daune Morris |  | RB | 5 | - | - | - | - | 5 | - |
| 82 | Travis Terrell Jr. |  | RB | 5 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 1 |
| 82 | DJ Butler |  | RB | 5 | 1 | 4 | - | - | 3 | 2 |
| 82 | Jacquon Gibson |  | WR | 5 | - | - | - | - | 5 | - |
| 82 | Noah White |  | RB | 5 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 2 |
| 82 | TJ Lott |  | WR | 5 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 4 |
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Which players lead college football in kick returns in 2026?
Chris Davis Jr. of Stanford is the 2026 college football leader in kick returns at 21, through games played October 29, 2026. Rahkeem Smith of Georgia Tech & Brandon Hills of Akron are tied for second at 19. Davis's total puts him 2 returns clear of second place & 10 ahead of the 25th-ranked player.
Chris Davis Jr. of Stanford is the highest-ranked running back on the board at 21 returns, first overall. Kenneth Williams of Michigan State & Jaylon Hawkins of San Diego State are tied for fourth at 18, then Alijah Cason of Sam Houston sixth at 17, Trequan Jones of Tulsa seventh at 16 & Da'Realyst Clark of Kent State, Bryson Graves of Delaware and Triston Morgan of Kennesaw State are tied for eighth at 15.
One return separates fourth from sixth, the widest single step anywhere below the top four. Darren James-Hamilton of Ohio is 11th at 14, then Zion Frink of Old Dominion, Rahshawn Clark of Washington, Chris Johnson Jr. of Clemson, Santana Fleming of Middle Tennessee, TJ Horton of Ball State and Niles Davis of California tied 12th at 13.
All 14 players are within 2 returns of each other. London Montgomery of Florida, Demonte Greene of Temple & Michael Scott of James Madison are tied 18th at 12, then Jackson Williams of North Dakota State, Derrick Eley of Charlotte, Chris Culliver of Marshall, Quayd Hendryx of Minnesota and Scoop Smith of Miami (OH) tied 21st at 11. Fourteen of the 25 are wide receivers; the seven running backs are Davis first, Williams fourth, Jones seventh, Morgan eighth, Johnson 12th, Horton 12th & Montgomery 18th; the only safety is James-Hamilton 11th; the two cornerbacks are Frink 12th & Clark 12th; the only defensive back is Davis 12th. Six ranks inside the top 25 are shared by more than one player.
How this ranking is measured
These 25 are drawn from 1,034 college football players ranked in the 2026 regular season. No minimum kick return threshold is applied. Kick returns count kickoffs returned by a player. Figures are as of October 29, 2026 & are recalculated on StatRankings after each game's play-by-play is processed.