The Pittsburgh Panthers football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Pittsburgh Panthers football program in various categories,[1] including passing , rushing , receiving , total offense , defensive stats, kicking , and scoring. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Panthers represent University of Pittsburgh in the NCAA 's Atlantic Coast Conference .
Although Pittsburgh began competing in intercollegiate football in 1890,[1] the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in the 1950s. Records from before this year are often incomplete and inconsistent, and they are generally not included in 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. The NCAA only began counting bowl games toward single-season and career statistics in 2002,[2] and most programs follow this practice. Pitt does not; its official record books include all postseason performances. The Panthers have played in 15 bowl games since the NCAA's policy change, giving many recent players an extra game to accumulate NCAA-recognized statistics. Pitt played in the ACC Championship Game in 2018 and 2021 , giving players in those seasons yet another game in which to accumulate statistics. Due to COVID-19 , the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season would not count against the athletic eligibility of any football player, giving all players who appeared in that season five years of eligibility instead of the normal four. These lists are updated through the 2023 season . Note that Pittsburgh's official media guide does not give a full top 10 in many of these categories.
Passing [ edit ] Passing yards [ edit ] Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Kenny Pickett 12,303 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2 Alex Van Pelt 11,267 1989 1990 1991 1992 3 Dan Marino 8,597 1979 1980 1981 1982 4 Tino Sunseri 8,590 2009 2010 2011 2012 5 Tyler Palko 8,343 2002 2004 2005 2006 6 Rod Rutherford 6,724 2000 2001 2002 2003 7 John Congemi 6,467 1983 1984 1985 1986 8 Bill Stull 5,252 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 9 Nathan Peterman 5,142 2015 2016 10 David Priestley 4,533 1999 2000 2001
Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Kenny Pickett 4,319 2021 2 Rod Rutherford 3,679 2003 3 Tino Sunseri 3,288 2012 4 Alex Van Pelt 3,163 1992 5 Kenny Pickett 3,098 2019 6 Tyler Palko 3,067 2004 7 Tom Savage 2,958 2013 8 Alex Van Pelt 2,881 1989 9 Dan Marino 2,876 1981 10 Tyler Palko 2,871 2006
Passing touchdowns [ edit ] Rushing [ edit ] Rushing yards [ edit ] Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Tony Dorsett 6,526 1973 1974 1975 1976 2 James Conner 3,733 2013 2014 2015 2016 3 Ray Graham 3,271 2009 2010 2011 2012 4 Curvin Richards 3,192 1988 1989 1990 5 Craig Heyward 3,086 1984 1986 1987 6 Dion Lewis 2,860 2009 2010 7 Qadree Ollison 2,859 2015 2016 2017 2018 8 LeSean McCoy 2,816 2007 2008 9 Billy West 2,803 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 10 Elliott Walker 2,748 1974 1975 1976 1977
Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Tony Dorsett 2,150 1976 2 Dion Lewis 1,799 2009 3 Craig Heyward 1,791 1987 4 James Conner 1,765 2014 5 Tony Dorsett 1,686 1973 Tony Dorsett 1,686 1975 7 LeSean McCoy 1,488 2008 8 Israel Abanikanda 1,431[3] 2022 9 Billy West 1,358 1994 10 LeSean McCoy 1,328 2007
Rushing touchdowns [ edit ] Receiving [ edit ] Receptions [ edit ] Receiving yards [ edit ] Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Tyler Boyd 3,361 2013 2014 2015 2 Antonio Bryant 3,061 1999 2000 2001 3 Dietrich Jells 3,003 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 4 Devin Street 2,901 2010 2011 2012 2013 5 Latef Grim 2,680 1998 1999 2000 6 Larry Fitzgerald 2,677 2002 2003 7 Greg Lee 2,470 2003 2004 2005 8 Jon Baldwin 2,337 2008 2009 2010 9 Jared Wayne 2,313 2019 2020 2021 2022 10 Mike Shanahan 2,276 2009 2010 2011 2012
Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Larry Fitzgerald 1,672 2003 2 Jordan Addison 1,593 2021 3 Antonio Bryant 1,457 2000 4 Greg Lee 1,297 2004 5 Tyler Boyd 1,261 2014 6 Tyler Boyd 1,174 2013 7 Jon Baldwin 1,111 2009 8 Latef Grim 1,106 1999 9 Dietrich Jells 1,091 1992 10 Jared Wayne 1,068 2022
Receiving touchdowns [ edit ] Total offense [ edit ] Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[8]
Total offense yards [ edit ] Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Kenny Pickett 13,104 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2 Alex Van Pelt 11,148 1989 1990 1991 1992 3 Tino Sunseri 8,591 2009 2010 2011 2012 4 Tyler Palko 8,429 2002 2004 2005 2006 5 Dan Marino 8,320 1979 1980 1981 1982 6 Rod Rutherford 7,609 2000 2001 2002 2003 7 Tony Dorsett 6,526 1973 1974 1975 1976 8 John Congemi 6,351 1983 1984 1985 1986 9 Nathan Peterman 5,660 2015 2016 10 Bill Stull 5,064 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Touchdowns responsible for [ edit ] "Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.[9]
Defense [ edit ] Interceptions [ edit ] Tackles [ edit ] Single season Rank Player Sacks Year 1 Zeke Gadson 24.5 1987
Kicking [ edit ] Field goals made (since 2000) [ edit ] Single game Rank Player FGs Years Opponent 1 Conor Lee 5 2008 Notre Dame Ben Sauls 5 2022 UCLA
Field goal percentage [ edit ] Career Rank Player FG% Years 1 Conor Lee 83.3% 2006 2007 2008
Single season Rank Player FG% Year 1 Chris Ferencik 92.3% 1995
Scoring [ edit ] Touchdowns [ edit ] In official NCAA statistics, touchdown totals include touchdowns scored . Accordingly, these lists include rushing, receiving, and return touchdowns, but not passing touchdowns
References [ edit ] ^ a b "Record Book" (PDF) . 2022 Pitt Football Media Guide . Pittsburgh Panthers. pp. 98–140. Retrieved December 13, 2022 . ^ "NCAA changes policy on football stats" . ESPN.com . AP. 2002-08-28. Retrieved 2016-08-20 . ^ a b c "Israel Abanikanda" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 13, 2022 . ^ a b c d "Box Score: Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Pittsburgh Panthers" . ESPN.com . October 8, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022 . ^ "Box Score: Rhode Island Rams vs. Pittsburgh Panthers" . ESPN.com . September 24, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022 . ^ "Box Score: Pittsburgh Panthers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels" . ESPN.com . October 29, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022 . ^ "Box Score: Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Miami Hurricanes" . ESPN.com . November 26, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022 . ^ "2022 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF) . NCAA. p. 9. Retrieved December 13, 2022 . ^ "2022 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF) . NCAA. p. 12. Retrieved December 13, 2022 . ^ "Ejuan Price" . PittsburghPanthers.com . ^ "Ben Sauls" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 13, 2022 .
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