BYU Cougars football statistical leaders
The BYU Cougars football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the BYU Cougars football program in various categories,[ 1] including passing , rushing , receiving , total offense , all-purpose yardage , defensive stats, and kicking . Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Cougars represent Brigham Young University as a member of the NCAA Division I FBS Big 12 Conference .
Although BYU began competing in intercollegiate football in 1922,[ 1] these lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
Since 1922, seasons have increased from 6 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 Cougars have played in 16 bowl games since then, allowing many recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics.
Similarly, the Cougars have played games at Hawaii 16 times since 1978. When a team plays at Hawaii, they are allowed to schedule another game beyond the usual limit.[ 3]
Due to COVID-19 issues, the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season would not count against the athletic eligibility of any football player, giving everyone who played in that season the opportunity for five years of eligibility instead of the normal four.[ 4]
The Big 12 has held a championship game during two different periods—first from 1996–2010, and since 2017. Should BYU qualify for this game in any season, it will be assured of playing at least 14 games.
These lists are updated to the end of the 2021 season .
Passing
Passing yards
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Ty Detmer
15,031
1988 1989 1990 1991
2
Max Hall
11,365
2007 2008 2009
3
John Beck
11,021
2003 2004 2005 2006
4
Jim McMahon
9,536
1977 1978 1980 1981
5
Robbie Bosco
8,400
1983 1984 1985
6
John Walsh
8,390
1991 1992 1993 1994
7
Kevin Feterik
8,065
1996 1997 1998 1999
8
Steve Young
7,733
1981 1982 1983
9
Zach Wilson
7,652
2018 2019 2020
10
Marc Wilson
7,637
1977 1978 1979
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Ty Detmer
5,188
1990
2
Jim McMahon
4,571
1980
3
Ty Detmer
4,560
1989
4
Robbie Bosco
4,273
1985
5
Ty Detmer
4,031
1991
6
Steve Sarkisian
4,027
1996
7
Max Hall
3,957
2008
8
Steve Young
3,902
1983
9
John Beck
3,885
2006
10
Robbie Bosco
3,875
1984
Passing touchdowns
Rushing
Rushing yards
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Jamaal Williams
3,901
2012 2013 2014 2016
2
Harvey Unga
3,455
2006 2007 2008 2009
3
Curtis Brown
3,221
2002 2004 2005 2006
4
Jamal Willis
2,970
1991 1992 1993 1994
5
Tyler Allgeier
2,904[ 5]
2018 2019 2020 2021
6
Taysom Hill
2,813
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
7
Lakei Heimuli
2,710
1983 1984 1985 1986
8
Jeff Blanc
2,663
1973 1974 1975 1976
9
Luke Staley
2,493
1999 2000 2001
10
Pete Van Valkenburg
2,392
1969 1970 1971 1972
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Tyler Allgeier
1,606[ 5]
2021
2
Luke Staley
1,582
2001
3
Pete Van Valkenburg
1,386
1972
4
Jamaal Williams
1,375
2016
5
Taysom Hill
1,344
2013
6
Ronney Jenkins
1,307
1998
7
Jamaal Williams
1,233
2013
8
Harvey Unga
1,227
2007
9
Harvey Unga
1,132
2008
10
Tyler Allgeier
1,130[ 5]
2020
Rushing touchdowns
Receiving
Receptions
Receiving yards
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Cody Hoffman
3,612
2010 2011 2012 2013
2
Austin Collie
3,255
2004 2007 2008
3
Eric Drage
3,065
1990 1991 1992 1993
4
Dennis Pitta
2,901
2004 2007 2008 2009
5
Margin Hooks
2,841
1997 1998 1999 2000
6
Matt Bellini
2,635
1987 1988 1989 1990
7
Phil Odle
2,548
1965 1966 1967
8
Gordon Hudson
2,484
1981 1982 1983
9
Mark Bellini
2,429
1982 1983 1984 1985 1986
10
Chris Smith
2,367
1987 1988 1989 1990
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Austin Collie
1,538
2008
2
Cody Hoffman
1,248
2012
3
Andy Boyce
1,241
1990
4
Reno Mahe
1,211
2001
5
Dax Milne
1,188
2020
6
Jay Miller
1,181
1973
7
Chris Smith
1,156
1990
8
Eric Drage
1,093
1992
9
Chris Smith
1,090
1989
10
Dennis Pitta
1,083
2008
Receiving touchdowns
Single game
Rank
Player
TDs
Year
Opponent
1
Cody Hoffman
5[ 11]
2012
New Mexico State
2
John VanderWouden
4
1976
Colorado State
Kirk Pendleton
4
1983
New Mexico
Luke Ashworth
4[ 12]
2010
Colorado State
Total offense
Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[ 13]
Total offense yards
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Ty Detmer
14,665
1988 1989 1990 1991
2
Max Hall
11,569
2007 2008 2009
3
John Beck
11,059
2003 2004 2005 2006
4
Taysom Hill
9,742
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
5
Jim McMahon
9,723
1977 1978 1980 1981
6
Steve Young
8,817
1980 1981 1982 1983
7
Robbie Bosco
8,299
1983 1984 1985
8
Zach Wilson
8,294
2018 2019 2020
9
John Walsh
7,736
1991 1992 1993 1994
10
Kevin Feterik
7,723
1996 1997 1998 1999
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Ty Detmer
5,022
1990
2
Jim McMahon
4,627
1980
3
Ty Detmer
4,433
1989
4
Steve Young
4,346
1983
5
Taysom Hill
4,282
2013
6
Robbie Bosco
4,141
1985
7
Max Hall
4,072
2008
8
Brandon Doman
4,045
2001
9
Ty Detmer
4,001
1991
10
Steve Sarkisian
3,983
1996
Touchdowns responsible for
"Touchdowns responsible for" is the official NCAA term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
All-purpose yardage
All-purpose yardage is the sum of all yards credited to a player who is in possession of the ball. It includes rushing, receiving, and returns, but does not include passing.[ 13]
BYU does not list a complete top 10 in all-purpose yardage over any time frame (career, season, game), only listing the top 5 for each. It also does not break down its leaders' performances by type of play.[ 1]
Defense
Interceptions
Single season
Rank
Player
Ints
Year
1
Gene Frantz
9
1962
Dave Atkinson
9
1971
3
Dan Hansen
8
1970
Dave Atkinson
8
1972
Tackles
Single season
Rank
Player
Tackles
Year
1
Shad Hansen
193
1991
2
Rocky Biegel
192
1991
3
Rod Wood
157
1978
4
Sid Smith
149
1975
5
Glen Redd
148
1980
Bob Davis
148
1988
Single game
Rank
Player
Tackles
Year
Opponent
1
Dan Hansen
25
1971
New Mexico
2
Derwin Gray
22
1991
Penn State
Jared Lee
22
1999
Air Force
4
Dan Hansen
21
1970
Colorado State
5
Ted Nelson
20
1970
Arizona State
Sacks
Kicking
Field goals made
Single game
Rank
Player
FGs
Year
Opponent
1
Joe Liljenquist
5
1969
Colorado State
Owen Pochman
5
1999
UNLV
Field goal percentage
Single season
Rank
Player
FG%
Year
1
Jake Oldroyd
100.0% [ 15]
2020
2
Trevor Samson
85.7%
2014
3
Trevor Samson
82.4%
2015
4
Matt Payne
81.3%
2002
5
Mitch Payne
81.0%
2010
Rhett Almond
81.0%
2016
7
Justin Sorensen
80.8%
2013
8
Earl Kauffman
80.0%
1990
9
Owen Pochman
79.2%
2000
10
Will Ferrin
78.6% [ 16]
2023
References
^ a b c "2020 BYU Football Almanac" (PDF) . BYU Cougars . Retrieved November 21, 2020 .
^ "NCAA changes policy on football stats" . ESPN.com . AP. August 28, 2002. Retrieved September 11, 2014 .
^ Kelley, Kevin (May 28, 2010). "The Hawaii Exemption" . FBSSchedules.com .
^ Cobb, David (August 21, 2020). "NCAA approves blanket waiver for 2020 fall sports athletes to retain year of eligibility" . CBSSports.com . Retrieved November 27, 2021 .
^ a b c d e f "Tyler Allgeier" . ESPN.com .
^ a b "Williams has 5 TDs; Almond's FG lifts BYU over Toledo 55-53" . ESPN.com . September 30, 2016.
^ "BYU tramples No. 15 Texas behind Taysom Hill's 259 rushing yards" . ESPN.com . September 7, 2013.
^ "Fajardo leads Nevada comeback, 42-35 win over BYU" . ESPN.com . October 19, 2014.
^ "BYU vs. Boise State Box Score" . ESPN.com . November 5, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022 .
^ a b "Isaac Rex" . ESPN.com .
^ "BYU 50, New Mexico St. 14" . ESPN.com . November 24, 2012.
^ "BYU 49, Colorado St. 10" . ESPN.com . November 13, 2010. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016.
^ a b "Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Record Book" (PDF) . National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 1, 2007. Retrieved January 3, 2008 .
^ "Kai Nacua" . BYUCougars.com . Retrieved December 21, 2016 .
^ a b c d "Jake Oldroyd" . ESPN.com .
^ a b "Will Ferrin" . ESPN.com .
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