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

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Dave Wilson 621 1980 Ohio State 2 John Paddock 507 2023 Indiana 3 Tony Eason 479 1982 Wisconsin 4 Juice Williams 462 [4] 2008 Minnesota 5 Wes Lunt 456 [5] 2014 Western Kentucky 6 Juice Williams 451 [6] 2008 Missouri 7 Nathan Scheelhaase 450 [7] 2013 Indiana 8 Jason Verduzco 431 1991 Missouri 9 Jon Beutjer 430 2003 California 10 Jon Beutjer 426 2002 San Jose State

Passing touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Kurt Kittner 70 1998 1999 2000 2001 2 Juice Williams 56 2006 2007 2008 2009 3 Jack Trudeau 55 1981 1983 1984 1985 Nathan Scheelhaase 55 2010 2011 2012 2013 5 Jason Verduzco 42 1989 1990 1991 1992 6 Jon Beutjer 39 2002 2003 2004 7 Tony Eason 38 1981 1982 8 Wes Lunt 36 [3] 2014 2015 2016 9 Johnny Johnson 35 1992 1993 1994 1995 10 Jeff George 31 1988 1989

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Kurt Kittner 27 2001 2 Kurt Kittner 24 1999 3 Jeff George 22 1989 Juice Williams 22 2008 5 Jon Beutjer 21 2002 Nathan Scheelhaase 21 2013 7 Tony Eason 20 1981 8 Dave Wilson 19 1980 Jack Trudeau 19 1983 Johnny Johnson 19 1994

Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Dave Wilson 6 1980 Ohio State 2 Tom O'Connell 5 1952 Washington Jeff George 5 1989 Indiana Juice Williams 5 [6] 2008 Missouri Reilly O'Toole 5 [8] 2012 Charleston Southern Nathan Scheelhaase 5 [9] 2013 Miami (Ohio)

Rushing

Rushing yards

Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Robert Holcombe 4,105 1994 1995 1996 1997 2 Chase Brown 3,206 [10] 2019 2020 2021 2022 3 Antoineo Harris 2,985 1999 2000 2001 2002 4 Thomas Rooks 2,887 1982 1983 1984 1985 5 Jim Grabowski 2,878 1963 1964 1965 6 Rocky Harvey 2,711 1998 1999 2000 2001 7 Josh Ferguson 2,586 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 8 Juice Williams 2,557 2006 2007 2008 2009 Mikel Leshoure 2,557 2008 2009 2010 10 Pierre Thomas 2,545 2003 2004 2005 2006

Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Mikel Leshoure 1,697 2010 2 Rashard Mendenhall 1,681 2007 3 Chase Brown 1,643 [10] 2022 4 Antoineo Harris 1,330 2002 5 Robert Holcombe 1,281 1996 6 Jim Grabowski 1,258 1965 7 J.C. Caroline 1,256 1953 8 Robert Holcombe 1,253 1997 9 Keith Jones 1,196 1988 10 Howard Griffith 1,115 1990

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Mikel Leshoure 330 [11] 2010 Northwestern 2 Robert Holcombe 315 1996 Minnesota 3 Howard Griffith 263 1990 Northwestern 4 Chase Brown 257 [12] 2021 Charlotte 5 Jim Grabowski 239 1964 Wisconsin 6 Red Grange 237 1925 Pennsylvania 7 Chase Brown 223 [13] 2021 Penn State 8 Rocky Harvey 215 1998 Middle Tennessee 9 Rashard Mendenhall 214 [14] 2007 Indiana 10 Red Grange 212 1924 Michigan

Rushing touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Howard Griffith 31 1987 1988 1989 1990 2 Jason Ford 26 2008 2009 2010 2011 3 Thomas Rooks 25 1982 1983 1984 1985 Robert Holcombe 25 1994 1995 1996 1997 5 Johnny Karras 24 1949 1950 1951 Jim Grabowski 24 1963 1964 1965 Chubby Phillips 24 1973 1974 1975 1976 8 Red Grange 23 1923 1924 1925 Ty Douthard 23 1993 1994 1995 1996 Mikel Leshoure 23 2008 2009 2010

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Rashard Mendenhall 17 2007 Mikel Leshoure 17 2010 3 Howard Griffith 15 1990 4 Johnny Karras 13 1951 5 Red Grange 12 1924 Robert Holcombe 12 1996 7 Keith Jones 11 1988 8 Jim Grabowski 10 1964 Steve Havard 10 1999 Chase Brown 10 [10] 2022

Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Howard Griffith 8 [15] 1990 Southern Illinois 2 Red Grange 4 1924 Michigan Antoineo Harris 4 2002 Indiana

Receiving

Receptions

Career Rank Player Rec Years 1 David Williams 262 1983 1984 1985 2 Isaiah Williams 214 [16] 2019 2021 2022 2023 3 Josh Ferguson 197 2011 2012 2013 2014 4 Jason Dulick 169 1993 1994 1995 1996 5 A. J. Jenkins 167 2008 2009 2010 2011 6 Brandon Lloyd 160 1999 2000 2001 2002 7 John Wright 159 1965 1966 1967 Arrelious Benn 159 2007 2008 2009 9 Walter Young 147 1999 2000 2001 2002 10 Mike Martin 143 1979 1980 1981 1982

Single season Rank Player Rec Year 1 David Williams 101 1984 2 David Williams 92 1985 3 A. J. Jenkins 90 2011 4 Isaiah Williams 82 [16] 2022 Isaiah Williams 82 [16] 2023 6 Mike Martin 77 1982 7 Mike Dudek 76 2014 8 David Williams 69 1983 9 Arrelious Benn 67 2008 10 Brandon Lloyd 65 2001 Brandon Lloyd 65 2002 Geronimo Allison 65 2015

Single game Rank Player Rec Year Opponent 1 David Williams 16 1985 Purdue 2 Keith Jones 13 1988 Michigan State Steve Hull 13 [17] 2013 Northwestern Isaiah Williams 13 [18] 2023 Minnesota 5 Mike Martin 12 1982 Ohio State David Williams 12 1984 Michigan Kameno Bell 12 1991 Ohio State Brandon Lloyd 12 2001 Northwestern Arrelious Benn 12 [4] 2008 Minnesota A. J. Jenkins 12 [19] 2011 Northwestern

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 Isaiah Williams 2,304 [16] 2019 2021 2022 2023 6 Mike Martin 2,300 1979 1980 1981 1982 7 John Wright 2,284 1965 1966 1967 8 Arrelious Benn 2,221 2007 2008 2009 9 Jason Dulick 2,004 1993 1994 1995 1996 10 Shawn Wax 1,614 1987 1988 1989 1990

Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 David Williams 1,278 1984 2 A. J. Jenkins 1,276 2011 3 David Williams 1,156 1985 4 Mike Martin 1,068 1982 5 Brandon Lloyd 1,062 2001 6 Arrelious Benn 1,055 2008 Isaiah Williams 1,055 [16] 2023 8 Mike Dudek 1,038 2014 9 Brandon Lloyd 1,010 2002 10 Steve Hull 993 2013

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 A. J. Jenkins 268 [19] 2011 Northwestern 2 Steve Hull 224 [7] 2013 Indiana 3 Casey Washington 218 [20] 2023 Northwestern 4 David Williams 208 1984 Northwestern 5 Mike Dudek 200 [21] 2014 Purdue Isaiah Williams 200 2023 Indiana 6 Mike Sherrod 191 1980 Indiana 7 Rex Smith 188 1952 Iowa David Williams 188 1983 Minnesota 10 A. J. Jenkins 182 [22] 2011 Indiana

Receiving touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 David Williams 24 1983 1984 1985 2 Brandon Lloyd 21 1999 2000 2001 2002 3 A. J. Jenkins 19 2008 2009 2010 2011 4 Mike Martin 15 1980 1981 1982 Jason Dulick 15 1993 1994 1995 1996 Walter Young 15 1999 2000 2001 2002 7 Isaiah Williams 14 [16] 2019 2021 2022 2023 8 John Wright 12 1965 1966 1967 Oliver Williams 12 1981 1982 Shawn Wax 12 1988 1989 1990 Greg Lewis 12 1999 2000 2001 2002 Josh Imatorbhebhe 12 [23] 2019 2020

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 David Williams 10 1985 Brandon Lloyd 10 2001 3 Brandon Lloyd 9 2002 Josh Imatorbhebhe 9 [23] 2019 5 Randy Grant 8 1984 David Williams 8 1984 Mike Bellamy 8 1989 Walter Young 8 2001 A. J. Jenkins 8 2011 10 A. J. Jenkins 7 2010 Steve Hull 7 2013 Pat Bryant 7 [24] 2023

Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 David Williams 3 1985 Purdue Mike Bellamy 3 1989 Indiana Shawn Wax 3 1990 Iowa Gus Palma 3 1991 Houston Greg Lewis 3 2000 Middle Tennessee A. J. Jenkins 3 [19] 2011 Northwestern Casey Washington 3 [20] 2023 Northwestern

Total offense

Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns. ^[25]

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

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Dave Wilson 585 1980 Ohio State 2 Juice Williams 503 [4] 2008 Minnesota 3 John Paddock 499 2023 Indiana 4 Nathan Scheelhaase 495 [7] 2013 Indiana 5 Tony Eason 480 1982 Wisconsin 6 Juice Williams 461 [6] 2008 Missouri 7 Tony Eason 450 1981 Northwestern 8 Jason Verduzco 445 1991 Missouri 9 Wes Lunt 439 [5] 2014 Western Kentucky 10 Juice Williams 431 [26] 2008 Michigan Jon Beutjer 431 2002 San Jose State

Total touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Kurt Kittner 77 1998 1999 2000 2001 2 Juice Williams 74 2006 2007 2008 2009 Nathan Scheelhaase 74 2010 2011 2012 2013 4 Jack Trudeau 60 1981 1983 1984 1985 5 Jason Verduzco 47 1989 1990 1991 1992 6 Tony Eason 44 1981 1982 7 Jon Beutjer 41 2002 2003 2004 8 Wes Lunt 37 [3] 2014 2015 2016 9 Johnny Johnson 36 1992 1993 1994 1995

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Kurt Kittner 29 2001 2 Juice Williams 27 2008 3 Tony Eason 25 1981 Kurt Kittner 25 1999 Nathan Scheelhaase 25 2013 6 Jon Beutjer 23 2002 7 Jeff George 22 1989 Nathan Scheelhaase 22 2010 9 Tommy DeVito 21 [27] 2022 10 Dave Wilson 20 1980 Jack Trudeau 20 1983 Juice Williams 20 2007

Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Howard Griffith 8 [15] 1990 Southern Illinois

Defense

Interceptions

Career Rank Player Ints Years 1 Al Brosky 30 1950 1951 1952 2 Mike Gow 19 1972 1973 1974 3 George Donnelly 13 1962 1963 1964 Mike Heaven 13 1981 1982 1983 1984 Craig Swoope 13 1982 1983 1984 1985 6 Red Grange 11 1923 1924 1925 Henry Jones 11 1987 1988 1989 1990 Eugene Wilson 11 1999 2000 2001 2002 9 Phil Knell 10 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 Ron Bess 10 1965 1966 1967 Trevor Starghill 10 1994 1995 1996 1997 Sydney Brown 10 [28] 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Single season Rank Player Ints Year 1 Al Brosky 11 1950 Al Brosky 11 1951 3 Mike Gow 10 1973 4 Al Brosky 8 1952 George Donnelly 8 1964 6 Willie Osley 7 1971 7 Red Grange 6 1925 Ron Bess 6 1967 Terry Miller 6 1967 Eugene Wilson 6 2001 Sydney Brown 6 [28] 2022

Single game Rank Player Ints Year Opponent 1 Mike Gow 4 1974 Stanford 2 Mike Gow 3 1973 Minnesota Phil Knell 3 1966 Purdue Duane Lyle 3 1995 East Carolina Eugene Wilson 3 2001 Penn State

Tackles

Career Rank Player Tackles Years 1 Dana Howard 595 1991 1992 1993 1994 2 John Sullivan 501 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 3 Darrick Brownlow 483 1987 1988 1989 1990 4 John Gillen 441 1977 1978 1979 1980 5 John Holecek 436 1991 1992 1993 1994 6 Jeremy Leman 407 2004 2005 2006 2007 7 Danny Clark 381 1996 1997 1998 1999 8 Dick Butkus 374 1962 1963 1964 9 Steve Glasson 371 1986 1987 1988 1989 10 Jerry Schumacher 370 1999 2000 2001 2002

Single season Rank Player Tackles Year 1 John Sullivan 202 1977 2 Scott Studwell 177 1976 3 Darrick Brownlow 166 1988 4 Darrick Brownlow 161 1990 5 John Gillen 155 1978 6 Dele Harding 154 2019 7 Jeremy Leman 152 2006 8 Dana Howard 150 1992 Dana Howard 150 1994 10 Dana Howard 148 1993

Single game Rank Player Tackles Year Opponent 1 John Sullivan 34 1977 Minnesota 2 John Sullivan 27 1977 Syracuse 3 Bill Burrell 26 1959 Purdue 4 John Sullivan 25 1977 Ohio State 5 Dana Howard 24 1991 Ohio State

Sacks

Career Rank Player Sacks Years 1 Simeon Rice 44.5 1992 1993 1994 1995 2 Scott Davis 23.0 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 3 Fred Wakefield 21.0 1997 1998 1999 2000 4 Mike Poloskey 20.0 1988 1989 1990 1991 5 Moe Gardner 18.0 1987 1988 1989 1990 Kevin Hardy 18.0 1992 1993 1994 1995 Whitney Mercilus 18.0 2009 2010 2011 Jer'Zhan Newton 18.0 [29] 2020 2021 2022 2023 9 Dawuane Smoot 15.5 2013 2014 2015 2016 Owen Carney Jr. 15.5 [30] 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Single season Rank Player Sacks Year 1 Simeon Rice 16.0 1994 Whitney Mercilus 16.0 2011 3 Mike Poloskey 15.0 1991 4 Simeon Rice 11.5 1995 5 Scott Davis 10.0 1987 6 Will Davis 9.5 2007 7 Scott Davis 9.0 1985 Moe Gardner 9.0 1989 Mel Agee 9.0 1989 Simeon Rice 9.0 1992 Fred Wakefield 9.0 2000 Carroll Phillips 9.0 2016 Oluwole Betiku Jr. 9.0 [31] 2019

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 Oluwole Betiku Jr. 3.5 2019 UConn

Kicking

Field goals made

Career Rank Player FGs Years 1 Chris White 53 1983 1984 1985 2 Chris Richardson 52 1991 1992 1993 1994 3 Jason Reda 51 2004 2005 2006 2007 4 Mike Bass 41 1980 1981 1982 5 Doug Higgins 39 1987 1988 1989 1990 Derek Dimke 39 2008 2009 2010 2011 7 Dan Beaver 38 1973 1974 1975 1976 8 James McCourt 37 [32] 2019 2020 2021 9 Taylor Zalewski 35 2012 2013 2014 2015 10 Neil Rackers 34 1996 1997 1998 1999

Single season Rank Player FGs Year 1 Mike Bass 24 1982 Chris White 24 1984 Derek Dimke 24 2010 4 Neil Rackers 20 1999 5 James McCourt 18 [32] 2021 6 Jason Reda 16 2007 Taylor Zalewski 16 2015 8 Chris White 15 1985 Jason Reda 15 2006 Matt Eller 15 2008

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

Career Rank Player FG% Years 1 Derek Dimke 84.8% 2008 2009 2010 2011 2 Peter Christofilakos 84.0% 1999 2000 2001 2002 3 Jason Reda 75.0% 2004 2005 2006 2007 4 Mike Bass 74.5% 1980 1981 1982 5 Caleb Griffin 74.4% [33] 2020 2021 2022 2023 6 Chris White 73.6% 1983 1984 1985 7 Chris Richardson 71.2% 1991 1992 1993 1994 8 James McCourt 71.2% [32] 2019 2020 2021 9 Doug Higgins 68.4% 1987 1988 1989 1990 10 Neil Rackers 66.7% 1996 1997 1998 1999

Single season Rank Player FG% Year 1 Peter Christofilakos 92.3% 2001 2 Jason Reda 88.9% 2007 3 Mike Bass 85.7% 1982 Chris White 85.7% 1984 5 Derek Dimke 83.3% 2011 6 Derek Dimke 82.8% 2010 7 Mike Wells 80.0% 1970 8 Jason Reda 78.9% 2006 9 James McCourt 78.3% [32] 2021 10 Neil Rackers 76.9% 1999

References

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2. "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. AP. 2002-08-28. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
3. "West Lunt". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
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5. "Illini come back to knock off W. Kentucky, 42-34". ESPN.com. 2014-09-06.
6. "Missouri 52, Illinois 42". ESPN.com. 2008-08-30.
7. "Indiana defeats Illinois 52-35". ESPN.com. 2013-11-09.
8. "Reilly O'Toole throws for 5 TDs as Illinois blanks Charleston Southern". ESPN.com. 2012-09-15.
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25. "Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Record Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-12-01. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
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27. "Tommy DeVito". ESPN.com.
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29. "Jer'Zhan Newton". ESPN.com.
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31. "Oluwole Betiku Jr". ESPN.com.
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33. "Caleb Griffin". ESPN.com.