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 (148 years ago) (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 [ edit ] Passing yards [ edit ] 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 [ edit ] Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Mitch Anderson 5 1973 Minnesota C. J. Bachér 5[5] 2007 Michigan State
Rushing [ edit ] Rushing yards [ edit ] 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 Evan Hull 2,417[12] 2019 2020 2021 2022 10 Kain Colter 2,180 2010 2011 2012 2013
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 [ edit ] Receiving [ edit ] Receptions [ edit ] Receiving yards [ edit ] 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
Receiving touchdowns [ edit ] Total offense [ edit ] Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[27]
Total offense yards [ edit ] 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 [ edit ] Defense [ edit ] Interceptions [ edit ] Tackles [ edit ] Single game Rank Player Tackles Year Opponent 1 Chuck Kern 31 1979 Purdue
Kicking [ edit ] Field goals made [ edit ] Field goal percentage [ edit ] 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% [34] 2017 6 Amado Villarreal 80.0% 2008
References [ edit ] ^ 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 c "Duke vs. Northwestern Box Score" . ESPN.com . September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022 . ^ a b c d e f g h "Justin Jackson" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 30, 2017 . ^ "Evan Hull" . ESPN.com . ^ 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 "Northwestern closes with 37-34 win over Illinois" . ESPN.com . 2013-11-30. ^ "Minnesota vs. Northwestern Box Score" . ESPN.com . September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023 . ^ "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 . ^ "Olson, UCLA outscore Northwestern in Sun Bowl shootout" . ESPN.com . 2005-12-31. ^ a b "Brandon Joseph" . ESPN.com . ^ "Paddy Fisher" . ESPN.com . ^ "Chris Bergin" . ESPN.com . ^ "Joe Gaziano" . ESPN.com . ^ "Adetomiwa Adebawore" . 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. ^ "Maryland vs. Northwestern Box Score" . ESPN.com . October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023 .
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