An effective pass rusher is an invaluable asset for a defense. The right one will win their matchup at the line of scrimmage, put pressure on the opposing team's quarterback, disrupt the offense's timing and cause incompletions and even turnovers.
One of the best modern metrics to measure an edge rusher's value is sacks. Tackling a quarterback behind the line of scrimmage results in a loss of yards and a loss of down. One such tackle is called a sack. An assisted tackle of the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage equals half of a sack.
Sacks became an official statistic in college football in 2000. Since then, no player has accumulated more in a single FBS season than Terrell Suggs. The former Arizona State standout compiled a record 24 sacks for the Sun Devils in 2002. Suggs was named a unanimous All-American, was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as college football's top defensive player and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 10th pick in the 2003 NFL draft.
Below is a list of the players with the most sacks in a single FBS season since sacks became an official stat in 2000:
24 - Terrell Suggs (Arizona State) in 2002
20 - Elvis Dumervil (Louisville) in 2005
19 - Hau'oli Kikaha (Washington) in 2014
18.5 - Nate Orchard (Utah) in 2014
17.5 - Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) in 2021
17.5 - Jaylon Ferguson (Louisiana Tech) in 2018
17.5 - Dwight Freeney (Syracuse) in 2001
17 - Mike Green (Marshall) in 2024
17 - Josh Hines-Allen (Kentucky) in 2018
17 - Von Miller (Texas A&M) in 2009
17 - Ameer Ismail (Western Michigan) in 2006
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