North Carolina Tar Heels football statistical leaders

The North Carolina Tar Heels football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the North Carolina Tar Heels football program in various categories.[1][2] These categories include passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, all-purpose yardage, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Tar Heels represent University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the NCAA's Atlantic Coast Conference.

Although North Carolina began competing in intercollegiate football in 1888,[1] the school's official record generally does not include statistics from before the 1940s, as records from earlier years are often incomplete and inconsistent.

These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:

  • Since 1940s, 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.[3]

These lists are updated through North Carolina's game against Duke on November 11, 2023. Note that the NCAA does not officially recognize statistics for Hakeem Nicks and Deunta Williams, who were implicated in the scandal that caused the Tar Heels to retroactively forfeit all wins in the 2008 and 2009 seasons. However, the full stats of these players are listed in the school's media guide,[4] and also here. The NCAA continues to recognize statistics from those seasons amassed by players who were not implicated in the scandal.

Passing

Passing yards

Passing touchdowns

Rushing

Rushing yards

Rushing touchdowns

Receiving

Receptions

Receiving yards

Receiving touchdowns

Total offense

Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[45]

Total offense yards

Touchdowns responsible for

In official NCAA records, "touchdowns responsible for" includes rushing and passing touchdowns, but not receptions or returns—the same statistical categories used to measure total offense.[50]

All-purpose yardage

All-purpose yardage is the sum of all yards credited to a player who is in possession of the ball. It includes rushing, receiving, and returns, but does not include passing.[51]

North Carolina's media guide fully lists career and single-season leaders in all-purpose yards, but does not break down their performances by type of play. It only lists the single-game leader, but does fully break down his performance.

Defense

Interceptions

Tackles

Sacks

Kicking

Field goals made

References

  1. ^ a b "2016 North Carolina Tar Heels Media Guide" (PDF). GoHeels.com. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  2. ^ "2019 Carolina Football Media Guide" (PDF). North Carolina Tar Heels. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  3. ^ "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. AP. August 28, 2002. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  4. ^ Hinton, Matt. "Ex-Tar Heel Hakeem Nicks guilty of academic fraud during final season at UNC". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Sam Howell". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Drake Maye Stats". ESPN. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Mitch Trubisky". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d "Wake Forest vs. North Carolina Box Score". ESPN.com. November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Williams, Tar Heels dominate rival Blue Devils 66-31". ESPN.com. November 7, 2015.
  10. ^ a b "North Carolina vs. James Madison Box Score". ESPN.com. September 21, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d "Trubisky, Tar Heels rally past Panthers 37-36 in ACC opener". ESPN.com. September 24, 2016.
  12. ^ a b c "North Carolina vs. Virginia Box Score". ESPN.com. October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  13. ^ a b "UNC overcomes No. 24 Florida State despite bad punt". ESPN.com. November 6, 2010. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016.
  14. ^ a b "North Carolina wins home opener, beats James Madison 56-27". ESPN.com. September 17, 2016.
  15. ^ "Louisville blasts North Carolina early, holds on late to earn win". ESPN.com. September 15, 2012.
  16. ^ "Bryn Renner tosses school-record 5 TDs, lifts North Carolina". ESPN.com. November 24, 2012.
  17. ^ a b "Tar Heels score 80 points in rout of Old Dominion". ESPN.com. November 23, 2013.
  18. ^ "North Carolina vs. Virginia Tech Box Score". ESPN. October 19, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  19. ^ a b "Virginia v. North Carolina Box Score". ESPN. September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  20. ^ "Florida A&M vs. North Carolina Box Score". ESPN. August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  21. ^ "Notre Dame vs. North Carolina Box Score". ESPN.com. September 24, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  22. ^ a b "Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina Box Score". ESPN.com. October 29, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  23. ^ a b c d e "Omarion Hampton". ESPN.com.
  24. ^ "Gio Bernard's career-best 262 rushing yards propel North Carolina". ESPN.com. October 6, 2012.
  25. ^ a b "Javonte Williams Stats".
  26. ^ "Elijah Hood". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  27. ^ a b c d "Ryan Switzer". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  28. ^ a b c "Dazz Newsome". ESPN.com.
  29. ^ "Bryn Renner, Quinshad Davis help Heels dash Cavs' bowl hopes". ESPN.com. November 15, 2012.
  30. ^ "North Carolina vs. Virginia - Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  31. ^ "North Carolina vs Minnesota -Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  32. ^ "UNC snaps No. 12 Florida State's 22-game home win streak". ESPN.com. October 1, 2016.
  33. ^ "Samuels, Dayes help NC State knock off Tar Heels 28-21". ESPN.com. November 25, 2016.
  34. ^ "North Carolina holds on to win 7th straight over Duke". ESPN.com. November 27, 2010. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016.
  35. ^ "Miami vs. North Carolina Box Score". ESPN.com. October 16, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  36. ^ "North Carolina vs. Wake Forest Box Score". ESPN.com. November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  37. ^ "Clemson vs. North Carolina Box Score". ESPN.com. December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  38. ^ "Virginia vs. North Carolina Box Score". ESPN.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  39. ^ a b c d e f "Dyami Brown". ESPN.com.
  40. ^ "No. 21 LSU holds off furious rally from short-handed UNC". ESPN.com. September 4, 2010. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016.
  41. ^ "White (332 yards) caps WVU career with fourth bowl victory". ESPN.com. December 27, 2008.[dead link]
  42. ^ "Virginia vs. North Carolina Box Score". ESPN.com. November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  43. ^ "No. 10 Miami escapes UNC on late Dallas Crawford TD run". ESPN.com. October 17, 2013.
  44. ^ "Mack Hollins". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  45. ^ "2022 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. p. 9. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  46. ^ "North Carolina vs. Wake Forest Box Score". ESPN.com. November 12, 2022.
  47. ^ "North Carolina edges Georgia Tech 48-43". ESPN.com. October 18, 2014.
  48. ^ "Georgia State vs. North Carolina". ESPN.com. September 11, 2021.
  49. ^ "North Carolina vs. Duke Box Score". ESPN.com. October 15, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  50. ^ "2022 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. p. 12. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  51. ^ "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.
  52. ^ "Tomon Fox". ESPN.com.
  53. ^ "North Carolina edges Pitt 34-27 behind Switzer". ESPN.com. November 16, 2013.
  54. ^ "North Carolina vs. Florida State Box Score". ESPN.com. November 2, 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  55. ^ "Nick Weiler". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  56. ^ a b "Noah Burnette". ESPN.com.
  57. ^ "Noah Ruggles". ESPN.com.