Vanderbilt Commodores football statistical leaders

Earl Bennett's 236 career receptions were a record until Jordan Matthews broke it 6 years later.

The Vanderbilt Commodores football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Vanderbilt Commodores 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 Commodores represent Vanderbilt University in the NCAA's Southeastern Conference.

Although Vanderbilt began competing in intercollegiate football in 1890, the school's official record book considers ^[1] the "modern era" to have begun in 1946. 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 1950, 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 Commodores have played in five bowl games since them.
• The 2011, 2012, and 2013 seasons, all played under head coach James Franklin, are the three-highest scoring Commodore seasons of the modern era, and three of the four seasons with the most offensive yards. ^[1]

The statistics below are updated through the end of the 2021 season.

Passing

Passing yards

Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Kyle Shurmur 8,865 [3] 2015 2016 2017 2018 2 Jay Cutler 8,697 2002 2003 2004 2005 3 Greg Zolman 7,981 1998 1999 2000 2001 4 Whit Taylor 6,307 1979 1980 1981 1982 5 Kurt Page 6,233 1981 1982 1983 1984 6 Eric Jones 5,029 1986 1987 1988 7 Jordan Rodgers 4,063 2011 2012 8 Damian Allen 3,704 1994 1995 1996 1997 9 John Gromos 3,514 1985 1987 1988 1989 10 Chris Nickson 3,406 2005 2006 2007 2008

Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Kurt Page 3,178 1983 2 Kyle Shurmur 3,130 [3] 2018 3 Jay Cutler 3,073 2005 4 Kyle Shurmur 2,823 [3] 2017 5 Eric Jones 2,548 1988 6 Jordan Rodgers 2,539 2012 7 Greg Zolman 2,512 2001 8 Whit Taylor 2,481 1982 9 Greg Zolman 2,441 2000 10 Kyle Shurmur 2,409 [3] 2016

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Whit Taylor 464 1981 Tennessee 2 Whit Taylor 452 1982 Air Force [4] 3 Chris Nickson 446 [5] 2006 Kentucky 4 Greg Zolman 441 2001 Kentucky 5 Kyle Shurmur 416 [6] 2016 Tennessee 6 Jay Cutler 395 [7] 2005 Kentucky 7 Whit Taylor 391 1982 Tennessee 8 Riley Neal 378 [8] 2019 Purdue 9 Johnny McCrary 368 [9] 2015 Austin Peay 10 Kyle Shurmur 367 2018 Tennessee

Passing touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Kyle Shurmur 64 [3] 2015 2016 2017 2018 2 Jay Cutler 59 2002 2003 2004 2005 3 Whit Taylor 41 1979 1980 1981 1982 Greg Zolman 41 1998 1999 2000 2001 5 Kurt Page 35 1981 1982 1983 1984 6 Eric Jones 32 1986 1987 1988 7 Bill Wade 31 1949 1950 1951 8 Chris Nickson 29 2005 2006 2007 2008 9 Jordan Rodgers 24 2011 2012 10 Mike Wright 21 [10] 2020 2021 2022

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Kyle Shurmur 26 [3] 2017 2 Kyle Shurmur 24 [3] 2018 3 Jay Cutler 21 2005 4 Jay Cutler 18 2003 5 Kurt Page 16 1983 Eric Jones 16 1987 7 Whit Taylor 15 1981 Chris Nickson 15 2006 Jordan Rodgers 15 2012 10 Kurt Page 14 1984 Greg Zolman 14 2001

Single game [11] Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Bill Wade 5 1950 Auburn Jay Cutler 5 [7] 2005 Kentucky Johnny McCrary 5 [12] 2014 Old Dominion

Rushing

Rushing yards

Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Ralph Webb 4,173 [13] 2014 2015 2016 2017 2 Zac Stacy 3,143 2009 2010 2011 2012 3 Frank Mordica 2,632 1976 1977 1978 1979 4 Carl Woods 2,490 1983 1984 1985 1986 5 Ke'Shawn Vaughn 2,272 [14] 2018 2019 6 Jamie O’Rourke 2,202 1971 1973 1974 7 Jermaine Johnson 2,152 1993 1994 1995 8 Jared McGrath 2,151 1997 1998 1999 2000 9 Lonnie Sadler 2,096 1972 1973 1974 1975 10 Rodney Williams 2,021 1998 1999 2000 2001

Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Ralph Webb 1,384 [13] 2016 2 Ke'Shawn Vaughn 1,244 [14] 2018 3 Zac Stacy 1,193 2011 4 Ralph Webb 1,152 [13] 2015 5 Zac Stacy 1,141 2012 6 Corey Harris 1,103 1991 7 Jermaine Johnson 1,072 1995 8 Frank Mordica 1,065 1978 9 Ray Davis 1,042 [15] 2022 10 Ke'Shawn Vaughn 1,028 [14] 2019

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Frank Mordica 321 1978 Air Force 2 Ke'Shawn Vaughn 243 2018 Baylor 3 Doug Mathews 214 1969 Tulane 4 Ralph Webb 198 [16] 2016 Middle Tennessee 5 Zac Stacy 198 [17] 2011 Army 6 Jamie O’Rourke 187 1971 Tulane Frank Mordica 187 1979 Citadel 8 Zac Stacy 184 [18] 2011 Wake Forest 9 Corey Harris 180 1991 Army Zac Stacy 180 [19] 2012 Wake Forest

Rushing touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Ralph Webb 32 [13] 2014 2015 2016 2017 2 Zac Stacy 30 2009 2010 2011 2012 3 Marcus Wilson 24 1989 1990 1991 1992 4 Steve Burger 21 1970 1971 1972 Ke'Shawn Vaughn 21 [14] 2018 2019 6 Jamie O’Rourke 20 1971 1973 1974 7 Jerron Seymour 19 2011 2013 2014 8 Frank Mordica 18 1976 1977 1978 1979 Cassen Jackson-Garrison 18 2004 2005 2006 2007 10 Ronnie Gordon 17 1993 1994 1995 Jay Cutler 17 2002 2003 2004 2005 Chris Nickson 17 2005 2006 2007 2008

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Zac Stacy 14 2011 Jerron Seymour 14 2013 3 Ronnie Gordon 13 1994 Ralph Webb 14 [13] 2016 5 Jamie O'Rourke 12 1974 Ke'Shawn Vaughn 12 [14] 2018 7 Marcus Wilson 11 1991 8 Steve Burger 10 1970 Zac Stacy 10 2012 Khari Blasingame 10 2016 Ralph Webb 10 [13] 2017

Single game [11] Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Frank Mordica 5 1978 Air Force

Receiving

Receptions

Career Rank Player Rec Years 1 Jordan Matthews 262 2010 2011 2012 2013 2 Earl Bennett 236 2005 2006 2007 3 Keith Edwards 200 1980 1982 1983 4 Kalija Lipscomb 198 [20] 2016 2017 2018 2019 5 Boo Mitchell 188 1985 1986 1987 1988 6 Dan Stricker 182 1999 2000 2001 2002 7 Chuck Scott 145 1981 1982 1983 1984 8 Everett Crawford 143 1984 1985 1986 1987 9 Trent Sherfield 136 2014 2015 2016 2017 10 Martin Cox 132 1975 1976 1977 1978

Single season Rank Player Rec Year 1 Jordan Matthews 112 2013 2 Keith Edwards 97 1983 3 Jordan Matthews 94 2012 4 Kalija Lipscomb 87 [20] 2018 5 Earl Bennett 82 2006 6 Bob Goodridge 79 1967 Earl Bennett 79 2005 8 Boo Mitchell 78 1988 9 Earl Bennett 75 2007 10 Chuck Scott 70 1983

Single game [11] Rank Player Rec Year Opponent 1 Norman Jordan 20 1982 Air Force [4] 2 Trent Sherfield 16 2015 Austin Peay

Receiving yards

Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Jordan Matthews 3,759 2010 2011 2012 2013 2 Boo Mitchell 2,964 1985 1986 1987 1988 3 Dan Stricker 2,880 1999 2000 2001 2002 4 Earl Bennett 2,852 2005 2006 2007 5 Kalija Lipscomb 2,356 [20] 2016 2017 2018 2019 6 Martin Cox 2,275 1975 1976 1977 1978 7 Chuck Scott 2,219 1981 1982 1983 1984 8 Clarence Sevillian 1,978 1989 1990 1991 1992 9 Trent Sherfield 1,869 2014 2015 2016 2017 10 Erik Davis 1,767 2002 2003 2004 2005

Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Jordan Matthews 1,477 2013 2 Jordan Matthews 1,323 2012 3 Boo Mitchell 1,213 1988 4 Earl Bennett 1,146 2006 5 Bob Goodridge 1,114 1967 6 Dan Stricker 1,079 2001 7 Dan Stricker 994 2000 8 Chuck Scott 975 1984 9 Chuck Scott 971 1983 10 Kalija Lipscomb 916 [20] 2018

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Trent Sherfield 240 [9] 2015 Austin Peay 2 Earl Bennett 223 [21] 2007 Richmond 3 Clarence Sevillian 222 1992 Tennessee 4 Earl Bennett 220 [5] 2006 Kentucky 5 M.J. Garrett 219 2001 Middle Tennessee 6 Dan Stricker 204 2001 Duke Earl Bennett 204 [22] 2005 South Carolina 8 Bob Goodridge 201 1967 Navy 9 Bucky Curtis 196 1950 Alabama 10 Boo Mitchell 184 1985 Kansas Earl Bennett 184 [23] 2006 Duke Trent Sherfield 184 [6] 2016 Tennessee

Receiving touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Jordan Matthews 24 2010 2011 2012 2013 2 Kalija Lipscomb 22 [20] 2016 2017 2018 2019 3 Dan Stricker 21 1999 2000 2001 2002 4 Chuck Scott 20 1981 1982 1983 1984 Earl Bennett 20 2005 2006 2007 6 Allama Matthews 18 1981 1982 7 Carl Parker 16 1983 1985 1986 1987 8 Erik Davis 14 2002 2003 2004 2005 9 Marlon White 13 2003 2004 2005 2006 Chris Boyd 13 2011 2012 2013 Will Sheppard 13 [24] 2020 2021 2022

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Allama Matthews 14 1982 2 Carl Parker 12 1987 3 Bucky Curtis 9 1950 Chuck Scott 9 1983 Earl Bennett 9 2005 Kalija Lipscomb 9 [20] 2018 Will Sheppard 9 [24] 2022 8 Chuck Scott 8 1984 Dan Stricker 8 2001 Erik Davis 8 2003 Chris Boyd 8 2011 Jordan Matthews 8 2012 Kalija Lipscomb 8 [20] 2017

Single game [11] Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Earl Bennett 5 [7] 2005 Kentucky

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 Jay Cutler 9,953 2002 2003 2004 2005 2 Kyle Shurmur 8,539 [3] 2015 2016 2017 2018 3 Greg Zolman 7,707 1998 1999 2000 2001 4 Whit Taylor 6,727 1979 1980 1981 1982 5 Eric Jones 6,240 1986 1987 1988 6 Kurt Page 6,008 1981 1982 1983 1984 7 Chris Nickson 4,869 2005 2006 2007 2008 8 Jordan Rodgers 4,554 2011 2012 9 Larry Smith 3,741 2008 2009 2010 2011 10 Damian Allen 3,733 1994 1995 1996 1997

Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Jay Cutler 3,288 2005 2 Kyle Shurmur 3,050 [3] 2018 3 Kurt Page 3,034 1983 4 Eric Jones 2,853 1988 5 Chris Nickson 2,779 2006 6 Kyle Shurmur 2,739 [3] 2017 7 Whit Taylor 2,679 1982 8 Jay Cutler 2,646 2003 9 Eric Jones 2,619 1987 10 Jordan Rodgers 2,610 2012

Single game [11] Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Whit Taylor 521 1981 Tennessee

Total touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Jay Cutler 76 2002 2003 2004 2005 2 Kyle Shurmur 67 [3] 2015 2016 2017 2018 3 Greg Zolman 53 1998 1999 2000 2001 4 Whit Taylor 46 1979 1980 1981 1982 Chris Nickson 46 2005 2006 2007 2008 5 Eric Jones 45 1986 1987 1988 7 Kurt Page 38 1981 1982 1983 1984 8 Marcus Wilson 32 1989 1990 1991 1992 9 Zac Stacy 31 2009 2010 2011 2012 10 Jordan Rodgers 30 2011 2012

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Kyle Shurmur 29 [3] 2017 2 Whit Taylor 24 1982 Chris Nickson 24 2006 Kyle Shurmur 24 [3] 2018 4 Eric Jones 22 1987 Jay Cutler 22 2005 6 Greg Zolman 19 2001 Jay Cutler 19 2002 Jay Cutler 19 2003 10 Kurt Page 18 1983

Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Mike Wright 6 [26] 2022 Elon 2 Bill Wade 5 1950 Auburn Frank Mordica 5 1978 Air Force Jay Cutler 5 [7] 2005 Kentucky Johnny McCrary 5 [12] 2014 Old Dominion Kyle Shurmur 5 [27] 2017 Alabama A&M

Defense

Interceptions

Career Rank Player Ints Years 1 Leonard Coleman 15 1980 1981 1982 1983 Casey Hayward 15 2008 2009 2010 2011 3 Donald Gleisner 13 1950 1951 1952 Ken Stone 13 1970 1971 1972 D.J. Moore 13 2006 2007 2008 6 Corey Chavous 12 1994 1995 1996 1997 7 Christie Hauck 11 1967 1968 1969 Manuel Young 11 1981 1982 1983 1984 Reshard Langford 11 2005 2006 2007 2008

Single season Rank Player Ints Year 1 Scott Wingfield 8 1973 Leonard Coleman 8 1982 3 Donald Gleisner 7 1952 Ed Oaks 7 1975 Casey Hayward 7 2011 6 David Malone 6 1964 D.J. Moore 6 2007 D.J. Moore 6 2008 Casey Hayward 6 2010

Single game Rank Player Ints Year Opponent 1 Scott Wingfield 3 1973 Virginia John Chandler 3 1979 Memphis Leonard Coleman 3 1980 Chattanooga Chris Donnelly 3 1989 Memphis Ryan Hamilton 3 [28] 2008 Ole Miss

Tackles

Career [11] Rank Player Tackles Years 1 Andrew Coleman 458 1978 1979 1980 1981

Single season [11] Rank Player Tackles Year 1 Chris Gaines 214 1987

Single game [11] Rank Player Tackles Year Opponent 1 Chris Gaines 37 1987 Tulane

Sacks

Career [11] Rank Player Sacks Years 1 Alan Young 21.5 1990 1991 1992 1993

Single season [11] Rank Player Sacks Year 1 Alan Young 12.0 1993

Kicking

Field goals made

Career Rank Player FGs Years 1 John Markham 47 1997 1998 1999 2000 2 Bryant Hahnfeldt 46 2005 2006 2007 2008 3 Ricky Anderson 40 1982 1983 1984 4 Carey Spear 39 2010 2011 2012 2013 5 Tommy Openshaw 38 [29] 2014 2015 2016 2017 6 Johnny Clark 36 1987 1988 1989 7 Ryan Fowler 28 2009 2010 2011 2012 8 Mike Woodard 24 1978 1979 1980 1981 9 Mike Adams 23 1974 1975 10 Ryley Guay 22 [30] 2017 2018 2019

Single season Rank Player FGs Year 1 Carey Spear 20 2012 2 Ricky Anderson 16 1984 Ryan Fowler 16 2009 4 Carey Spear 15 2013 Tommy Openshaw 15 [29] 2016 6 Ricky Anderson 14 1982 Johnny Clark 14 1987 John Markham 14 2000 Joseph Bulovas 14 [31] 2021 10 John Markham 13 1998 Bryant Hahnfeldt 13 2007 Bryant Hahnfeldt 13 2008 Ryley Guay 13 [30] 2018

Single game [11] Rank Player FGs Year Opponent 1 Hawkins Golden 4 1973 Georgia John Markham 4 2000 Duke

Field goal percentage

Career Rank Player FG% Years 1 Carey Spear 78.0% 2010 2011 2012 2013 2 Jeff Owen 72.0% 1988 1989 1990 1991 3 Mike Adams 71.9% 1974 1975 4 Ricky Anderson 70.2% 1982 1983 1984 5 Hawkins Golden 69.6% 1972 1973 6 Johnny Clark 69.2% 1987 1988 1989 7 John Markham 69.1% 1997 1998 1999 2000 8 Ryan Fowler 68.3% 2009 2010 2011 2012 9 Tommy Openshaw 67.9% [29] 2014 2015 2016 2017 10 Joseph Bulovas 67.7% [31] 2021 2022

Single season Rank Player FG% Year 1 Hawkins Golden 85.7% 1973 2 Mike Adams 84.6% 1974 3 Ricky Anderson 84.2% 1984 4 Carey Spear 83.3% 2012 5 Ryley Guay 81.8% [30] 2019 6 Mike Woodard 80.0% 1981 7 Carey Spear 78.9% 2013 Tommy Openshaw 78.9% [29] 2016 9 Jeff Owen 78.6% 1991 10 John Markham 77.8% 2000

References

1. "2014 Vanderbilt Football Media Guide" (PDF). VUCommodores.com. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
2. "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. AP. 2002-08-28. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
3. "Kyle Shurmur". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
4. Hall of Fame Bowl
5. "Party like it's 1999: Woodson has Kentucky bowl eligible". ESPN.com. 2006-11-11. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
6. "Bowl worthy: Vanderbilt upsets No. 17 Tennessee, 45-35". ESPN.com. 2016-11-26.
7. "Kentucky 48, Vanderbilt 43". ESPN.com. 2005-11-12. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
8. "Vanderbilt vs Purdue Box Score". ESPN.com. September 7, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
9. "Vanderbilt overpowers Austin Peay 47-7". ESPN.com. 2015-09-19. Retrieved 2015-11-29.
10. "Mike Wright". ESPN.com.
11. The 2014 Vanderbilt Football Media Guide lists only a leader for this statistic, rather than a top 10.
12. Cirillo, Chip (2014-11-02). "Vanderbilt soars past Old Dominion 42-28". WashingtonTimes.com. AP. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
13. "Ralph Webb". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
14. "Ke'Shawn Vaughn". ESPN.com.
15. "Ray Davis". ESPN.com.
16. "Webb runs for 211, Vanderbilt beats Middle Tennessee 47-24". ESPN.com. 2011-10-22. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
17. "Zac Stacy burns Army for 198 yards, 3 TDs as Vandy rolls". ESPN.com. 2011-10-22. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
18. "Vanderbilt becomes bowl eligible for first time since 2008". ESPN.com. 2011-11-26. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
19. "Vanderbilt routs Wake Forest to win sixth straight". ESPN.com. 2012-11-24. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
20. "Kalija Lipscomb". ESPN.com.
21. "Commodores 41, Spiders 17". ESPN.com. 2007-09-01. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
22. "Spurrier posts first winning streak as Gamecocks coach". ESPN.com. 2005-10-22. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
23. "Nickson helps Vandy keep Duke winless in 'SAT Bowl'". ESPN.com. 2006-10-28. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
24. "Will Sheppard". ESPN.com.
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.
26. "Elon vs. Vanderbilt Box Score". ESPN.com. September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
27. "Shurmur powers Vanderbilt in 42-0 shutout of Alabama A&M". ESPN.com. 2017-09-09.
28. "Hamilton picks off Snead three times as Vandy clips Ole Miss for 4-0 start". ESPN.com. 2008-09-20. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
29. "Tommy Openshaw". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
30. "Ryley Guay". ESPN.com.
31. "Joseph Bulovas". ESPN.com.