I have to make this clear right off the bat — take these defense stats for what they’re worth. Some years, defensive stats were not tracked at all for the Warriors — and there other years where they are wildly inconsistent. The only real reliable stat here is interceptions. Hard-hitting defensive back Jerry Karsky holds the career record with a whopping 15, despite missing most of his junior year with a broken leg. Karsky also has three defensive/special teams TDs.

Tackle stats are far less reliable, especially when comparing one single season to another, as it seemed some years the statistician awarded an assisted tackle to anyone within five yards of the play. Mitch Whaley was the original tackles record-holder, which was publicized in the Wheaton Gazette at the time. Brook Bucholz was a stand-out four-year player for the Warriors and surpassed Mitch numbers-wise, however tackles were handed out very liberally by statisticians in the years Brook played. Tom Krenz – a four-year starting middle linebacker – matched Mitch’s numbers in a time where the statisticians handed them out very conservatively, and the Gazette named Tom as a tackles record-holder as well. It’s probably fair to honor all three of these guys as well as Jay Nelson in the 2000s and Carter Thiel in the 2010s as top tacklers in seasons when the stats were not well kept.

Sacks were kept even more sporadically, and it’s barely worth trying to name a leader because so much is unknown. However it is worth noting that Bradan Krump’s documented total of 24 sacks is a monster number.

Career Defensive Statistics

Single-Season Defensive Statistics