Minnesota Golden Gophers football statistical leaders

The Minnesota Golden Gophers football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Minnesota Golden Gophers 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 Golden Gophers represent the University of Minnesota in the NCAA's Big 10 Conference.

Although Minnesota began competing in intercollegiate football in 1882,^[1] the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in 1945. Records from before this year are often incomplete and inconsistent, and they are sometimes not included in these lists.

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

• Since 1945, 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 Gophers have played in 11 bowl games since then, allowing giving recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics.

These lists are updated through the end of the 2015 season.

Passing

Passing yards

Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Adam Weber 10,917 2007 2008 2009 2010 2 Bryan Cupito 7,446 2003 2004 2005 2006 3 Cory Sauter 6,834 1994 1995 1996 1997 4 Asad Abdul-Khaliq 6,660 2000 2001 2002 2003 5 Marquel Fleetwood 5,279 1989 1990 1991 1992 6 Rickey Foggie 5,162 1984 1985 1986 1987 7 Mitch Leidner 5,118[3] 2013 2014 2015 8 Mike Hohensee 4,792 1981 1982 9 Tim Schade 3,986 1993 1994 10 Tony Dungy 3,515 1973 1974 1975 1976	Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Adam Weber 2,895 2007 2 Bryan Cupito 2,819 2006 3 Adam Weber 2,761 2008 4 Mitch Leidner 2,701[3] 2015 5 Adam Weber 2,679 2010 6 Cory Sauter 2,600 1995 7 Adam Weber 2,582 2009 8 Cory Sauter 2,578 1996 9 Bryan Cupito 2,530 2005 10 Mike Hohensee 2,412 1981	Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Tim Schade 478 1993 Penn State 2 Mike Hohensee 444 1981 Ohio State 3 Adam Weber 416[4] 2009 Michigan State 4 Cory Sauter 404 1995 Michigan State 5 Scott Eckers 402 1993 Purdue 6 Cory Sauter 397 1996 Ball State 7 Bryan Cupito 396[5] 2005 Ohio State 8 Tim Schade 394 1994 Michigan 9 Asad Abdul-Khaliq 388[6] 2003 Iowa 10 Bryan Cupito 378[7] 2006 Indiana

Passing touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Adam Weber 72 2007 2008 2009 2010 2 Asad Abdul-Khaliq 55 2000 2001 2002 2003 Bryan Cupito 55 2003 2004 2005 2006 4 Cory Sauter 40 1994 1995 1996 1997 5 Rickey Foggie 34 1984 1985 1986 1987 6 Mike Hohensee 33 1981 1982 7 Billy Cockerham 29 1996 1997 1998 1999 8 Mitch Leidner 28[3] 2013 2014 2015 9 Tony Dungy 25 1973 1974 1975 1976 10 Scott Schaffner 22 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 Tim Schade 22 1993 1994	Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Adam Weber 24 2007 2 Bryan Cupito 22 2006 3 Mike Hohensee 20 1981 Adam Weber 20 2010 5 Asad Abdul-Khaliq 19 2002 Bryan Cupito 19 2005 7 Cory Sauter 18 1995 8 Asad Abdul-Khaliq 17 2003 9 Tony Dungy 15 1975 Billy Cockerham 15 1999 Adam Weber 15 2008	Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Scott Eckers 6 1993 Purdue 2 Mike Hohensee 5 1981 Oregon State Mike Hohensee 5 1981 Ohio State Adam Weber 5[8] 2007 Northwestern Adam Weber 5[4] 2009 Michigan State

Rushing

Rushing yards

Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Darrell Thompson 4,654 1986 1987 1988 1989 2 Laurence Maroney 3,933 2003 2004 2005 3 Thomas Hamner 3,810 1996 1997 1998 1999 4 Marion Barber III 3,276 2001 2002 2003 2004 5 Chris Darkins 3,235 1992 1993 1994 1995 6 Marion Barber, Jr. 3,094 1977 1978 1979 1980 7 David Cobb 2,893 2011 2012 2013 2014 8 Tellis Redmon 2,481 1999 2000 2001 9 Amir Pinnix 2,439 2004 2005 2006 2007 10 Garry White 2,353 1977 1978 1979 1980	Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 David Cobb 1,626 2014 2 Laurence Maroney 1,464 2005 3 Chris Darkins 1,443 1994 4 Thomas Hamner 1,426 1999 5 Darrell Thompson 1,376 1986 6 Tellis Redmon 1,368 2000 7 Laurence Maroney 1,348 2004 8 Terry Jackson II 1,317 2002 9 Amir Pinnix 1,272 2006 10 Marion Barber III 1,269 2004	Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Chris Darkins 294 1995 Purdue 2 Clarence Schutte 282 1924 Illinois 3 Kent Kitzmann 266 1977 Illinois 4 Laurence Maroney 258 2005 Wisconsin 5 Tellis Redmon 246 2000 N.C. State[9] 6 Terry Jackson II 239 2002 Northwestern 7 Terry Jackson II 238 2002 Michigan State 8 Chris Darkins 234 1994 Purdue 9 Marion Barber, Jr. 233 1978 Illinois 10 Pug Lund 232 1932 Ole Miss

Rushing touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Darrell Thompson 40 1986 1987 1988 1989 2 Marion Barber III 35 2001 2002 2003 2004 3 Marion Barber, Jr. 34 1977 1978 1979 1980 4 Laurence Maroney 32 2003 2004 2005 5 Rickey Foggie 25 1984 1985 1986 1987 6 Thomas Tapeh 24 2000 2001 2002 2003 7 Herb Joesting 23 1925 1926 1927 Mitch Leidner 23[3] 2013 2014 2015 9 Chris Darkins 21 1992 1993 1994 1995 Thomas Hamner 21 1996 1997 1998 1999	Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Gary Russell 18 2005 2 Marion Barber III 17 2003 3 Jim Perkins 13 1976 Darrell Thompson 13 1987 David Cobb 13 2014 6 Marion Barber, Jr. 12 1979 Laurence Maroney 12 2004	Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Curtis Wilson 4 1967 Indiana Jim Carter 4 1969 Iowa John King 4 1972 Iowa Darrell Thompson 4 1986 Bowling Green Marion Barber III 4[10] 2003 Ohio Mitch Leidner 4[11] 2013 San Jose State

Receiving

Receptions

Career Rank Player Rec Years 1 Eric Decker 227 2006 2007 2008 2009 2 Ron Johnson 198 1998 1999 2000 2001 3 Tutu Atwell 171 1994 1995 1996 1997 4 Ernie Wheelwright 159 2004 2005 2006 2007 5 Ryan Thelwell 136 1994 1995 1996 6 Chuck Rios 132 1990 1991 1993 1994 Luke Leverson 132 1996 1997 1998 1999 8 Omar Douglas 130 1990 1991 1992 1993 9 Da'Jon McKnight 119 2008 2009 2010 2011 10 Aaron Osterman 111 1990 1992 1993 1994 Jared Ellerson 111 2002 2003 2004 2005	Single season Rank Player Rec Year 1 Eric Decker 84 2008 2 K.J. Maye 73[12] 2015 3 Eric Decker 67 2007 4 Ernie Wheelwright 66 2007 5 Tutu Atwell 62 1996 6 Omar Douglas 61 1992 Ron Johnson 61 2000 8 Omar Douglas 60 1993 Luke Leverson 60 1998 10 Logan Payne 59 2006	Single game Rank Player Rec Year Opponent 1 Aaron Osterman 13 1994 Michigan Eric Decker 13[13] 2008 Indiana 3 Glenn Bourquin 12 1979 Michigan Chester Cooper 12 1981 Ohio State Alan Reid 12 1982 Indiana Tutu Atwell 12 1996 Purdue Luke Leverson 12 1998 Ohio State Eric Decker 12[14] 2007 Florida Atlantic

Receiving yards

Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Eric Decker 3,119 2006 2007 2008 2009 2 Ron Johnson 2,989 1998 1999 2000 2001 3 Tutu Atwell 2,640 1994 1995 1996 1997 4 Ernie Wheelwright 2,434 2004 2005 2006 2007 5 Ryan Thelwell 2,232 1994 1995 1996 6 Jared Ellerson 2,054 2002 2003 2004 2005 7 Da'Jon McKnight 1,859 2008 2009 2010 2011 8 Luke Leverson 1,843 1996 1997 1998 1999 9 Omar Douglas 1,681 1990 1991 1992 1993 10 Dwayne McMullen 1,627 1981 1982 1983 1984	Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Ron Johnson 1,125 2000 2 Eric Decker 1,074 2008 3 Ryan Thelwell 1,051 1996 4 Chester Cooper 1,012 1981 5 Tutu Atwell 924 1997 6 Jared Ellerson 909 2003 Eric Decker 909 2007 8 Ron Johnson 895 2001 9 Omar Douglas 880 1993 10 Luke Leverson 854 1998	Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Ryan Thelwell 228 1996 Ball State 2 Omar Douglas 193 1993 Penn State 3 Eric Decker 190[13] 2008 Indiana 4 Jared Ellerson 189[15] 2003 Northwestern 5 Aaron Osterman 187 1994 Michigan 6 Dwayne McMullen 186 1984 Northwestern 7 Eric Decker 183[16] 2009 Syracuse 8 Chester Cooper 182 1981 Ohio State 9 Ron Johnson 181 2001 Iowa 10 Chester Cooper 178 1981 Northwestern Ryan Thelwell 178 1994 Northwestern

Receiving touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Ron Johnson 31 1998 1999 2000 2001 2 Ernie Wheelwright 26 2004 2005 2006 2007 3 Eric Decker 24 2006 2007 2008 2009 4 Tutu Atwell 17 1994 1995 1996 1997 5 Dwayne McMullen 15 1981 1982 1983 1984 Ben Utecht 15 2000 2001 2002 2003 Jared Ellerson 15 2002 2003 2004 2005 Da'Jon McKnight 15 2008 2009 2010 2011 9 Omar Douglas 14 1990 1991 1992 1993 Ryan Thelwell 14 1994 1995 1996	Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Omar Douglas 11 1993 Ron Johnson 11 2000 3 Da'Jon McKnight 10 2010 4 Luke Leverson 9 1998 Ron Johnson 9 2001 Logan Payne 9 2006 Eric Decker 9 2007 Ernie Wheelwright 9 2007 9 Aaron Hosack 8 2003 Maxx Williams 8 2014	Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Omar Douglas 5 1993 Purdue 2 Logan Payne 4[17] 2006 Temple

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 Adam Weber 11,790 2007 2008 2009 2010 2 Asad Abdul-Khaliq 7,818 2000 2001 2002 2003 3 Bryan Cupito 7,449 2003 2004 2005 2006 4 Rickey Foggie 7,312 1984 1985 1986 1987 5 Cory Sauter 6,608 1994 1995 1996 1997 6 Mitch Leidner 6,247[3] 2013 2014 2015 7 Marquel Fleetwood 6,154 1989 1990 1991 1992 8 Mike Hohensee 4,855 1981 1982 9 Billy Cockerham 4,763 1996 1997 1998 1999 10 Tony Dungy 4,680 1973 1974 1975 1976	Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Adam Weber 3,512 2007 2 Adam Weber 2,994 2008 3 Mitch Leidner 2,971[3] 2015 4 Billy Cockerham 2,922 1999 5 Adam Weber 2,835 2010 6 Asad Abdul-Khaliq 2,771 2003 7 Bryan Cupito 2,750 2006 8 Bryan Cupito 2,560 2005 9 Asad Abdul-Khaliq 2,512 2002 10 Cory Sauter 2,492 1995	Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Tim Schade 536 1993 Penn State 2 Adam Weber 439[19] 2007 Wisconsin 3 Adam Weber 430[20] 2007 Northwestern 4 Cory Sauter 425 1997 Houston 5 Mike Hohensee 423 1981 Ohio State 6 Scott Eckers 421 1993 Purdue 7 Asad Abdul-Khaliq 417[21] 2003 Michigan State 8 Adam Weber 411[4] 2009 Michigan State 9 Asad Abdul-Khaliq 410[6] 2003 Iowa 10 Bryan Cupito 398[5] 2005 Ohio State

Total touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Adam Weber 82 2007 2008 2009 2010 2 Asad Abdul-Khaliq 71 2000 2001 2002 2003 3 Rickey Foggie 59 1984 1985 1986 1987 4 Bryan Cupito 55 2003 2004 2005 2006 5 Mitch Leidner 51[3] 2013 2014 2015 6 Cory Sauter 48 1994 1995 1996 1997 7 Darrell Thompson 42 1986 1987 1988 1989 8 Tony Dungy 41 1973 1974 1975 1976 Billy Cockerham 41 1996 1997 1998 1999 10 Mike Hohensee 38 1981 1982

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Adam Weber 29 2007 2 Billy Cockerham 25 1999 3 Asad Abdul-Khaliq 24 2002 4 Mike Hohensee 23 1981 5 Bryan Cupito 22 2006 6 Asad Abdul-Khaliq 21 2003 7 Mitch Leidner 21 2014 8 Tony Dungy 20 1975 9 Cory Sauter 20 1995 10 Adam Weber 20 2010 Mitch Leidner 20[3] 2015

Defense

Interceptions

Career Rank Player Ints Years 1 Jeff Wright 12 1968 1969 1970 Sean Lumpkin 12 1988 1989 1990 1991 3 Tom Sakal 11 1965 1966 1967 Walter Bowser 11 1969 1970 Keith Edwards 11 1977 1978 1979 6 Kyle Theret 10 2007 2008 2009 2010 Briean Boddy-Calhoun 10 2013 2014 2015 8 Sandy Stephens 9 1959 1960 1961 Rick Withus 9 1979 1980 1981 1982 Frank Jackson 9 1987 1988 1989 1990 Rodney Heath 9 1993 1994 1995 1996	Single season Rank Player Ints Year 1 Jeff Wright 7 1970 2 Walter Bowser 6 1970 3 Bill Munsey 5 1960 Walter Bowser 5 1969 Mike White 5 1970 Fred Foggie 5 1989 Sean Lumpkin 5 1991 Rodney Heath 5 1995 Briean Boddy-Calhoun 5 2014	Single game Rank Player Ints Year Opponent 1 Dick Anonsen 3 1949 Wisconsin Shorty Cochran 3 1955 Purdue Sandy Stephens 3 1960 Wisconsin Noel Jenke 3 1967 Wisconsin Walter Bowser 3 1969 Iowa Mike White 3 1970 Ohio Jeff Wright 3 1970 Michigan State

Tackles

Career Rank Player Tackles Years 1 Tyrone Carter 528 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 Pete Najarian 482 1982 1983 1984 1985 3 Bill Light 395 1969 1970 1971 4 Parc Williams 351 1995 1996 1997 1998 5 Russ Heath 329 1990 1991 1992 1993 6 Steve Stewart 325 1974 1975 1976 1977 7 Bruce Holmes 323 1983 1984 1985 1986 8 Joel Staats 318 1988 1989 1990 1991 9 Justin Conzemius 317 1992 1993 1994 1995 10 Glenn Howard 308 1978 1979 1980 1981	Single season Rank Player Tackles Year 1 Bill Light 172 1970 2 Jon Leverenz 162 1987 3 Tyrone Carter 158 1998 4 Jack Brewer 155 2001 5 George Washington 154 1975 6 Pete Najarian 144 1984 Tyrone Carter 144 1999 8 Tyrone Carter 143 1997 9 Bruce Holmes 139 1985 10 Pete Najarian 137 1985	Single game Rank Player Tackles Year Opponent 1 Bill Light 32 1970 Iowa 2 Bill Light 29 1969 Indiana 3 Pete Najarian 26 1983 Nebraska Pete Najarian 26 1984 Purdue 5 Ron King 25 1969 Michigan 6 Wayne King 24 1968 Iowa 7 Tim Wheeler 23 1966 Kansas Ollie Bakken 23 1973 Ohio State George Washington 23 1975 Illinois Pete Najarian 23 1985 Oklahoma

Sacks

Career Rank Player Sacks Years 1 Karon Riley 29.0 1999 2000 2 Lamanzer Williams 23.5 1994 1995 1996 1997 3 Ben Mezera 22.0 1997 1998 1999 2000 4 Willie VanDeSteeg 21.5 2005 2006 2007 2008 5 Darrell Reid 16.0 2001 2002 2003 2004 6 D.L. Wilhite 15.5 2009 2010 2011 2012 Theiren Cockran 15.5 2012 2013 2014 2015 8 Mark Losli 14.0 2002 2003 2004 2005 9 Ben Williams 13.0 1988 1989 1990 1991 Steve Davis 13.0 2005 2006 2007 2008	Single season Rank Player Sacks Year 1 Lamanzer Williams 18.5 1997 2 Karon Riley 16.0 1999 3 Karon Riley 13.0 2000 4 Ben Mezera 12.0 1999 5 Willie VanDeSteeg 10.5 2008 6 Willie VanDeSteeg 10.0 2006 7 D.L. Wilhite 8.5 2012 8 Tyrone Carter 8.0 1998 9 Dennis Capella 7.5 1992 Darrell Reid 7.5 2004 Theiren Cockran 7.5 2013	Single game Rank Player Sacks Year Opponent 1 Karon Riley 4.0 2000 Iowa Willie VanDeSteeg 4.0[22] 2006 Michigan State

Kicking

Field goals made

Career Rank Player FGs Years 1 Dan Nystrom 71 1999 2000 2001 2002 2 Chip Lohmiller 57 1984 1985 1986 1987 3 Paul Rogind 44 1976 1977 1978 1979 4 Mike Chalberg 41 1991 1993 1994 1995 5 Jim Gallery 40 1980 1981 1982 1983 6 Adam Bailey 38 1996 1997 1998 7 Brent Berglund 35 1988 1989 1990 8 Ryan Santoso 29[23] 2014 2015 9 Rhys Lloyd 26 2003 2004 10 Eric Ellestad 24 2007 2008 2009 2010	Single season Rank Player FGs Year 1 Dan Nystrom 25 2000 2 Dan Nystrom 20 2002 3 Paul Rogind 18 1977 4 Aaron Piepkorn 17 1992 Mike Chalberg 17 1994 Dan Nystrom 17 1999 Ryan Santoso 17[23] 2015 8 Chip Lohmiller 16 1987 9 Chip Lohmiller 15 1985 Chip Lohmiller 15 1986 Adam Bailey 15 1997	Single game Rank Player FGs Year Opponent 1 Adam Bailey 5 1987 Penn State 2 Dan Nystrom 5 2002 Arkansas[24]

Field goal percentage

Career Rank Player FG% Years 1 Chip Lohmiller 76.0% 1984 1985 1986 1987 2 Joel Monroe 75.9% 2005 2006 2007 2008 3 Dan Nystrom 75.5% 1999 2000 2001 2002 4 Ryan Santoso 74.4%[23] 2014 2015 5 Chris Hawthorne 74.1% 2011 2012 2013 6 Rhys Lloyd 72.2% 2003 2004 7 Adam Bailey 71.7% 1996 1997 1998	Single season Rank Player FG% Year 1 Dan Nystrom 95.2% 2002 2 Dan Nystrom 81.0% 1999 Ryan Santoso 81.0%[23] 2015

References

1. "2015 Minnesota Golden Gophers Media Guide" (PDF). GopherSports.com. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
2. "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. AP. 2002-08-28. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
3. "Mitch Leidner". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-01-02.
4. "Weber's 5 TDs propel Minnesota despite penalties, Decker's absence". ESPN.com. 2009-10-31.
5. "Buckeyes win ninth straight road game vs. Gophers". ESPN.com. 2005-10-29.
6. "Kaeding ties school mark with 4 FGs". ESPN.com. 2003-11-15.
7. "Banner day for Cupito, Minnesota gives Gophers first conference win". ESPN.com. 2006-11-04.
8. "Northwestern 49, Minnesota 48, OT". ESPN.com. 2009-10-13.
9. MicronPC.com Bowl
10. "Minnesota 42, Ohio 20". ESPN.com. 2003-09-13.
11. "Mitch Leidner boosts Minnesota to win over SJSU". ESPN.com. 2013-09-21.
12. "KJ Maye". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-01-02.
13. "Decker ties receiving record as Minnesota stops IU". ESPN.com. 2008-10-04.
14. "Florida Atlantic 42, Minnesota 39". ESPN.com. 2007-09-15.
15. "Two long TD passes get Gophers going". ESPN.com. 2003-10-04.
16. "Paulus loses Syracuse debut after tossing interception in OT". ESPN.com. 2009-09-05.
17. "Payne hauls in 4 TDs; Temple loses 62-0 for second straight week". ESPN.com. 2006-09-16.
18. "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.
19. "Gilreath, Brown give Wisconsin boost over Minnesota". ESPN.com. 2009-11-17.
20. "Northwestern upsets Minnesota with late pick for touchdown". ESPN.com. 2008-11-01.
21. "Spartans' Cobb returns kickoff 100 yards". ESPN.com. 2003-10-18.
22. "Cupito sets Minnesota mark as Spartans' sad season continues". ESPN.com. 2006-11-11.
23. "Ryan Santoso". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-01-02.
24. Music City Bowl