2025 National Leaders Punt Returns - Games vs. Ranked Teams Only (AP Poll) through 01/09/2026
| Name | Team | Yr | Pos | G | Ret. | Yards | Avg. | TD | Ret./G | Yards/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryan Niblett | Texas | SO | WR | 6 | 7 | 146 | 20.86 | 1 | 1.2 | 24.3 |
| 2 | Malik Benson | Oregon | SR | WR | 5 | 5 | 137 | 27.40 | 1 | 1.0 | 27.4 |
| 3 | Carlos Hernandez | Wk Forest | JR | WR | 2 | 3 | 124 | 41.33 | 1 | 1.5 | 62.0 |
| 4 | Manny Covey | Cincinnati | SO | RB | 4 | 6 | 120 | 20.00 | 0 | 1.5 | 30.0 |
| 5 | Isaiah Sategna III | Oklahoma | JR | WR | 6 | 7 | 97 | 13.86 | 0 | 1.2 | 16.2 |
| 6 | Vicari Swain | S Carolina | SO | DB | 6 | 7 | 96 | 13.71 | 0 | 1.2 | 16.0 |
| 7 | Malachi Toney | Miami (Fl) | FR | WR | 4 | 7 | 95 | 13.57 | 0 | 1.8 | 23.8 |
| 8 | Caullin Lacy | Louisville | SR | WR | 3 | 7 | 79 | 11.29 | 0 | 2.3 | 26.3 |
| 9 | Zachariah Branch | Georgia | JR | WR | 6 | 6 | 77 | 12.83 | 0 | 1.0 | 12.8 |
| 10 | Parker Kingston | BYU | JR | WR | 5 | 6 | 72 | 12.00 | 0 | 1.2 | 14.4 |
| 11 | Nathan Acevedo | SDSU | JR | WR | 1 | 2 | 63 | 31.50 | 1 | 2.0 | 63.0 |
| 11 | KC Concepcion | Texas A&M | JR | WR | 4 | 7 | 63 | 9.00 | 0 | 1.8 | 15.8 |
| 13 | Isaiah Spencer | Va Tech | JR | WR | 4 | 6 | 44 | 7.33 | 0 | 1.5 | 11.0 |
| 14 | Javarius Green | N Carolina | FR | WR | 1 | 4 | 43 | 10.75 | 0 | 4.0 | 43.0 |
| 15 | Devin Voisin | USA | SR | WR | 2 | 2 | 42 | 21.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 21.0 |
| 15 | Kaden Wetjen | Iowa | SR | WR | 4 | 3 | 42 | 14.00 | 0 | 0.8 | 10.5 |
| 17 | JoJo Bermudez | Temple | JR | WR | 5 | 4 | 39 | 9.75 | 0 | 0.8 | 7.8 |
| 18 | Tate Nagy | Kansas | FR | WR | 4 | 4 | 37 | 9.25 | 0 | 1.0 | 9.3 |
| 19 | Zechariah Sample | Ariz St | FR | WR | 3 | 2 | 34 | 17.00 | 0 | 0.7 | 11.3 |
| 19 | Kevin Coleman Jr. | Missouri | SR | WR | 5 | 5 | 34 | 6.80 | 0 | 1.0 | 6.8 |
| 21 | Brandon Inniss | Ohio State | JR | WR | 4 | 4 | 33 | 8.25 | 0 | 1.0 | 8.3 |
| 22 | Jonathan Brady | Indiana | SR | WR | 4 | 4 | 32 | 8.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 8.0 |
| 23 | Josh Cameron | Baylor | SR | WR | 2 | 3 | 30 | 10.00 | 0 | 1.5 | 15.0 |
| 24 | Harrison Wallace III | Miss | SR | WR | 6 | 3 | 29 | 9.67 | 0 | 0.5 | 4.8 |
| 24 | Jacory Barney, Jr. | Nebraska | SO | WR | 3 | 5 | 29 | 5.80 | 0 | 1.7 | 9.7 |
| 26 | Jordan Faison | Notre Dame | JR | WR | 4 | 3 | 28 | 9.33 | 0 | 0.8 | 7.0 |
| 26 | Tony Freeman | Wash St | JR | WR | 4 | 4 | 28 | 7.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 7.0 |
| 28 | Malcolm Simmons | Auburn | SO | WR | 6 | 10 | 27 | 2.70 | 0 | 1.7 | 4.5 |
| 29 | Cole Adams | Alabama | SO | WR | 7 | 6 | 26 | 4.33 | 0 | 0.9 | 3.7 |
| 30 | Ryan Williams | Alabama | SO | WR | 7 | 2 | 25 | 12.50 | 0 | 0.3 | 3.6 |
| 31 | Kam Shanks | Arkansas | SO | WR | 5 | 4 | 24 | 6.00 | 0 | 0.8 | 4.8 |
| 32 | Squirrel White | FSU | SR | WR | 3 | 2 | 23 | 11.50 | 0 | 0.7 | 7.7 |
| 33 | Antione Jackson | UCF | JR | DB | 2 | 1 | 21 | 21.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 10.5 |
| 33 | Jaylen Thomas | SJSU | FR | DB | 1 | 2 | 21 | 10.50 | 0 | 2.0 | 21.0 |
| 33 | Bryant Wesco, Jr. | Clemson | SO | WR | 1 | 2 | 21 | 10.50 | 0 | 2.0 | 21.0 |
| 36 | Jacob De Jesus | California | SR | WR | 1 | 3 | 20 | 6.67 | 0 | 3.0 | 20.0 |
| 37 | David Amador II | UTSA | SO | WR | 3 | 4 | 19 | 4.75 | 0 | 1.3 | 6.3 |
| 38 | Hank Beatty | Illinois | SR | WR | 3 | 2 | 18 | 9.00 | 0 | 0.7 | 6.0 |
| 38 | Tyrell Henry | Wisconsin | JR | WR | 3 | 3 | 18 | 6.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 6.0 |
| 40 | Loghan Thomas | Notre Dame | SO | DL | 3 | 1 | 17 | 17.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 5.7 |
| 40 | Javen Nicholas | Charlotte | JR | WR | 3 | 1 | 17 | 17.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 5.7 |
| 42 | Alvon Isaac | S Florida | SO | RB | 3 | 1 | 16 | 16.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 5.3 |
| 42 | Trebor Peña | Penn State | SR | WR | 3 | 1 | 16 | 16.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 5.3 |
| 42 | Mana Carvalho | Utah | FR | WR | 1 | 2 | 16 | 8.00 | 0 | 2.0 | 16.0 |
| 42 | Gavin Freeman | Okla St | JR | WR | 3 | 2 | 16 | 8.00 | 0 | 0.7 | 5.3 |
| 46 | Blake Purchase | Oregon | SO | OLB | 5 | 1 | 15 | 15.00 | 0 | 0.2 | 3.0 |
| 46 | Sacovie White-Helton | Georgia | FR | WR | 6 | 1 | 15 | 15.00 | 0 | 0.2 | 2.5 |
| 46 | Omari Hayes | Tulane | SO | WR | 3 | 2 | 15 | 7.50 | 0 | 0.7 | 5.0 |
| 46 | Michael Jackson III | Purdue | SR | WR | 5 | 2 | 15 | 7.50 | 0 | 0.4 | 3.0 |
| 46 | Boo Carter | Tennessee | SO | DB | 3 | 4 | 15 | 3.75 | 0 | 1.3 | 5.0 |
| 51 | Garrett Harstad | Kansas St | SO | WR | 3 | 1 | 14 | 14.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 4.7 |
| 51 | Sutton Smith | Memphis | JR | RB | 2 | 4 | 14 | 3.50 | 0 | 2.0 | 7.0 |
| 53 | Demarcus Lacey | Marshall | SR | WR | 2 | 2 | 13 | 6.50 | 0 | 1.0 | 6.5 |
| 53 | Gary Bryant Jr. | Oregon | SR | WR | 4 | 3 | 13 | 4.33 | 0 | 0.8 | 3.3 |
| 55 | Omari Kelly | Mich St | SR | WR | 3 | 1 | 12 | 12.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 4.0 |
| 55 | Tim Keenan III | Alabama | SR | DL | 7 | 1 | 12 | 12.00 | 0 | 0.1 | 1.7 |
| 55 | Peyton Plott | Ga South | FR | WR | 2 | 2 | 12 | 6.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 6.0 |
| 55 | Zavion Thomas | LSU | SR | WR | 5 | 4 | 12 | 3.00 | 0 | 0.8 | 2.4 |
| 59 | DeKalon Taylor | Colorado | SR | RB | 1 | 1 | 11 | 11.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 11.0 |
| 59 | Vernell Brown III | Florida | FR | WR | 3 | 2 | 11 | 5.50 | 0 | 0.7 | 3.7 |
| 59 | Zion Booker | Tulsa | JR | WR | 2 | 3 | 11 | 3.67 | 0 | 1.5 | 5.5 |
| 59 | Makai Lemon | USC | JR | WR | 3 | 3 | 11 | 3.67 | 0 | 1.0 | 3.7 |
| 59 | Ty Bryant | Kentucky | JR | DB | 4 | 3 | 11 | 3.67 | 0 | 0.8 | 2.8 |
| 64 | Aiden Flora | Iowa State | FR | RB | 2 | 1 | 10 | 10.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 5.0 |
| 64 | Andrew Marsh | Michigan | FR | WR | 4 | 1 | 10 | 10.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 2.5 |
| 64 | Mikey Matthews | UCLA | JR | WR | 4 | 2 | 10 | 5.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 2.5 |
| 67 | Teddy Hoffmann | NC State | FR | WR | 4 | 1 | 8 | 8.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 2.0 |
| 67 | Que'Sean Brown | Duke | SO | WR | 4 | 1 | 8 | 8.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 2.0 |
| 67 | Peyton Higgins | Troy | SR | WR | 1 | 2 | 8 | 4.00 | 0 | 2.0 | 8.0 |
| 70 | Christian Neptune | S Florida | FR | WR | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 2.3 |
| 70 | Demetres Samuel Jr. | Syracuse | FR | DB | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 2.3 |
| 70 | Drew Wagner | N'western | SO | WR | 4 | 1 | 7 | 7.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 1.8 |
| 73 | Gabriel Benyard | KSU | SR | WR | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 6.0 |
| 73 | J'Koby Williams | Texas Tech | SO | RB | 4 | 1 | 6 | 6.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 1.5 |
| 73 | Quentin Gibson | Colorado | FR | WR | 4 | 1 | 6 | 6.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 1.5 |
| 73 | Jadan Baugh | Florida | SO | RB | 5 | 1 | 6 | 6.00 | 0 | 0.2 | 1.2 |
| 73 | Kyler Pearson | ECU | SR | WR | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2.00 | 0 | 1.5 | 3.0 |
| 78 | Reggie Frischknecht | BYU | SO | WR | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 1.7 |
| 78 | Derrick Eley | Charlotte | FR | WR | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 1.7 |
| 78 | Dijon Lee Jr. | Alabama | FR | DB | 7 | 1 | 5 | 5.00 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.7 |
| 78 | Eric Willis III | UTEP | SR | WR | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2.50 | 0 | 2.0 | 5.0 |
| 78 | Iverson Hooks | UAB | SO | WR | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2.50 | 0 | 1.0 | 2.5 |
| 83 | Quinn Henicle | ODU | FR | QB | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
| 83 | Xavier Townsend | Iowa State | JR | WR | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 2.0 |
| 83 | Semaj Morgan | Michigan | JR | WR | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| 83 | Denzel Boston | Washington | JR | WR | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| 83 | Justin Williams | Georgia | SO | ILB | 6 | 1 | 4 | 4.00 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.7 |
| 88 | Will Hardy | N Carolina | SR | DB | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| 88 | Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding | ODU | SO | WR | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 1.5 |
| 88 | Jaylin Lucas | FSU | JR | RB | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 1.0 |
| 88 | Martel Hight | Vanderbilt | JR | CB | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 1.0 |
| 92 | Easton Messer | FAU | JR | WR | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| 92 | Baron Tipton | N Texas | FR | WR | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| 92 | Sterling Lockett | Kansas St | JR | WR | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| 92 | Evan Johnson | BYU | JR | CB | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2.00 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| 92 | Terrell Anderson | NC State | SO | WR | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 97 | Dezmen Roebuck | Washington | FR | WR | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| 97 | Lloyd Benson III | Army | JR | SB | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| 97 | Cam Ross | Virginia | SR | WR | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0.50 | 0 | 2.0 | 1.0 |