Catching 62 passes would be a great career for many high school receivers. Catching 62 from an opposing quarterback makes you a national record holder.
Baron Jackson averaged nearly 16 interceptions in four seasons to jump to the top of the MaxPreps list of all-time national interception leaders during his time at Southern Lab (Baton Rouge, La.) from 1984 to 1987.
Jackson opened his freshman year with 14 interceptions and followed with 16 as a sophomore, including five in one game. He had his best season as a junior, grabbing 21 interceptions, while finishing his senior year with 11.
Jackson moved ahead of the previous record holder, Donald Moore of Splendora (Texas), during the postseason. Moore had a Hall of Fame career of his own. He ran for 6,850 career yards during the late 1970s and he once had seven interceptions in one game before finishing his career with 59.
Interception records, however, can be a little fuzzy. For many years, Moore's seven interceptions were the No. 3 mark for a single game.
No. 1 was Ken Golin of Broome (S.C.), who had nine interceptions in one game. Except that he didn't.
In fact there was no such person as Ken Golin. Broome had a receiver named Ken Bolin who had nine "receptions" in a state-final loss to Myrtle Beach. His reception total set a state championship game record. Somehow that got twisted into "interceptions" and the nonexistent Ken Golin was listed in the national record book for well over 20 years.
Then there was Glenn Rogers of Sandpoint (Idaho), who was listed with eight interceptions in a game against Bonners Ferry in 1928. Except that never happened either. Rogers did have three interceptions in that game and the team had eight, but somehow that got mixed up and became Rogers alone picking off eight passes.
Golin (or Bolin) and Rogers are no longer listed in the National Federation of High Schools Record Book and Moore is No. 1 along with two others with seven.
One player still in the record book is Jim Linnstaedter of Brenham (Texas). An all-state player at Brenham and a standout at Texas A&M in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Linnstaedter is listed with 55 career interceptions (which would be No. 3 all-time) and a single-season record of 35 interceptions. MaxPreps even listed Linnstaedter's 35 picks as an unbreakable record several years ago.
Except that Linnstaedter's numbers also are in question. Other than mention on national record book lists, there was no mention, in real time, of Linnstaedter's accomplishment.
For one, the NFHS record book lists the record as happening in 1956. Linnstaedter was a freshman on the varsity in 1956, and did not make all-district and he is not even mentioned in any articles about Brenham that year. Same thing of his sophomore season in 1957. Linnstaedter was not all-district and there's no mention of him intercepting any passes that year.
Only during Linnstaedter's senior year in 1959 was he listed with any interceptions at all. In a story prior to Brenham's final game against Cleburne, the Fort Worth Telegram quotes the Brenham coach as stating that Linnstaedter had 39 career interceptions over four years on the varsity. No mention of 55 interceptions and it means that 35 interceptions in one year was much less likely.
How Linnstaedter made his way to national record book is unknown. The accomplishment may have been sent in to Bill McMurray when he was compiling the Texas state record book in the early 1970s. It's possible that the claim was never properly vetted. Regardless, Linnstaedter is still listed in the NFHS record book, but he is listed with 39 career interceptions on this list.
Sources for the list include the NFHS record book, state association record books, Joe Lee Smith's Texas High School Football History, Cal-Hi Sports Record Book by Nelson Tennis and Mark Tennis, Doug Huff's National High School Football Record Book and research done via newspapers.com. Any additions or changes to the list, please send to Kevin Askeland at kevinaskeland65@gmail.com
Top 100 all-time career high school football interception leaders
1. 62 — Baron Jackson,
Southern Lab (Baton Rouge, La.), 1984-87
2. 59 — Donald Moore,
Splendora (Texas), 1976-80
3. 47 — Trivor Graf,
Strasburg (Colo.), 1989-90
3. 47 — Richard Bailey, Painter Central (Painter, Va.) (now closed), 1979-82
5. 45 — Steve Allen Warren,
Southampton (Courtland, Va.), 1971-73
6. 43 — Jay Wyatt,
Diboll (Texas), 1972-74
7. 42 — Jeff Johnson,
Liberty County (Bristol, Fla.), 1980-83
7. 42 — Trevor Hadley,
Bothell (Wash.), 2007-09
9. 41 — Plez Atkins,
Bartlett (Texas), 1989-92
9. 41 — Leroy Thompson,
Austin-East (Knoxville, Tenn.), 1983-86
9. 41 — Tony Garner,
Wylie (Texas), 1976-77
12. 40 — Richie Ange,
Jamesville (N.C.), 1981-84
12. 40 — Mike Boxwell,
Dumas (Texas), 1959-61
14. 39 — Gerron Blount,
Garrison (Texas), 2002-04
14. 39 — Jim Linnstaedter,
Brenham (Texas), 1956-59
16. 38 — Fred Rogers,
Eden (Texas), 1971-74
16. 38 — Keith Green, West Rome (Rome, Ga.), 1981-83
18. 37 — Eric Volbrecht,
St. Michael-Albertville (Albertville, Minn.), 1991-94
18. 37 — Chad Geiger,
Milford (Neb.), 1995-97
18. 37 — Joe Lafko,
Frazier (Perryopolis, Pa.), 1981-83
18. 37 — Cy Butler,
Weston (Mass.), 1990-92
22. 36 — Van Nichols,
Frisco (Texas), 1970-73
22. 36 — Montreze Bridges,
Lanett (Ala.), 2015-18
22. 36 — Quinton Craig,
Tarrant (Birmingham, Ala.), 1985-87
22. 36 — Brett Winegardner,
Pioneer (Royal Center, Ind.), 1999-2001
22. 36 — Reggie Ash,
Carrick (Pittsburgh, Pa.), 1968-70
22. 36 — John Thomas,
River Forest (Hobart, Ind.), 1966-68
22. 36 — Phillip Geiggar,
Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport, La.), 1996-99
29. 35 — Conrad Kjerstad,
Wall (S.D.), 2002-06
30. 34 — Steve Shaw,
Iroquois (Louisville, Ky.), 1979-81
30. 34 — Larry McCain,
Forestville (Md.), 1997-2000
30. 34 — Thane Miller,
Jal (N.M.), 1984-86
30. 34 — Lance Gubler,
Hurricane (Utah), 1980-82
30. 34 — Paul Kinne,
Paso Robles (Calif.), 1969-71
30. 34 — Johnathan Whiteside,
True Divine Word Academy (St. Louis), 2017-20
36. 33 — Travon Bellamy,
Eleanor Roosevelt (Greenbelt, Md.), 2003-05
36. 33 — Tony Griner,
Montclair (N.J.), 1999-2001
36. 33 — Ken Hoskins,
Luling (Texas), 1968-70
36. 33 — Leon Melvin,
Western (Louisville, Ky.), 2008-10
36. 33 — Roy Gruel,
Glenwood City (Wis.), 1981-84
36. 33 — Jake Owens,
Pacelli (Stevens Point, Wis.), 2000-03
36. 33 — Chip Caudill, Burch (W.Va.) (now a middle school), 1970-73
36. 33 — Brian Dowling,
St. Ignatius (Cleveland), 1962-64
36. 33 — Cory Howe,
Oroville (Wash.), 1992-95
36. 33 — Mark Rickard,
Republic (Wash.), 1993-96
36. 33 — Walt Bailey,
Bethel (Hampton, Va.), 1979-81
47. 32 — Jarrod Reese,
Seminole (Okla.), 1994-96
47. 32 — Brandon Tomerlin,
Superior (Ariz.), 1995-98
47. 32 — Travis Neidig,
St. John (Kan.), 2004-07
47. 32 — Denver McQuary,
Houston (Miss.), 2013-15
47. 32 — Tony Scott,
Burns (Lawndale, N.C.), 1992-94
47. 32 — Greg Boyd,
Lincoln Park (Mich.), 1990-92
31 interceptions
Joe Burnett,
Eustis (Fla.), 2002-04
Sandro Mayo,
American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 1980-83
Rich Sheasley,
Boron (Calif.), 1996-98
Desmond Reed,
Temple City (Calif.), 1999-2002
Charles Paige,
Pewaukee (Wis.), 1963-64
Kyle Brady,
Tooele (Utah), 2000-02
Tom Coombe,
Bloomsburg (Pa.), 1980-82
Joe Bob Bizzell,
Permian (Odessa, Texas), 1970-72
Larry Watts,
East Marion (Columbia, Miss.), 1992-94
Jason Mohap,
North Schuylkill (Ashland, Pa.), 1993-95
30 interceptions
Jack Dixson,
Boone (Orlando, Fla.), 2014-17
Donald Ray Robinson,
Baker (Fla.), 1968-70
Eric McClurg,
Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.), 2000-02
Troy Jensen,
Santa Teresa (San Jose, Calif.), 1986-88
James Brim,
North Surry (Mount Airy, N.C.), 1980-82
Steve McNair,
Mount Olive (Miss.), 1988-90
Terrell Buckley,
Pascagoula (Miss.), 1987-89
Harold Smith,
Florence (Ariz.), 1972-74
Jordan Everson,
Evansville/Albany (Evansville, Wis.), 2001-04
Andy Sandelick,
Greenwood (Wis.), 2003-06
Jeff Gotron,
St. Joseph Central Catholic (Fremont, Ohio), 1976-78
Stacey Saunders,
Indian River (Chesapeake, Va.), 1984-86
Bart James,
McClintock (Tempe, Ariz.), 1985-87
Larry Feltus,
Wilkinson County (Woodville, Miss.), 1993-95
Paul Humphries,
Chesnee (S.C.), 1989-91
Greg Thomas,
Flagler Palm Coast (Fla.), 1989-91
Antonio Wardlow,
Parkland (Winston-Salem, N.C.), 2002-04
Charles Washington,
Spruce (Dallas), 1982-84
Graylin Johnson,
Port Arthur Memorial (Port Arthur, Texas), 1985-87
29 interceptions
Chaz Thompson,
Hart County (Munfordville, Ky.), 2002-05
Sergio Spencer,
Male (Louisville, Ky.), 1999-02
Brian Wright,
Eminence (Ky.), 1995-98
Billy Burris,
Florence (Ariz.), 1987-89
Justice Cole,
Barton (Lexa, Ark.), 2011-13
Kristian Story, Lanett (Ala.), 2016-19
Desmond King,
East English Village Prep (Detroit), 2011-13
28 interceptions
Anthony Cauthon,
El Dorado Springs (El Dorado Springs, Mo.), 2003-06
Jason Henry,
Tolono Unity (Tolono, Ill.), 1996-97
Jay Barry,
Kent Denver (Englewood, Colo.), 1985-87
Phillip Williams,
Meek (Arley, Ala.), 2001-04
Jeff Childes,
Oliver Springs (Tenn.), 1978-80
Ivan Hogan,
Walton (DeFuniak Springs, Fla.), 1983-86
27 interceptions
Spanky Johnson,
Mann (Greenville, S.C.), 1981-84
Justin Khan,
Live Oak (Calif.), 1999-2002
Jeffrey Scott,
Port Clinton (Ohio), 1974-77
Mike Baer,
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau (Galesville, Wis.), 1968-70
Lance Wand,
Shullsburg (Wis.), 1982-85
CJ Nightingale,
Mendon (Mich.), 2006-09
Bob Westerkamp,
Montini Catholic (Lombard, Ill.), 1979-82
Brian Bouchillon,
Cherokee County (Centre, Ala.), 1990-92
Angel Corona,
Flowing Wells (Tucson, Ariz.), 1983-85
Don Beazizo,
Concrete (Wash.), 1982-84
