The Northwestern Wildcats football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Northwestern Wildcats football program in various categories,[ 1] including passing , rushing , receiving , total offense , defensive stats, and kicking . Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Wildcats represent Northwestern University in the NCAA 's Big Ten Conference .
Although Northwestern began competing in intercollegiate football in 1876 (148 years ago) (1876 ) ,[ 1] records from before the 1950s are often incomplete and inconsistent, so players from then may not make it onto 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.
Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.[ 2] The Wildcats have played in 10 bowl games since the decision, allowing many recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics.
These lists are updated through the end of the 2017 season .
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Clayton Thorson
10,731[ 3]
2015 2016 2017 2018
2
Brett Basanez
10,580
2002 2003 2004 2005
3
Len Williams
7,487
1990 1991 1992 1993
4
C. J. Bachér
7,319
2005 2006 2007 2008
5
Trevor Siemian
5,931
2011 2012 2013 2014
6
Zak Kustok
5,822
1999 2000 2001
7
Mike Greenfield
5,803
1984 1985 1986 1987
8
Sandy Schwab
5,679
1982 1983 1984 1985
9
Steve Schnur
5,612
1993 1994 1995 1996
10
Dan Persa
5,181
2009 2010 2011
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
C. J. Bachér
3,656
2007
2
Brett Basanez
3,622
2005
3
Mike Kafka
3,430
2009
4
Clayton Thorson
3,183[ 3]
2018
5
Clayton Thorson
3,182[ 3]
2016
6
Clayton Thorson
2,844[ 3]
2017
7
Brett Basanez
2,838
2004
8
Sandy Schwab
2,735
1982
9
Zak Kustok
2,692
2001
10
Steve Schnur
2,632
1996
Single game
Rank
Player
TDs
Year
Opponent
1
Mitch Anderson
5
1973
Minnesota
C. J. Bachér
5[ 5]
2007
Michigan State
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Justin Jackson
5,440[ 11]
2014 2015 2016 2017
2
Damien Anderson
4,485
1998 1999 2000 2001
3
Tyrell Sutton
3,886
2005 2006 2007 2008
4
Darnell Autry
3,793
1994 1995 1996
5
Bob Christian
2,643
1987 1988 1989 1990
6
Jason Wright
2,625
2000 2001 2002 2003
7
Noah Herron
2,524
2001 2002 2003 2004
8
Greg Boykin
2,465
1972 1973 1975 1976
9
Evan Hull
2,417[ 12]
2019 2020 2021 2022
10
Kain Colter
2,180
2010 2011 2012 2013
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Damien Anderson
2,063
2000
2
Darnell Autry
1,785
1995
3
Justin Jackson
1,524[ 11]
2016
4
Tyrell Sutton
1,474
2005
5
Darnell Autry
1,452
1996
6
Justin Jackson
1,418[ 11]
2015
7
Jason Wright
1,388
2003
8
Noah Herron
1,381
2004
9
Venric Mark
1,366
2012
10
Justin Jackson
1,311[ 11]
2017
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
D'Wayne Bates
3,370
1995 1996 1997 1998
2
Richard Buchanan
2,474
1987 1988 1989 1990
3
Jeremy Ebert
2,400
2008 2009 2010 2011
4
Ross Lane
2,068
2005 2006 2007 2008
5
Eric Peterman
2,011
2005 2006 2007 2008
6
Shaun Herbert
1,926
2003 2004 2005 2006
7
Lee Gissendaner
1,878
1990 1991 1992 1993
8
Kunle Patrick
1,873
2000 2001 2002 2003
9
Mark Philmore
1,768
2002 2003 2004 2005
10
Scott Yelvington
1,762
1973 1974 1975 1976
Receiving touchdowns
edit
Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[ 27]
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Brett Basanez
11,576
2002 2003 2004 2005
2
Clayton Thorson
11,139 [ 3]
2015 2016 2017 2018
3
Len Williams
8,029
1990 1991 1992 1993
4
C. J. Bachér
7,571
2005 2006 2007 2008
5
Zak Kustok
7,116
1999 2000 2001
6
Mike Greenfield
6,707
1984 1985 1986 1987
7
Trevor Siemian
5,908
2011 2012 2013 2014
8
Dan Persa
5,897
2009 2010 2011
9
Steve Schnur
5,542
1993 1994 1995 1996
10
Justin Jackson
5,464 [ 11]
2014 2015 2016 2017
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Brett Basanez
4,045
2005
2
Mike Kafka
3,725
2009
3
C. J. Bachér
3,687
2007
4
Clayton Thorson
3,280 [ 3]
2016
5
Zak Kustok
3,272
2001
6
Dan Persa
3,100
2010
7
Clayton Thorson
3,073 [ 3]
2018
8
Brett Basanez
3,096
2004
9
Zak Kustok
2,894
2000
10
Clayton Thorson
2,867 [ 3]
2017
Single game
Rank
Player
Tackles
Year
Opponent
1
Chuck Kern
31
1979
Purdue
Field goal percentage
edit
Single season
Rank
Player
FG%
Year
1
Jeff Budzien
95.0%
2012
2
Sam Valenzisi
93.8%
1995
3
Jeff Budzien
92.0%
2013
4
John Duvic
82.6%
1986
5
Charlie Kuhbander
81.3% [ 34]
2017
6
Amado Villarreal
80.0%
2008
^ a b "2017 Northwestern Wildcats Media Guide" (PDF) . NUSports.com . Retrieved November 7, 2015 .
^ "NCAA changes policy on football stats" . ESPN.com . AP. August 28, 2002. Retrieved September 11, 2014 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Clayton Thorson" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 31, 2018 .
^ a b "Auburn's field goal in OT holds up as Northwestern's trick play fails" . ESPN.com . January 2, 2010. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013.
^ a b c "Northwestern 48, Michigan St. 41, OT" . ESPN.com . October 6, 2007. Archived from the original on August 25, 2014.
^ a b c "Frogs miss first FG, hit second in OT; Wildcats miss both" . ESPN.com . September 3, 2004.[dead link ]
^ a b "Northwestern 49, Minnesota 48, OT" . ESPN.com . October 13, 2007. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016.
^ a b "Northwestern hands Purdue fourth straight loss" . ESPN.com . October 25, 2005.[dead link ]
^ a b "Nebraska sees 10-point lead slip away in OT loss to Northwestern" . ESPN.com . October 13, 2018.
^ a b c "Duke vs. Northwestern Box Score" . ESPN.com . September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022 .
^ a b c d e f g h "Justin Jackson" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 30, 2017 .
^ "Evan Hull" . ESPN.com .
^ a b "Northwestern 37, Illinois 20" . ESPN.com . November 22, 2003. Archived from the original on June 30, 2016.
^ "Northwestern scores on seven straight possessions" . ESPN.com . October 8, 2005.
^ "Harris throws 3 second-half TDs" . ESPN.com . December 27, 2003. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013.
^ "Northwestern 28, Kansas 20" . ESPN.com . August 30, 2003. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.
^ "Northwestern 37, Indiana 31 (OT)" . ESPN.com . October 11, 2003. Archived from the original on June 30, 2016.
^ "Northwestern 38, Northern Illinois 37" . ESPN.com . September 10, 2005.
^ "Northwestern sets school record for total yards in beating Indiana" . ESPN.com . September 30, 2012.
^ "Ringer, Michigan State run down Northwestern" . ESPN.com . October 11, 2008. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013.
^ "Iowa snaps three-game losing streak against Northwestern" . ESPN.com . October 15, 2011. Archived from the original on July 22, 2013.
^ a b "Northwestern closes with 37-34 win over Illinois" . ESPN.com . November 30, 2013.
^ "Minnesota vs. Northwestern Box Score" . ESPN.com . September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023 .
^ "Northwestern's Dan Persa, Jeremy Ebert light up Rice with career bests" . ESPN.com . November 12, 2011. Archived from the original on July 22, 2013.
^ "Trevor Siemian, No. 19 Northwestern cruise past Syracuse" . ESPN.com . September 8, 2013.
^ "Northwestern romps as Indiana gives up more than 40 points for 4th straight game" . ESPN.com . October 29, 2011. Archived from the original on July 22, 2013.
^ "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 .
^ "Olson, UCLA outscore Northwestern in Sun Bowl shootout" . ESPN.com . December 31, 2005. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013.
^ a b "Brandon Joseph" . ESPN.com .
^ "Paddy Fisher" . ESPN.com .
^ "Chris Bergin" . ESPN.com .
^ "Joe Gaziano" . ESPN.com .
^ "Adetomiwa Adebawore" . ESPN.com .
^ a b "Charlie Kuhbander" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 30, 2017 .
^ "Jack Mitchell" . ESPN.com . Retrieved January 2, 2016 .
^ "Nittany Lions snap two-game skid vs. Northwestern" . ESPN.com . September 24, 2005.[dead link ]
^ "Mike Trumpy's late score pushes Northwestern past BC" . ESPN.com . September 15, 2012.
^ "Northwestern thwarts last-second TD for victory" . ESPN.com . October 3, 2009. Archived from the original on March 14, 2013.
^ "Northwestern holds off Wisconsin en route to 3rd win in row" . ESPN.com . November 21, 2009. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013.
^ "Michigan finishes Northwestern in 3OT after late tie" . ESPN.com . November 16, 2013.
^ "Northwestern FGs tie it up late, beat Notre Dame in overtime" . ESPN.com . November 15, 2014.
^ "Maryland vs. Northwestern Box Score" . ESPN.com . October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023 .