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 |
Will Ferrin |
88.9%[16] |
2024
|
3 |
Trevor Samson |
85.7% |
2014
|
4 |
Trevor Samson |
82.4% |
2015
|
5 |
Matt Payne |
81.3% |
2002
|
6 |
Mitch Payne |
81.0% |
2010
|
|
Rhett Almond |
81.0% |
2016
|
8 |
Justin Sorensen |
80.8% |
2013
|
9 |
Earl Kauffman |
80.0% |
1990
|
10 |
Owen Pochman |
79.2% |
2000
|
|
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 c d "Will Ferrin". ESPN.com.
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National championship seasons in bold |