Pittsburgh Panthers football statistical leaders

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 2024 season. Note that Pittsburgh's official media guide does not give a full top 10 in many of these categories.

Passing

Passing yards

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

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Kenny Pickett 519 2021 Miami 2 Pete Gonzalez 470 1997 Rutgers 3 John Congemi 446 1986 Navy 4 John Ryan 433 1994 West Virginia 5 Tom Savage 424 2013 Duke 6 Rod Rutherford 419 2003 West Virginia Tino Sunseri 419 2011 Connecticut 8 Kenny Pickett 416 2021 Duke 9 Tyler Palko 411 2004 South Florida Kenny Pickett 411 2020 NC State

Passing touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Kenny Pickett 81 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2 Dan Marino 79 1979 1980 1981 1982 3 Tyler Palko 66 2002 2004 2005 2006 4 Alex Van Pelt 64 1989 1990 1991 1992 5 Rod Rutherford 60 2000 2001 2002 2003 6 Tino Sunseri 49 2009 2010 2011 2012 7 Nathan Peterman 47 2015 2016 8 John Congemi 42 1983 1984 1985 1986 9 Pete Gonzalez 36 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 10 John Ryan 32 1992 1993 1994 1995 Bill Stull 32 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Kenny Pickett 42 2021 2 Dan Marino 37 1981 Rod Rutherford 37 2003 4 Pete Gonzalez 30 1997 5 Nathan Peterman 27 2016 6 Tyler Palko 25 2006 7 Tyler Palko 24 2004 8 Rod Rutherford 22 2002 9 Tom Savage 21 2013 Bill Stull 21 2009 Tino Sunseri 21 2012

Single game (since 2000) Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Pete Gonzalez 7 1997 Rutgers 2 Kenny Pickett 6 2021 Western Michigan Tom Savage 6 2013 Duke Dan Marino 6 1981 South Carolina 5 Tyler Palko 5 2004 Notre Dame Tyler Palko 5 2004 South Florida Nathan Peterman 5 2016 Clemson Kenny Pickett 5 2021 New Hampshire Rod Rutherford 5 2003 Texas A&M John Turman 5 2000 Boston College John Congemi 5 1986 Navy Matt Cavanaugh 5 1976 Duke

Rushing

Rushing yards

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

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Israel Abanikanda 320[4] 2022 Virginia Tech 2 Tony Dorsett 303 1975 Notre Dame 3 Ray Graham 277 2010 FIU 4 Kevan Barlow 272 2000 West Virginia 5 Tony Dorsett 268 1975 Army 6 Tony Dorsett 265 1973 Northwestern 7 Curvin Richards 264 1989 East Carolina 8 James Conner 263 2014 Duke 9 Dion Lewis 261 2010 Cincinnati 10 Craig Heyward 259 1987 Kent State

Rushing touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Tony Dorsett 58 1973 1974 1975 1976 2 James Conner 52 2013 2014 2015 2016 3 LeSean McCoy 35 2007 2008 4 Ray Graham 32 2009 2010 2011 2012 5 Dion Lewis 30 2009 2010 6 Qadree Ollison 29 2015 2016 2017 2018 7 Elliott Walker 28 1974 1975 1976 1977 Israel Abanikanda 28[3] 2020 2021 2022 9 Craig Heyward 24 1984 1986 1987 10 Darrin Hall 21 2015 2016 2017 2018

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 James Conner 26 2014 2 Tony Dorsett 21 1976 LeSean McCoy 21 2008 4 Israel Abanikanda 20[3] 2022 5 Dion Lewis 17 2009 6 James Conner 16 2016 7 LeSean McCoy 14 2007 8 Dion Lewis 13 2010 9 Tony Dorsett 12 1973 Elliott Walker 12 1977

Single game (since 2000) Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Israel Abanikanda 6[4] 2022 Virginia Tech Norman Bill Budd 6 1910 Ohio 3 Israel Abanikanda 4[5] 2022 Rhode Island Kevan Barlow 4 2000 West Virginia James Conner 4 2014 Delaware James Conner 4 2014 North Carolina Darrin Hall 4 2017 North Carolina Dion Lewis 4 2010 Cincinnati LeSean McCoy 4 2008 Rutgers 10 20 times by 10 players 3 Most recent: Israel Abanikanda, 2022 vs. North Carolina[6]

Receiving

Receptions

Career Rank Player Rec Years 1 Tyler Boyd 254 2013 2014 2015 2 Devin Street 202 2010 2011 2012 2013 3 Latef Grim 178 1998 1999 2000 4 Antonio Bryant 173 1999 2000 2001 5 Larry Fitzgerald 161 2002 2003 6 Jordan Addison 160 2020 2021 Dietrich Jells 160 1991 1992 1993 1994 8 Mike Shanahan 159 2009 2010 2011 2012 9 Maurice Ffrench 156 2017 2018 2019 10 Jared Wayne 146 2019 2020 2021 2022

Single season Rank Player Rec Year 1 Jordan Addison 100 2021 2 Maurice Ffrench 96 2019 3 Larry Fitzgerald 92 2003 4 Tyler Boyd 91 2015 5 Tyler Boyd 85 2013 6 Tyler Boyd 78 2014 7 Latef Grim 75 1999 8 Antonio Bryant 73 2000 Devin Street 73 2012 10 Jake Hoffart 69 1997 Larry Fitzgerald 69 2002

Single game Rank Player Rec Year Opponent 1 Harry Orszulak 16 1968 Penn State 2 D. J. Turner 15 2020 Virginia Tech 3 Jordan Addison 14 2021 Virginia 4 Antonio Bryant 13 1999 Virginia Tech 5 Tyler Boyd 12 2015 Syracuse Maurice Ffrench 12 2019 Eastern Michigan Larry Fitzgerald 12 2003 Toledo Latef Grim 12 1999 Virginia Tech Jake Hoffart 12 1997 Rutgers Taysir Mack 12 2019 Penn State Reggie Williams 12 1986 NC State

Receiving yards

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

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Dietrich Jells 225 1994 West Virginia 2 Antonio Bryant 222 2000 Boston College 3 Antonio Bryant 215 1999 Virginia Tech 4 Antonio Bryant 212 2000 North Carolina 5 Larry Fitzgerald 207 2003 Rutgers 6 Jared Wayne 205 2022 Miami 7 Jordan Addison 202 2021 Virginia 8 Larry Fitzgerald 201 2003 Toledo 9 Latef Grim 192 1998 Villanova 10 Latef Grim 188 1999 Virginia Tech

Receiving touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Larry Fitzgerald 34 2002 2003 2 Antonio Bryant 26 1999 2000 2001 3 Dietrich Jells 25 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 4 Dwight Collins 24 1980 1981 1982 1983 5 Julius Dawkins 23 1979 1980 1981 1982 6 Jordan Addison 21 2020 2021 Tyler Boyd 21 2013 2014 2015 Gordon Jones 21 1975 1976 1977 1978 9 Greg Lee 17 2003 2004 2005 Bill Wallace 17 1981 1982 1983 1984

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Larry Fitzgerald 22 2003 2 Jordan Addison 17 2021 3 Julius Dawkins 16 1981 4 Terry Murphy 13 1997 5 Larry Fitzgerald 12 2002 Antonio Bryant 11 2000 7 Dwight Collins 10 1980 Dorin Dickerson 10 2009 Greg Lee 10 2004 Jester Weah 10 2016

Single game (since 2000) Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Jordan Addison 4 2021 Virginia Julius Dawkins 4 1981 Cincinnati Julius Dawkins 4 1981 Army Billy Davis 4 1994 Rutgers 5 21 times by 15 players 3 Most recent: Jared Wayne, 2022 vs. Miami[7]

Total offense

Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.^[8]

Total offense yards

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

Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Kenny Pickett 4,552 2021 2 Rod Rutherford 3,829 2003

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Kenny Pickett 509 2021 Miami 2 Pete Gonzalez 479 1997 Rutgers

Touchdowns responsible for

"Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.^[9]

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Kenny Pickett 101 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2 Dan Marino 82 1979 1980 1981 1982 3 Tyler Palko 78 2002 2004 2005 2006 4 Rod Rutherford 74 2000 2001 2002 2003 5 Alex Van Pelt 70 1989 1990 1991 1992 6 Tony Dorsett 59 1973 1974 1975 1976 7 James Conner 56 2013 2014 2015 2016 Tino Sunseri 56 2009 2010 2011 2012 9 John Congemi 52 1983 1984 1985 1986 10 Nathan Peterman 51 2015 2016

Defense

Interceptions

Career Rank Player Ints Years 1 Bob Jury 21 1974 1975 1976 1977

Single season Rank Player Ints Year 1 Bob Jury 10 1976 2 Bob Jury 8 1977 3 Billy Reynolds 7 1950

Single game Rank Player Ints Year Opponent 1 Lou Cecconi 3 1949 Penn State Henry Ford 3 1953 Penn State Willie Marsh 3 1978 Tulane Shawntae Spencer 3 2002 Ohio

Tackles

Career Rank Player Tackles Years 1 Arnie Weatherington 477 1973 1974 1975 1976 2 Hugh Green 441 1977 1978 1979 1980 3 H. B. Blades 433 2003 2004 2005 2006 4 Tom Tumulty 413 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 5 Gerald Hayes 402 1999 2000 2001 2002 6 Steve Apke 368 1983 1984 1985 1986 7 Jerry Olsavsky 367 1985 1986 1987 1988 8 Tez Morris 366 2002 2003 2004 2005 9 Troy Benson 351 1981 1982 1983 1984 10 Lewis Moore 344 2000 2001 2002 2003 Scott McKillop 344 2005 2006 2007 2008

Sacks

Career Rank Player Sacks Years 1 Hugh Green 49.0 1977 1978 1979 1980 2 Randy Holloway 33.5 1974 1975 1976 1977 3 Tony Woods 31.0 1983 1984 1985 1986 4 Aaron Donald 29.5 2010 2011 2012 2013 Ejuan Price 29.5[10] 2011 2013 2015 2016 6 Zeke Gadson 26.5 1984 1985 1986 1987 Keith Hamilton 26.5 1989 1990 1991 8 Chris Doleman 25.0 1981 1982 1983 1984 9 Bryan Knight 23.5 1998 1999 2000 2001 10 Dennis Atiyeh 23.0 1983 1984 1985

Single season Rank Player Sacks Year 1 Zeke Gadson 24.5 1987

Kicking

Field goals made (since 2000)

Career Rank Player FGs Years 1 Alex Kessman 69 2017 2018 2019 2020 2 Chris Blewitt 55 2013 2014 2015 2016 3 Conor Lee 50 2006 2007 2008 4 Ben Sauls 49[11] 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 5 Kevin Harper 41 2009 2010 2011 2012 Dan Hutchins 41 2008 2009 2010 7 Josh Cummings 32 2004 2005 8 David Abdul 24 2002 2003 2004 2005 9 Nick Lotz 21 2000 2001 10 Sam Scarton 17 2020 2021

Single season Rank Player FGs Year 1 Dan Hutchins 23 2009 Alex Kessman 23 2020 3 Alex Kessman 22 2019 4 Kevin Harper 21 2011 5 Kevin Harper 20 2012 Conor Lee 20 2008 Ben Sauls 20 2022 8 Josh Cummings 18 2004 Dan Hutchins 18 2010 Conor Lee 18 2007 Ben Sauls 18 2024

Single game Rank Player FGs Year Opponent 1 Conor Lee 5 2008 Notre Dame Ben Sauls 5 2022 UCLA

Field goal percentage

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

Points

Career Rank Player Points Years 1 Tony Dorsett 380 1973 1974 1975 1976 2 Chris Blewitt 363 2013 2014 2015 2016 Alex Kessman 363 2017 2018 2019 2020 4 James Conner 338 2002 2004 2005 2006 5 Carson Long 268 1973 1974 1975 1976 6 Conor Lee 263 2006 2007 2008 7 Ben Sauls 260 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 8 Andy Hastings 255 1914 1915 1916 1919 9 LeSean McCoy 216 2007 2008 Ray Graham 216 2009 2010 2011 2012

Single season Rank Player Points Year 1 James Conner 156 2014

Single game Rank Player Points Year Opponent 1 Israel Abanikanda 30[4] 2022 Virginia Tech Norman Bill Budd 30 1910 Ohio

Touchdowns

In official NCAA statistics, touchdown totals include touchdowns scored. Accordingly, these lists include rushing, receiving, and return touchdowns, but not passing touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Tony Dorsett 63 1973 1974 1975 1976 2 James Conner 56 2013 2014 2015 2016 3 LeSean McCoy 36 2007 2008 Ray Graham 36 2009 2010 2011 2012 5 Larry Fitzgerald 34 2002 2003 6 Qadree Ollison 32 2015 2016 2017 2018 Israel Abanikanda 32 2020 2021 2022 8 Dion Lewis 31 2009 2010 9 Elliott Walker 28 1974 1975 1976 1977 10 Antonio Bryant 26 1999 2000 2001

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 James Conner 26 2014

Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Israel Abanikanda 6[4] 2022 Virginia Tech Norman Bill Budd 6 1910 Ohio

References

1. "Record Book" (PDF). 2022 Pitt Football Media Guide. Pittsburgh Panthers. pp. 98–140. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
2. "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. AP. August 28, 2002. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
3. "Israel Abanikanda". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
4. "Box Score: Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Pittsburgh Panthers". ESPN.com. October 8, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
5. "Box Score: Rhode Island Rams vs. Pittsburgh Panthers". ESPN.com. September 24, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
6. "Box Score: Pittsburgh Panthers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels". ESPN.com. October 29, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
7. "Box Score: Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Miami Hurricanes". ESPN.com. November 26, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
8. "2022 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. p. 9. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
9. "2022 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. p. 12. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
10. "Ejuan Price". PittsburghPanthers.com.
11. "Ben Sauls". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 13, 2022.