Northwestern Wildcats football statistical leaders

The Northwestern Wildcats football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Northwestern Wildcats football program in various categories,[1] including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Wildcats represent Northwestern University in the NCAA's Big Ten Conference.

Although Northwestern began competing in intercollegiate football in 1876,[1] records from before the 1950s are often incomplete and inconsistent, so players from then may not make it onto these lists.

These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:

• Since the 1950s, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length.
• The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers.
• Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.[2] The Wildcats have played in 10 bowl games since the decision, allowing many recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics.

These lists are updated through the end of the 2017 season.

Passing

Passing yards

Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Clayton Thorson 10,731[3] 2015 2016 2017 2018 2 Brett Basanez 10,580 2002 2003 2004 2005 3 Len Williams 7,487 1990 1991 1992 1993 4 C. J. Bachér 7,319 2005 2006 2007 2008 5 Trevor Siemian 5,931 2011 2012 2013 2014 6 Zak Kustok 5,822 1999 2000 2001 7 Mike Greenfield 5,803 1984 1985 1986 1987 8 Sandy Schwab 5,679 1982 1983 1984 1985 9 Steve Schnur 5,612 1993 1994 1995 1996 10 Dan Persa 5,181 2009 2010 2011

Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 C. J. Bachér 3,656 2007 2 Brett Basanez 3,622 2005 3 Mike Kafka 3,430 2009 4 Clayton Thorson 3,183[3] 2018 5 Clayton Thorson 3,182[3] 2016 6 Clayton Thorson 2,844[3] 2017 7 Brett Basanez 2,838 2004 8 Sandy Schwab 2,735 1982 9 Zak Kustok 2,692 2001 10 Steve Schnur 2,632 1996

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Mike Kafka 532[4] 2009 Auburn (Outback Bowl) 2 C. J. Bachér 520[5] 2007 Michigan State 3 Brett Basanez 513[6] 2004 TCU 4 C. J. Bachér 470[7] 2007 Minnesota 5 Brett Basanez 463[8] 2005 Purdue 6 Clayton Thorson 455[9] 2018 Nebraska 7 Mike Greenfield 446 1985 Northern Illinois 8 Sandy Schwab 436 1982 Michigan 9 Zak Kustok 421 2001 Bowling Green 10 Brett Basanez 416[10] 2005 UCLA (Sun Bowl)

Passing touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Clayton Thorson 61[3] 2015 2016 2017 2018 2 Len Williams 44 1990 1991 1992 1993 Brett Basanez 44 2002 2003 2004 2005 4 C. J. Bachér 43 2005 2006 2007 2008 5 Zak Kustok 42 1999 2000 2001 6 Dan Persa 34 2009 2010 2011 7 Steve Schnur 32 1993 1994 1995 1996 8 Mitch Anderson 28 1972 1973 1974 9 Trevor Siemian 27 2011 2012 2013 2014 10 Maurie Daigneau 23 1969 1970 1971

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Clayton Thorson 22[3] 2016 2 Brett Basanez 21 2005 3 Zak Kustok 20 2001 4 Zak Kustok 19 2000 C. J. Bachér 19 2007 C. J. Bachér 19 2008 7 Steve Schnur 17 1996 Dan Persa 17 2011 Clayton Thorson 17 2018 10 Mike Kafka 16 2009

Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Mitch Anderson 5 1973 Minnesota C. J. Bachér 5[5] 2007 Michigan State

Rushing

Rushing yards

Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Justin Jackson 5,440[11] 2014 2015 2016 2017 2 Damien Anderson 4,485 1998 1999 2000 2001 3 Tyrell Sutton 3,886 2005 2006 2007 2008 4 Darnell Autry 3,793 1994 1995 1996 5 Bob Christian 2,643 1987 1988 1989 1990 6 Jason Wright 2,625 2000 2001 2002 2003 7 Noah Herron 2,524 2001 2002 2003 2004 8 Greg Boykin 2,465 1972 1973 1975 1976 9 Kain Colter 2,180 2010 2011 2012 2013 10 Mike Adamle 2,015 1968 1969 1970

Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Damien Anderson 2,063 2000 2 Darnell Autry 1,785 1995 3 Justin Jackson 1,524[11] 2016 4 Tyrell Sutton 1,474 2005 5 Darnell Autry 1,452 1996 6 Justin Jackson 1,418[11] 2015 7 Jason Wright 1,388 2003 8 Noah Herron 1,381 2004 9 Venric Mark 1,366 2012 10 Justin Jackson 1,311[11] 2017

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Mike Adamle 316 1969 Wisconsin 2 Byron Sanders 295 1987 Minnesota 3 Damien Anderson 292 2000 Indiana 4 Damien Anderson 268 2000 Michigan 5 Jason Wright 251[12] 2003 Illinois 6 Tyrell Sutton 244[13] 2005 Wisconsin 7 Darnell Autry 240 1996 Iowa 8 Jason Wright 237[14] 2003 Bowling Green (Motor City Bowl) 9 Damien Anderson 230 2000 Minnesota 10 Darnell Autry 226 1995 Purdue

Rushing touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Justin Jackson 41[11] 2014 2015 2016 2017 2 Damien Anderson 38 1998 1999 2000 2001 3 Darnell Autry 35 1994 1995 1996 4 Jason Wright 32 2000 2001 2002 2003 5 Tyrell Sutton 31 2005 2006 2007 2008 6 Kain Colter 28 2010 2011 2012 2013 7 Clayton Thorson 27 2015 2016 2017 2018 8 Noah Herron 26 2001 2002 2003 2004 9 Zak Kustok 22 1999 2000 2001 10 Ron Burton 21 1957 1958 1959

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Damien Anderson 23 2000 2 Jason Wright 20 2003 3 Darnell Autry 17 1995 Darnell Autry 17 1996 5 Tyrell Sutton 16 2005 6 Justin Jackson 15[11] 2016 7 Noah Herron 14 2004 8 Ron Burton 12 1958 Jason Wright 12 2002 Venric Mark 12 2012 Kain Colter 12 2012

Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Mike Adamle 4 1970 Minnesota Darnell Autry 4 1996 Iowa Damien Anderson 4 2000 Illinois Damien Anderson 4 2000 Indiana Damien Anderson 4 2001 Duke Jason Wright 4 2002 Indiana Jason Wright 4[15] 2003 Kansas Jason Wright 4[16] 2003 Indiana Jason Wright 4[12] 2003 Illinois Tyrell Sutton 4[17] 2005 Northern Illinois Kain Colter 4[18] 2012 Indiana

Receiving

Receptions

Career Rank Player Rec Years 1 D'Wayne Bates 210 1995 1996 1997 1998 2 Richard Buchanan 197 1987 1988 1989 1990 3 Jeremy Ebert 173 2008 2009 2010 2011 4 Kunle Patrick 171 2000 2001 2002 2003 5 Shaun Herbert 168 2003 2004 2005 2006 6 Ross Lane 163 2005 2006 2007 2008 7 Mark Philmore 163 2002 2003 2004 2005 8 Eric Peterman 160 2005 2006 2007 2008 9 Lee Gissendaner 156 1990 1991 1992 1993 8 Tyrell Sutton 154 2005 2006 2007 2008

Single season Rank Player Rec Year 1 Richard Buchanan 94 1989 2 Zeke Markshausen 91 2009 3 Austin Carr 90 2016 4 Ricky Edwards 83 1983 D'Wayne Bates 83 1998 6 Shaun Herbert 79 2005 7 D'Wayne Bates 75 1996 Jeremy Ebert 75 2011 9 Lee Gissendaner 68 1992 10 Eric Peterman 66 2007

Single game Rank Player Rec Year Opponent 1 Jon Harvey 17 1982 Michigan 2 Zeke Markshausen 16[19] 2009 Michigan State 3 Todd Jenkins 15 1982 Purdue 4 Richard Buchanan 14 1989 Minnesota 5 Don Stonesifer 13 1950 Minnesota Sam Poulos 13 1979 Illinois Richard Buchanan 13 1989 Duke Lee Gissendaner 13 1993 Minnesota Jeremy Ebert 13[20] 2011 Iowa Christian Jones 13[21] 2013 Illinois Austin Carr 13 2016 Wisconsin

Receiving yards

Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 D'Wayne Bates 3,370 1995 1996 1997 1998 2 Richard Buchanan 2,474 1987 1988 1989 1990 3 Jeremy Ebert 2,400 2008 2009 2010 2011 4 Ross Lane 2,068 2005 2006 2007 2008 5 Eric Peterman 2,011 2005 2006 2007 2008 6 Shaun Herbert 1,926 2003 2004 2005 2006 7 Lee Gissendaner 1,878 1990 1991 1992 1993 8 Kunle Patrick 1,873 2000 2001 2002 2003 9 Mark Philmore 1,768 2002 2003 2004 2005 10 Scott Yelvington 1,762 1973 1974 1975 1976

Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Austin Carr 1,247 2016 2 D'Wayne Bates 1,245 1998 3 D'Wayne Bates 1,196 1996 4 Richard Buchanan 1,115 1989 5 Jeremy Ebert 953 2010 6 Andrew Brewer 925 2009 7 D'Wayne Bates 889 1995 8 Brian Musso 865 1997 9 Shaun Herbert 862 2005 10 Zeke Markshausen 858 2009

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Jim Lash 226 1972 Michigan State Todd Sheets 226 1980 Purdue 3 Jon Harvey 208 1982 Michigan Jeremy Ebert 208[22] 2011 Rice 5 Jonathan Fields 202[6] 2004 TCU 6 Todd Jenkins 189 1982 Purdue 7 Tony Jones 185[23] 2013 Syracuse 8 Brian Musso 183 1997 Duke 9 Christian Jones 182[21] 2013 Illinois 10 Kunle Patrick 179 2001 Bowling Green

Receiving touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 D'Wayne Bates 26 1995 1996 1997 1998 2 Richard Buchanan 22 1987 1988 1989 1990 3 Jeremy Ebert 21 2008 2009 2010 2011 4 Sam Simmons 14 1998 1999 2000 2001 Drake Dunsmore 14 2007 2009 2010 2011 Austin Carr 14 2015 2016 7 Joe Collier 13 1951 1952 1953 Lee Gissendaner 13 1990 1991 1992 1993 Ross Lane 13 2005 2006 2007 2008 10 Eric Peterman 12 2005 2006 2007 2008

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 D'Wayne Bates 12 1996 Austin Carr 12 2016 3 Jeremy Ebert 11 2011 4 Richard Buchanan 9 1989 D'Wayne Bates 9 1998 Andrew Brewer 9 2009 7 Joe Collier 8 1952 Brian Musso 8 1997 Jeremy Ebert 8 2010 10 Richard Buchanan 7 1990 Teddy Johnson 7 2000 Sam Simmons 7 2001 Ross Lane 7 2007

Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Drake Dunsmore 4[24] 2011 Indiana

Total offense

Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[25]

Total offense yards

Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Brett Basanez 11,576 2002 2003 2004 2005 2 Clayton Thorson 11,139[3] 2015 2016 2017 2018 3 Len Williams 8,029 1990 1991 1992 1993 4 C. J. Bachér 7,571 2005 2006 2007 2008 5 Zak Kustok 7,116 1999 2000 2001 6 Mike Greenfield 6,707 1984 1985 1986 1987 7 Trevor Siemian 5,908 2011 2012 2013 2014 8 Dan Persa 5,897 2009 2010 2011 9 Steve Schnur 5,542 1993 1994 1995 1996 10 Justin Jackson 5,464[11] 2014 2015 2016 2017

Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Brett Basanez 4,045 2005 2 Mike Kafka 3,725 2009 3 C. J. Bachér 3,687 2007 4 Clayton Thorson 3,280[3] 2016 5 Zak Kustok 3,272 2001 6 Dan Persa 3,100 2010 7 Clayton Thorson 3,073[3] 2018 8 Brett Basanez 3,096 2004 9 Zak Kustok 2,894 2000 10 Clayton Thorson 2,867[3] 2017

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Mike Kafka 562[4] 2009 Auburn (Outback Bowl) 2 Brett Basanez 548[6] 2004 TCU 3 Zak Kustok 532 2001 Bowling Green 4 C. J. Bachér 525[5] 2007 Michigan State 5 Brett Basanez 506[8] 2005 Purdue 6 C. J. Bachér 491[7] 2007 Minnesota 7 Brett Basanez 448[10] 2005 UCLA (Sun Bowl) Clayton Thorson 448[9] 2018 Nebraska 9 Mike Greenfield 446 1985 Northern Illinois 10 Trevor Siemian 433[21] 2013 Illinois

Total touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Clayton Thorson 88[3] 2015 2016 2017 2018 2 Zak Kustok 64 1999 2000 2001 3 Brett Basanez 62 2002 2003 2004 2005 4 Len Williams 55 1990 1991 1992 1993 5 C. J. Bachér 51 2005 2006 2007 2008 6 Kain Colter 46 2010 2011 2012 2013 7 Dan Persa 44 2009 2010 2011 8 Justin Jackson 42[11] 2014 2015 2016 2017 9 Steve Schnur 38 1993 1994 1995 1996 Damien Anderson 38 1998 1999 2000 2001

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Zak Kustok 31 2001 2 Zak Kustok 28 2000 3 Brett Basanez 28 2005 4 Clayton Thorson 27 2016 5 Clayton Thorson 26 2018 6 Mike Kafka 24 2009 Dan Persa 24 2010 8 Damien Anderson 23 2000 C. J. Bachér 23 2007 Clayton Thorson 23[3] 2017

Defense

Interceptions

Career Rank Player Ints Years 1 Brett Whitley 15 1984 1985 1986 1987 2 Tom Worthington 14 1946 1947 1948 1949 3 Malcolm Hunter 11 1974 1975 1976 1977 Brian Peters 11 2008 2009 2010 2011 5 Eric Hutchinson 10 1969 1970 1971 Harold Blackmon 10 1997 1998 1999 2000 Ibraheim Campbell 10 2011 2012 2013 2014 8 Willie Lindsey 9 1989 1990 1991 1992 Sherrick McManis 9 2006 2007 2008 2009 10 Dick McCauley 8 1962 1963 1964 Bobby Anderson 8 1979 1980 1981 1982

Single season Rank Player Ints Year 1 Brett Whitley 7 1987 Willie Lindsey 7 1991 3 Tom Worthington 6 1947 Eric Hutchinson 6 1970

Tackles

Career Rank Player Tackles Years 1 Tim McGarigle 545 2002 2003 2004 2005 2 Chuck Kern 503 1977 1978 1979 1980 3 Barry Gardner 468 1995 1996 1997 1998 4 Ed Sutter 429 1988 1989 1990 1991 5 William Bennett 418 1992 1993 1994 1995 6 Kevin Bentley 390 1998 1999 2000 2001 7 Paul Maly 343 1973 1975 1976 1977 8 Eric Collier 342 1994 1995 1996 1997 9 Napoleon Harris 334 1998 1999 2000 2001 10 Thomas Homco 333 1988 1989 1990 1991 Ikechi Ariguzo 333 2011 2012 2013 2014

Single season Rank Player Tackles Year 1 Chuck Kern 227 1979 2 Chuck Kern 218 1978 3 John Voorhees 192 1971 4 Barry Gardner 175 1998 5 Barry Gardner 174 1997 6 Ed Sutter 161 1990 7 Tim McGarigle 156 2005 8 Tim McGarigle 151 2004 9 Kevin Bentley 148 1999 10 Kevin Bentley 147 2001

Single game Rank Player Tackles Year Opponent 1 Chuck Kern 31 1979 Purdue

Sacks

Career Rank Player Sacks Years 1 Joe Gaziano 30.0[26] 2016 2017 2018 2019 2 Casey Dailey 28.0 1994 1995 1996 1997 3 Ifeadi Odenigbo 23.5 2013 2014 2015 2016 4 Steve Shine 21.0 1990 1991 1992 1993 5 Corey Wootton 19.5 2006 2007 2008 2009 6 Vince Browne 19.0 2008 2009 2010 2011 7 Dwayne Missouri 17.0 1997 1998 1999 2000 8 Tyler Scott 16.0 2010 2011 2012 9 Deonte Gibson 15.0 2012 2013 2014 2015 10 Matt Rice 12.0 1993 1994 1995 1996

Single season Rank Player Sacks Year 1 Casey Dailey 12.0 1997

Single game Rank Player Sacks Year Opponent 1 Ifeadi Odenigbo 4.0 2016 Iowa

Kicking

Field goals made

Career Rank Player FGs Years 1 Brian Gowins 58 1995 1996 1997 1998 2 Jeff Budzien 48 2010 2011 2012 2013 3 John Duvic 46 1983 1984 1985 1986 4 Jack Mitchell 40 2013 2014 2015 2016 5 Ira Adler 39 1987 1988 1989 1990 Sam Valenzisi 39 1992 1993 1994 1995 7 Stefan Demos 34 2007 2008 2009 2010 8 Amado Villarreal 33 2005 2006 2007 2008 9 Charlie Kuhbander 28[27] 2017 2018 2019 10 Tim Long 25 1998 1999 2000

Single season Rank Player FGs Year 1 Jeff Budzien 23 2013 2 Brian Gowins 20 1997 Amado Villarreal 20 2008 4 Jeff Budzien 19 2012 John Duvic 19 1986 6 Stefan Demos 18 2009 Jack Mitchell 18[28] 2015 8 Brian Gowins 17 1998 9 Brian Gowins 16 1996 Stefan Demos 16 2010

Single game Rank Player FGs Year Opponent 1 Jeff Howells 5[29] 2005 Penn State Jeff Budzien 5[30] 2012 Boston College 3 Sam Valenzisi 4 1993 Minnesota Sam Valenzisi 4 1995 Michigan Brian Gowins 4 1998 Hawaii Tim Long 4 2000 Michigan Stefan Demos 4[31] 2009 Purdue Stefan Demos 4[32] 2009 Wisconsin Jeff Budzien 4[33] 2013 Michigan Jack Mitchell 4[34] 2014 Notre Dame

Field goal percentage

Career Rank Player FG% Years 1 Jeff Budzien 87.3% 2010 2011 2012 2013 2 Amado Villarreal 75.0% 2005 2006 2007 2008 3 Sam Valenzisi 73.6% 1992 1993 1994 1995 4 Ira Adler 72.2% 1987 1988 1989 1990 5 Charlie Kuhbander 71.8%[27] 2017 2018 2019 6 Tim Long 71.4% 1998 1999 2000

Single season Rank Player FG% Year 1 Jeff Budzien 95.0% 2012 2 Sam Valenzisi 93.8% 1995 3 Jeff Budzien 92.0% 2013 4 Charlie Kuhbander 85.7%[27] 2017 5 John Duvic 82.6% 1986 6 Amado Villarreal 80.0% 2008

References

1. "2017 Northwestern Wildcats Media Guide" (PDF). NUSports.com. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
2. "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. AP. 2002-08-28. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
3. "Clayton Thorson". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
4. "Auburn's field goal in OT holds up as Northwestern's trick play fails". ESPN.com. 2010-01-02.
5. "Northwestern 48, Michigan St. 41, OT". ESPN.com. 2007-10-06.
6. "Frogs miss first FG, hit second in OT; Wildcats miss both". ESPN.com. 2004-09-03.
7. "Northwestern 49, Minnesota 48, OT". ESPN.com. 2007-10-13.
8. "Northwestern hands Purdue fourth straight loss". ESPN.com. 2005-10-25.
9. "Nebraska sees 10-point lead slip away in OT loss to Northwestern". ESPN.com. 2018-10-13.
10. "Olson, UCLA outscore Northwestern in Sun Bowl shootout". ESPN.com. 2005-12-31.
11. "Justin Jackson". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
12. "Northwestern 37, Illinois 20". ESPN.com. 2003-11-22.
13. "Northwestern scores on seven straight possessions". ESPN.com. 2005-10-08.
14. "Harris throws 3 second-half TDs". ESPN.com. 2003-12-27.
15. "Northwestern 28, Kansas 20". ESPN.com. 2003-08-30.
16. "Northwestern 37, Indiana 31 (OT)". ESPN.com. 2003-10-11.
17. "Northwestern 38, Northern Illinois 37". ESPN.com. 2005-09-10.
18. "Northwestern sets school record for total yards in beating Indiana". ESPN.com. 2012-09-30.
19. "Ringer, Michigan State run down Northwestern". ESPN.com. 2008-10-11.
20. "Iowa snaps three-game losing streak against Northwestern". ESPN.com. 2011-10-15.
21. "Northwestern closes with 37-34 win over Illinois". ESPN.com. 2013-11-30.
22. "Northwestern's Dan Persa, Jeremy Ebert light up Rice with career bests". ESPN.com. 2011-11-12.
23. "Trevor Siemian, No. 19 Northwestern cruise past Syracuse". ESPN.com. 2013-09-08.
24. "Northwestern romps as Indiana gives up more than 40 points for 4th straight game". ESPN.com. 2011-10-29.
25. "Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Record Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-12-01. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
26. "Joe Gaziano". ESPN.com.
27. "Charlie Kuhbander". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
28. "Jack Mitchell". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-01-02.
29. "Nittany Lions snap two-game skid vs. Northwestern". ESPN.com. 2005-09-24.
30. "Mike Trumpy's late score pushes Northwestern past BC". ESPN.com. 2012-09-15.
31. "Northwestern thwarts last-second TD for victory". ESPN.com. 2009-10-03.
32. "Northwestern holds off Wisconsin en route to 3rd win in row". ESPN.com. 2009-11-21.
33. "Michigan finishes Northwestern in 3OT after late tie". ESPN.com. 2013-11-16.
34. "Northwestern FGs tie it up late, beat Notre Dame in overtime". ESPN.com. 2014-11-15.