Illinois Fighting Illini football statistical leaders
The Illinois Fighting Illini football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Illinois Fighting Illini 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 Fighting Illini represent the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in the NCAA's Big Ten Conference.
Although Illinois began competing in intercollegiate football in 1890,[1] the school's official record book generally does not include statistics from before the 1950s, as records from before this year are often incomplete and inconsistent. An exception to this is Red Grange, who appears several times on these lists despite playing in the 1920s.
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 Fighting Illini have played in 4 bowl games since then, all since 2008, giving recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics.
These lists are updated through the end of the 2016 season.
Passing
Passing yards
Career
Rank |
Player |
Yards |
Years |
1 | Jack Trudeau | 8,725 | 1981 1983 1984 1985 |
2 | Kurt Kittner | 8,722 | 1998 1999 2000 2001 |
3 | Nathan Scheelhaase | 8,568 | 2010 2011 2012 2013 |
4 | Juice Williams | 8,037 | 2006 2007 2008 2009 |
5 | Jason Verduzco | 7,532 | 1989 1990 1991 1992 |
6 | Tony Eason | 7,031 | 1981 1982 |
7 | Wes Lunt | 5,900[3] | 2014 2015 2016 |
8 | Johnny Johnson | 5,293 | 1992 1993 1994 1995 |
9 | Jon Beutjer | 5,190 | 2002 2003 2004 |
10 | Jeff George | 5,189 | 1988 1989 |
|
Single season
Rank |
Player |
Yards |
Year |
1 | Tony Eason | 3,671 | 1982 |
2 | Tony Eason | 3,360 | 1981 |
3 | Jack Trudeau | 3,339 | 1985 |
4 | Nathan Scheelhaase | 3,272 | 2013 |
5 | Kurt Kittner | 3,256 | 2001 |
6 | Juice Williams | 3,173 | 2008 |
7 | Dave Wilson | 3,154 | 1980 |
8 | Jason Verduzco | 3,014 | 1991 |
9 | Wes Lunt | 2,761 | 2015 |
10 | Jeff George | 2,738 | 1989 |
|
|
Passing touchdowns
Rushing
Rushing yards
Career
Rank |
Player |
Yards |
Years |
1 | Robert Holcombe | 4,105 | 1994 1995 1996 1997 |
2 | Antoineo Harris | 2,985 | 1999 2000 2001 2002 |
3 | Thomas Rooks | 2,887 | 1982 1983 1984 1985 |
4 | Jim Grabowski | 2,878 | 1963 1964 1965 |
5 | Rocky Harvey | 2,711 | 1998 1999 2000 2001 |
6 | Josh Ferguson | 2,856 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 |
7 | Juice Williams | 2,557 | 2006 2007 2008 2009 |
| Mikel Leshoure | 2,557 | 2008 2009 2010 |
9 | Pierre Thomas | 2,545 | 2003 2004 2005 2006 |
10 | Rashard Mendenhall | 2,539 | 2005 2006 2007 |
|
Single season
Rank |
Player |
Yards |
Year |
1 | Mikel Leshoure | 1,697 | 2010 |
2 | Rashard Mendenhall | 1,681 | 2007 |
3 | Antoineo Harris | 1,330 | 2002 |
4 | Robert Holcombe | 1,281 | 1996 |
5 | Jim Grabowski | 1,258 | 1965 |
6 | J.C. Caroline | 1,256 | 1953 |
7 | Robert Holcombe | 1,253 | 1997 |
8 | Keith Jones | 1,196 | 1988 |
9 | Howard Griffith | 1,115 | 1990 |
10 | Thomas Rooks | 1,056 | 1984 |
|
|
Rushing touchdowns
Receiving
Receptions
Receiving yards
Career
Rank |
Player |
Yards |
Years |
1 | David Williams | 3,392 | 1983 1984 1985 |
2 | Brandon Lloyd | 2,583 | 1999 2000 2001 2002 |
3 | A. J. Jenkins | 2,432 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 |
4 | Walter Young | 2,382 | 1999 2000 2001 2002 |
5 | Mike Martin | 2,300 | 1979 1980 1981 1982 |
6 | John Wright | 2,284 | 1965 1966 1967 |
7 | Arrelious Benn | 2,221 | 2007 2008 2009 |
8 | Jason Dulick | 2,004 | 1993 1994 1995 1996 |
9 | Shawn Wax | 1,614 | 1987 1988 1989 1990 |
10 | Geronimo Allison | 1,482 | 2014 2015 |
|
|
|
Receiving touchdowns
Total offense
Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[18]
Total offense yards
Career
Rank |
Player |
Yards |
Years |
1 | Nathan Scheelhaase | 10,634 | 2010 2011 2012 2013 |
2 | Juice Williams | 10,594 | 2006 2007 2008 2009 |
3 | Kurt Kittner | 8,880 | 1998 1999 2000 2001 |
4 | Jack Trudeau | 8,640 | 1981 1983 1984 1985 |
5 | Jason Verduzco | 7,256 | 1989 1990 1991 1992 |
6 | Tony Eason | 7,002 | 1981 1982 |
7 | Wes Lunt | 5,602[3] | 2014 2015 2016 |
8 | Johnny Johnson | 5,358 | 1992 1993 1994 1995 |
9 | Jon Beutjer | 5,158 | 2002 2003 2004 |
10 | Jeff George | 4,767 | 1988 1989 |
|
Single season
Rank |
Player |
Yards |
Year |
1 | Juice Williams | 3,892 | 2008 |
2 | Tony Eason | 3,671 | 1982 |
3 | Nathan Scheelhaase | 3,543 | 2013 |
4 | Tony Eason | 3,331 | 1981 |
5 | Jack Trudeau | 3,321 | 1985 |
6 | Kurt Kittner | 3,242 | 2001 |
7 | Jason Verduzco | 2,983 | 1991 |
8 | Dave Wilson | 2,960 | 1980 |
9 | Jack Trudeau | 2,797 | 1984 |
10 | Kurt Kittner | 2,785 | 1999 |
|
|
Total touchdowns
Defense
Interceptions
|
|
Single game
Rank |
Player |
Ints |
Year |
Opponent |
1 | Phil Knell | 3 | 1966 | Purdue |
2 | Mike Gow | 3 | 1973 | Minnesota |
| Mike Gow | 4 | 1974 | Stanford |
| Duane Lyle | 3 | 1995 | East Carolina |
| Eugene Wilson | 3 | 2001 | Penn State |
|
Tackles
Sacks
|
|
Single game
Rank |
Player |
Sacks |
Year |
Opponent |
1 | Simeon Rice | 5.0 | 1994 | Washington State |
2 | Mike Poloskey | 4.0 | 1991 | East Carolina |
| Will Davis | 4.0 | 2007 | Indiana |
| Clay Nurse | 4.0 | 2009 | Minnesota |
5 | Jeff Weisse | 3.5 | 1998 | Middle Tennessee |
|
Kicking
Field goals made
|
|
Single game
Rank |
Player |
FGs |
Year |
Opponent |
1 | Dan Beaver | 5 | 1973 | Purdue |
| Mike Bass | 5 | 1982 | Wisconsin |
| Chris White | 5 | 1984 | Wisconsin |
| Doug Higgins | 5 | 1990 | Michigan State |
|
Field goal percentage
References
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National championship seasons in bold |