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 .
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
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
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 [ edit ] 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 is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[ 13]
Total offense yards [ edit ] 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 [ edit ] "Touchdowns responsible for" is the official NCAA term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
All-purpose yardage [ edit ] 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]
Single season Rank Player Ints Year 1 Gene Frantz 9 1962 Dave Atkinson 9 1971 3 Dan Hansen 8 1970 Dave Atkinson 8 1972
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
Single game Rank Player FGs Year Opponent 1 Joe Liljenquist 5 1969 Colorado State Owen Pochman 5 1999 UNLV
Field goal percentage [ edit ] 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
^ 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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