Houston Cougars football statistical leaders
Case Keenum holds not only Houston records, but the passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total offense records across all of college football.
The Houston Cougars football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Houston Cougars 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 Cougars represent the University of Houston in the NCAA Division I FBS Big 12 Conference .
Houston began competing in intercollegiate football in 1946,[ 1] but these lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
Since 1946, regular 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 Cougars have played in 16 bowl games since then, allowing recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics. Similarly, the Cougars played in the Conference USA Championship Game three times and the AAC Championship Game twice, so players in those seasons played 14 games.
Houston has recently run a spread offense under coaches Art Briles , Kevin Sumlin , Tony Levine , Tom Herman , Major Applewhite , and Dana Holgorsen , allowing offensive players to accumulate many yards and touchdowns. Most notably among these is quarterback Case Keenum , who holds the records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total offense across all of college football.
These lists are updated through the end of the 2024 season.
Passing
Passing yards
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Case Keenum
19,217
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
2
Kevin Kolb
12,964
2003 2004 2005 2006
3
Clayton Tune
11,991[ 3]
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
4
David Klingler
9,430
1988 1989 1990 1991
5
Greg Ward Jr.
8,705[ 4]
2013 2014 2015 2016
6
Jason McKinley
8,694
1997 1998 1999 2000
7
Andre Ware
8,202
1987 1988 1989
8
Chuck Clements
7,112
1993 1994 1995 1996
9
David Piland
5,790
2010 2012 2013
10
Jimmy Klingler
5,243
1991 1992 1993
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Case Keenum
5,671
2009
2
Case Keenum
5,631
2011
3
David Klingler
5,140
1990
4
Case Keenum
5,020
2008
5
Andre Ware
4,699
1989
6
Clayton Tune
4,069[ 3]
2022
7
Jimmy Klingler
3,818
1992
8
Kevin Kolb
3,809
2006
9
Greg Ward Jr.
3,557
2016
10
Clayton Tune
3,546[ 3]
2021
Passing touchdowns
Rushing
Rushing yards
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Ketric Sanford
3,636
1996 1997 1998 1999
2
Chuck Weatherspoon
3,247
1987 1988 1989 1990
3
Bryce Beall
3,098
2008 2009 2010 2011
4
Kenneth Farrow
2,975[ 12]
2012 2013 2014 2015
5
Robert Newhouse
2,961
1969 1970 1971
6
Joffrey Reynolds
2,947
1999 2000 2001 2002
7
Paul Gipson
2,769
1966 1967 1968
8
Anthony Alridge
2,595
2005 2006 2007
9
Alois Blackwell
2,467
1975 1976 1977
10
Greg Ward Jr.
2,375[ 4]
2013 2014 2015 2016
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Robert Newhouse
1,757
1971
2
Anthony Alridge
1,597
2007
3
Paul Gipson
1,550
1968
4
Joffrey Reynolds
1,545
2002
5
Jim Strong
1,293
1969
6
Bryce Beall
1,247
2008
7
Antowain Smith
1,239
1996
8
Nat "Puddin" Jones
1,216
1972
9
Ketric Sanford
1,199
1999
10
Alois Blackwell
1,169
1977
Rushing touchdowns
Receiving
Receptions
Receiving yards
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Patrick Edwards
4,507
2008 2009 2010 2011
2
Vincent Marshall
3,770
2006 2007 2008 2009
3
Tyron Carrier
3,493
2008 2009 2010 2011
4
Elmo Wright
3,347
1968 1969 1970
5
Donnie Avery
3,289
2004 2005 2006 2007
6
Nathaniel Dell
3,155
2020 2021 2022
7
Brandon Middleton
2,873
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
8
Orlando Iglesias
2,810
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
9
Manny Hazard
2,635
1989 1990
10
Deontay Greenberry
2,612
2012 2013 2014
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Patrick Edwards
1,752
2011
2
Manny Hazard
1,689
1989
3
Donnie Avery
1,456
2007
4
Jason Phillips
1,444
1988
5
Nathaniel Dell
1,398
2022
6
Nathaniel Dell
1,329
2021
7
Elmo Wright
1,275
1969
8
Marcus Grant
1,262
1991
9
Brandon Middleton
1,250
2003
10
Justin Johnson
1,229
2011
Receiving touchdowns
Total offense
Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[ 22]
Total offense yards
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Case Keenum
20,114
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
2
Kevin Kolb
13,715
2003 2004 2005 2006
3
Clayton Tune
13,244 [ 3]
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
4
Greg Ward Jr.
11,080 [ 4]
2013 2014 2015 2016
5
David Klingler
9,327
1988 1989 1990 1991
6
Jason McKinley
8,277
1997 1998 1999 2000
7
Andre Ware
8,058
1987 1988 1989
8
Chuck Clements
6,893
1993 1994 1995 1996
9
D'Eriq King
6,346 [ 23]
2016 2017 2018 2019
10
David Piland
6,039
2010 2012 2013
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Case Keenum
5,829
2009
2
Case Keenum
5,666
2011
3
Case Keenum
5,241
2008
4
David Klingler
5,221
1990
5
Andre Ware
4,631
1989
6
Clayton Tune
4,615 [ 3]
2022
7
Greg Ward Jr.
4,075 [ 4]
2016
8
Kevin Kolb
3,963
2006
9
Greg Ward Jr.
3,936 [ 4]
2015
10
Jimmy Klingler
3,768
1992
Touchdowns responsible for
"Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.[ 26]
Defense
Interceptions
Tackles
Sacks
Kicking
Field goals made
Field goal percentage
Single season (at least 10 FGA)
Rank
Player
FG%
Year
1
Matt Hogan
100.0%
2009
2
Dustin Bell
85.7%
2002
3
Dalton Witherspoon
83.3%
2019
4
Matt Hogan
82.4%
2010
5
Mike Clendenen
81.8%
1984
6
Matt Hogan
80.0%
2012
Ty Cummings
80.0% [ 36]
2016
Caden Novikoff
80.0%
2017
Dalton Witherspoon
80.0%
2020
Jack Martin
80.0%
2024
References
^ a b "2015 Houston Cougars Media Guide" (PDF) . UHCougars.com . Archived from the original (PDF) on March 21, 2018. 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 "Clayton Tune" . ESPN.com .
^ a b c d e f g h i "Greg Ward Jr" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 17, 2016 .
^ a b "Louisiana Tech 56, Houston 49" . ESPN.com . September 9, 2012.
^ a b "Keenum's last-minute TD helps Houston escape with win" . ESPN.com . October 31, 2009. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013.
^ "Buckram runs for a career-high 262 yards as UTEP takes down Houston" . ESPN.com . October 4, 2009. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013.
^ a b c d e "Case Keenum tosses 9 touchdowns, breaks FBS career record in Houston's win" . ESPN.com . October 28, 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013.
^ a b "Case Keenum, Houston down Penn State in TicketCity Bowl" . ESPN.com . August 20, 2012. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013.
^ a b c "Keenum throws for 6 TDs as Houston hangs 70 on Tulsa" . ESPN.com . November 16, 2008. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013.
^ "Case Keenum sets NCAA record for total offense as Houston cruises" . ESPN.com . October 22, 2011. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013.
^ a b c "Kenneth Farrow" . ESPN.com . Retrieved January 1, 2016 .
^ "Houston 35, Army 21" . ESPN.com . September 19, 2004.[dead link ]
^ a b D'Eriq King College Stats . Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
^ a b "Houston 56, Rice 48" . ESPN.com . October 13, 2007.[dead link ]
^ "Houston 42, Tulane 23" . ESPN.com . September 25, 2010.[dead link ]
^ "Houston beats Tulsa 38-28" . ESPN.com . November 22, 2014.
^ "Ward, Farrow lead Houston past SMU 49-28" . ESPN.com . October 18, 2015.
^ a b "East Carolina stops Houston for Conference USA crown" . ESPN.com . December 5, 2009. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013.
^ a b "TCU wins, but gives up 684 yards" . ESPN.com . October 26, 2003. Archived from the original on September 19, 2013.
^ "Houston reaches Conference USA title game with record 12th win" . ESPN.com . November 25, 2011. Archived from the original on May 16, 2013.
^ "2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF) . NCAA. p. 9. Retrieved December 4, 2021 .
^ a b D'Eriq King College Stats . Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
^ "Amid Herman rumors, No. 20 Houston loses to Memphis 48-44" . ESPN.com . November 25, 2016.
^ a b King totals 7 TDs, Houston beats No. 21 USF 57-36 . CBS Sports, 27 Oct 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
^ "2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF) . NCAA. p. 12. Retrieved December 4, 2021 .
^ Adrian McDonald . Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-12-24.
^ "Air Force controls clock, picks off Keenum six times in win" . ESPN.com . December 31, 2009.
^ "Central Florida 31, Houston 29" . ESPN.com . November 5, 2005.[dead link ]
^ "East Carolina 48, Houston 28" . ESPN.com . November 3, 2012.
^ King throws for 413 yards to lead Houston past Navy 49-36 by David Ginsburg. The Washington Post , 20 Oct 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
^ "Steven Taylor" . UHCougars.com . Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "Tyus Bowser" . UHCougars.com . Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ a b Mike Clendenen . Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
^ a b "Kyle Bullard" . ESPN.com . Retrieved January 1, 2016 .
^ a b c d "Ty Cummings" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "Houston 39, UAB 17" . ESPN.com . October 13, 2012.
^ a b [1] Archived March 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine . UH HISTORY & RECORDS: KICK SCORING: Most Field Goals Made, p. 143. University of Houston. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
^ "Houston 5 field goals defeats Temple 22-13" . ESPN.com . September 7, 2013.
^ "Hogan's 51-yard FG as time expires caps rally in final 21 seconds" . ESPN.com . November 8, 2009. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013.
^ "Houston 40, Tulane 17" . ESPN.com . November 24, 2012.
^ "Houston handles Grambling State 47-0" . ESPN.com . September 6, 2014.
^ "Alexander helps UCF hold off Houston, 17-12" . ESPN.com . October 2, 2014.
^ "No. 15 Houston looks Big 12-ready in 33-23 victory over OU" . ESPN.com . September 3, 2016.
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