The Northwestern Wildcats football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Northwestern Wildcats football program in various categories,[1] 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]
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] 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
Passing touchdowns [ ]
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
Rushing touchdowns [ ] Receiving [ ] Receptions [ ] 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 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 [ ]
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
Total touchdowns [ ] Defense [ ] Interceptions [ ] Tackles [ ]
Single game
Rank
Player
Tackles
Year
Opponent
1
Chuck Kern
31
1979 Purdue
Sacks [ ] Kicking [ ] Field goals made [ ] Field goal percentage [ ]
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
John Duvic
82.6% 1986
5
Charlie Kuhbander
81.3% [30] 2017
6
Amado Villarreal
80.0% 2008
References [ ]
^ a b "2017 Northwestern Wildcats Media Guide" (PDF) . NUSports.com . Retrieved 2015-11-07 .^ "NCAA changes policy on football stats" . ESPN.com . AP. 2002-08-28. Retrieved 2014-09-11 .^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Clayton Thorson" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 31, 2018 .^ a b "Auburn's field goal in OT holds up as Northwestern's trick play fails" . ESPN.com . 2010-01-02.^ a b c "Northwestern 48, Michigan St. 41, OT" . ESPN.com . 2007-10-06.^ a b c "Frogs miss first FG, hit second in OT; Wildcats miss both" . ESPN.com . 2004-09-03.^ a b "Northwestern 49, Minnesota 48, OT" . ESPN.com . 2007-10-13.^ a b "Northwestern hands Purdue fourth straight loss" . ESPN.com . 2005-10-25.^ a b "Nebraska sees 10-point lead slip away in OT loss to Northwestern" . ESPN.com . 2018-10-13.^ a b "Olson, UCLA outscore Northwestern in Sun Bowl shootout" . ESPN.com . 2005-12-31.^ a b c d e f g h "Justin Jackson" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 30, 2017 .^ a b "Northwestern 37, Illinois 20" . ESPN.com . 2003-11-22.^ "Northwestern scores on seven straight possessions" . ESPN.com . 2005-10-08.^ "Harris throws 3 second-half TDs" . ESPN.com . 2003-12-27.^ "Northwestern 28, Kansas 20" . ESPN.com . 2003-08-30.^ "Northwestern 37, Indiana 31 (OT)" . ESPN.com . 2003-10-11.^ "Northwestern 38, Northern Illinois 37" . ESPN.com . 2005-09-10.^ "Northwestern sets school record for total yards in beating Indiana" . ESPN.com . 2012-09-30.^ "Ringer, Michigan State run down Northwestern" . ESPN.com . 2008-10-11.^ "Iowa snaps three-game losing streak against Northwestern" . ESPN.com . 2011-10-15.^ a b c "Northwestern closes with 37-34 win over Illinois" . ESPN.com . 2013-11-30.^ "Northwestern's Dan Persa, Jeremy Ebert light up Rice with career bests" . ESPN.com . 2011-11-12.^ "Trevor Siemian, No. 19 Northwestern cruise past Syracuse" . ESPN.com . 2013-09-08.^ "Northwestern romps as Indiana gives up more than 40 points for 4th straight game" . ESPN.com . 2011-10-29.^ "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 .^ a b "Brandon Joseph" . ESPN.com .^ "Paddy Fisher" . ESPN.com .^ "Chris Bergin" . ESPN.com .^ "Joe Gaziano" . ESPN.com .^ a b "Charlie Kuhbander" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 30, 2017 .^ "Jack Mitchell" . ESPN.com . Retrieved 2016-01-02 .^ "Nittany Lions snap two-game skid vs. Northwestern" . ESPN.com . 2005-09-24.^ "Mike Trumpy's late score pushes Northwestern past BC" . ESPN.com . 2012-09-15.^ "Northwestern thwarts last-second TD for victory" . ESPN.com . 2009-10-03.^ "Northwestern holds off Wisconsin en route to 3rd win in row" . ESPN.com . 2009-11-21.^ "Michigan finishes Northwestern in 3OT after late tie" . ESPN.com . 2013-11-16.^ "Northwestern FGs tie it up late, beat Notre Dame in overtime" . ESPN.com . 2014-11-15.
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