2017 Sun Belt Conference Leaders Rushing Defense - On 1st Down through 01/08/2018
| Name | G | Att | Yards | Avg. | TD | Long | 1st | 10+ | 20+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia State | 12 | 170 | 731 | 4.30 | 6 | 58 | 21 | 21 | 7 |
| 2 | South Alabama | 12 | 199 | 887 | 4.46 | 8 | 74 | 19 | 20 | 7 |
| 3 | Appalachian State | 13 | 210 | 897 | 4.27 | 4 | 95 | 23 | 26 | 11 |
| 3 | Texas State | 12 | 210 | 945 | 4.50 | 8 | 71 | 16 | 19 | 5 |
| 5 | Idaho | 12 | 214 | 886 | 4.14 | 9 | 60 | 26 | 27 | 8 |
| 6 | Troy | 13 | 215 | 744 | 3.46 | 3 | 49 | 20 | 21 | 6 |
| 7 | Georgia Southern | 12 | 219 | 1343 | 6.13 | 15 | 75 | 38 | 38 | 15 |
| 8 | Coastal Carolina | 12 | 226 | 1044 | 4.62 | 13 | 88 | 28 | 26 | 6 |
| 9 | Arkansas State | 12 | 235 | 928 | 3.95 | 4 | 71 | 27 | 27 | 11 |
| 10 | Louisiana-Lafayette | 12 | 261 | 1419 | 5.44 | 15 | 77 | 40 | 44 | 13 |
| 11 | New Mexico State | 13 | 264 | 1166 | 4.42 | 13 | 76 | 33 | 33 | 6 |
| 12 | Louisiana-Monroe | 12 | 266 | 1384 | 5.20 | 14 | 66 | 36 | 37 | 14 |
| 1st: First Downs; 10+: Rush attempts of 10 or more yards; 20+: Rush attempts of 20 or more yards | ||||||||||