The West Virginia Mountaineers football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the West Virginia Mountaineers football program in various categories,[ 1] [ 2] including 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 Mountaineers represent West Virginia University in the NCAA 's Big 12 Conference .
Although West Virginia began competing in intercollegiate football in 1891,[ 1] the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in 1933. Records from before this year are often incomplete and inconsistent, and they are generally not included in these lists. However, the West Virginia Football Media Guide does include the touchdown statistics, although not the yards, of Ira Errett Rodgers , who played for the Mountaineers from 1915 to 1919.[ 3]
These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
Since 1933, 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.[ 4] The Mountaineers have played in 14 bowl games since the decision, with a 15th now assured in 2018, giving players an extra game to accumulate statistics.
The Mountaineers ran a high-octane spread option offense under head coaches Rich Rodriguez (2001 -2007 ) and Bill Stewart (2008 -2010 ), which emphasized mobile quarterbacks and no huddling, allowing the teams to rack up very large numbers of yards. Since Dana Holgorsen took over in 2011 , the Mountaineers have run more of an air raid spread attack, emphasizing passing on most plays. This has led to many school passing and receiving records being set. In particular, a 70–63 win over Baylor in 2012 [ 5] saw more than 1,500 offensive yards between the two teams combined, and 10 single-game entries on the lists below.
These lists are updated through the end of the 2019 season .
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Geno Smith
11,662
2009 2010 2011 2012
2
Marc Bulger
8,153
1996 1997 1998 1999
3
Will Grier
7,354[ 6] [ a]
2017 2018
4
Skyler Howard
7,302[ 7]
2014 2015 2016
5
Jarret Doege
6,453[ 8]
2019 2020 2021
6
Pat White
6,049
2005 2006 2007 2008
7
Chad Johnston
5,954
1993 1994 1995 1996
8
Oliver Luck
5,765
1978 1979 1980 1981
9
Rasheed Marshall
5,558
2001 2002 2003 2004
10
Major Harris
5,173
1987 1988 1989
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Geno Smith
4,385
2011
2
Geno Smith
4,205
2012
3
Will Grier
3,864[ 6]
2018
4
Marc Bulger
3,607
1998
5
Will Grier
3,490[ 6]
2017
6
Skyler Howard
3,328[ 7]
2016
7
Clint Trickett
3,285[ 9]
2014
8
Skyler Howard
3,145[ 7]
2015
9
Jarret Doege
3,048[ 8]
2021
10
Geno Smith
2,763
2010
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Avon Cobourne
5,164
1999 2000 2001 2002
2
Pat White
4,480
2005 2006 2007 2008
3
Noel Devine
4,315
2007 2008 2009 2010
4
Amos Zereoué
4,086
1996 1997 1998
5
Steve Slaton
3,923
2005 2006 2007
6
Leddie Brown
2,888[ 21]
2018 2019 2020 2021
7
Arthur Owens
2,648
1972 1973 1974 1975
8
Robert Walker
2,620
1993 1994 1995
9
Quincy Wilson
2,608
1999 2001 2002 2003
10
Wendell Smallwood
2,462[ 22]
2013 2014 2015
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Steve Slaton
1,744
2006
2
Avon Cobourne
1,710
2002
3
Amos Zereoué
1,589
1997
4
Wendell Smallwood
1,519[ 22]
2015
5
Noel Devine
1,465
2009
6
Amos Zereoué
1,462
1998
7
Quincy Wilson
1,380
2003
8
Pat White
1,335
2007
9
Avon Cobourne
1,298
2001
10
Robert Walker
1,250
1993
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Tavon Austin
3,413
2009 2010 2011 2012
2
Stedman Bailey
3,218
2010 2011 2012
3
David Saunders
2,608
1995 1996 1997 1998
4
Khori Ivy
2,402
1997 1998 1999 2000
5
Shawn Foreman
2,347
1995 1996 1997 1998
6
Gary Jennings Jr.
2,294[ 35]
2015 2016 2017 2018
7
Daikiel Shorts
2,263[ 34]
2013 2014 2015 2016
8
Sam James
2,229[ 33]
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
9
Rahsaan Vanterpool
2,022
1993 1994 1995 1996
10
Jock Sanders
1,980
2007 2008 2009 2010
Receiving touchdowns [ edit ]
Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[ 47]
Total offense yards [ edit ]
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Geno Smith
12,004
2009 2010 2011 2012
2
Pat White
10,529
2005 2006 2007 2008
3
Skyler Howard
8,407 [ 7]
2014 2015 2016
4
Marc Bulger
7,827
1996 1997 1998 1999
5
Rasheed Marshall
7,598
2001 2002 2003 2004
6
Will Grier
7,386 [ 6] [ a]
2017 2018
7
Major Harris
7,334
1987 1988 1989
8
Oliver Luck
6,282
1978 1979 1980 1981
9
Jarret Doege
6,170 [ 8]
2019 2020 2021
10
Chad Johnston
5,664
1993 1994 1995 1996
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Geno Smith
4,356
2012
2
Geno Smith
4,352
2011
3
Skyler Howard
3,791 [ 7]
2016
4
Will Grier
3,774 [ 6]
2018
5
Skyler Howard
3,647 [ 7]
2015
6
Will Grier
3,612
2017
7
Marc Bulger
3,515
1998
8
Clint Trickett
3,179 [ 9]
2014
9
Garrett Greene
3,178 [ 31]
2023
10
Pat White
3,059
2007
Touchdowns responsible for [ edit ]
"Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.[ 49]
All-purpose yardage [ edit ]
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.[ 47]
West Virginia's 2018 media guide fully lists single-game all-purpose yardage records, but does not break them down by individual statistics.[ 2]
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Tavon Austin
7,286
2009 2010 2011 2012
2
Noel Devine
5,761
2007 2008 2009 2010
3
Avon Cobourne
5,623
1999 2000 2001 2002
4
Steve Slaton
4,775
2005 2006 2007
5
Amos Zereoué
4,628
1996 1997 1998
6
Pat White
4,480
2005 2006 2007 2008
7
Arthur Owens
3,971
1969 1970 1971
8
Rahsaan Vanterpool
3,850
1993 1994 1995 1996
9
Wendell Smallwood
3,630
2013 2014 2015
10
Robert Alexander
3,575
1978 1979 1980
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Tavon Austin
2,910
2012
2
Tavon Austin
2,574
2011
3
Steve Slaton
2,104
2006
4
Avon Cobourne
1,856
2002
5
Amos Zereoué
1,814
1998
6
Stedman Bailey
1,781
2012
7
Noel Devine
1,742
2009
8
Amos Zereoué
1,720
1997
9
Mario Alford
1,691
2014
10
Wendell Smallwood
1,679
2015
Note: Recent West Virginia football media guides have not generally listed a top 10 in the defensive categories. This has been confirmed true for both the 2014 and 2018 editions.
Single game
Rank
Player
Ints
Year
Opponent
1
Andrew King
4
1915
Marietta
Francis Fairley
4
1925
Pittsburgh
Mike Slater
4
1969
Kentucky
Single season
Rank
Player
Tackles
Year
1
Steve Dunlap
190
1974
2
Chris Haering
185
1989
3
Ray Marshall
175
1975
4
Jeff Macerelli
172
1977
5
Charles Smith
170
1975
Field goal percentage [ edit ]
^ a b c d Grier began his college career at Florida , playing there in 2015 before transferring to WVU after that season.
^ a b "2014 West Virginia Mountaineers Media Guide" (PDF) . WVUSports.com . Retrieved November 16, 2014 .
^ a b "2018 West Virginia University Football Guide" . West Virginia Mountaineers. July 16, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018 .
^ a b Antonik, John. "WVU Sports Hall of Fame: Ira Errett Rodgers" . WVUSports.com . Retrieved January 3, 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 i j k "Geno Smith throws for 656 yards, 8 TDs in WVU's wild 70-63 win" . ESPN.com . September 29, 2012.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Will Grier" . ESPN.com . Retrieved November 24, 2018 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Skyler Howard" . ESPN.com . Retrieved January 21, 2017 .
^ a b c d e "Jarret Doege" . ESPN.com .
^ a b "Clint Trickett" . ESPN.com . Retrieved January 3, 2015 .
^ a b c "Box Score: Oklahoma vs. West Virginia" . ESPN.com . November 23, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2018 .
^ a b c "West Virginia beats Arizona State 43-42 in Cactus Bowl" . ESPN.com . January 2, 2016.
^ a b c d "West Virginia squeezes past Maryland 40-37" . ESPN.com . September 13, 2014.
^ a b "Jarrett Lee tosses 3 TDs as LSU makes case for No. 1 with drubbing of WVU" . ESPN.com . Archived from the original on May 22, 2013.
^ a b "West Virginia pulls away after half to rip Connecticut" . ESPN.com . October 8, 2011. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013.
^ a b c "Box Score: West Virginia vs. Tennessee" . ESPN.com . September 1, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018 .
^ a b c d "Geno Smith, No. 9 West Virginia drub James Madison" . ESPN.com . September 15, 2012.
^ a b "West Virginia routs Clemson in record-setting Orange Bowl" . ESPN.com . January 4, 2012. Archived from the original on December 8, 2012.
^ "White tosses career-high 5 TDs as West Virginia handles Villanova" . ESPN.com . August 30, 2008. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013.
^ a b "Howard throws 5 TDs, W. Virginia beats Youngstown St. 38-21" . ESPN.com . September 10, 2016.
^ "Box Score: Kansas State vs. West Virginia" . ESPN.com . September 22, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2018 .
^ a b c "Leddie Brown" . ESPN.com .
^ a b "Wendell Smallwood" . ESPN.com . Retrieved January 3, 2016 .
^ a b c "Landry Jones tosses 6 TD passes as Sooners avoid upset" . ESPN.com . November 17, 2012.
^ "Harris scores 4 TDs, Mountaineers run for 478 yards" . ESPN.com . September 4, 2004. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014.
^ "One-sided Big 12 showdown: No. 9 Oklahoma routs No. 14 WVU" . ESPN.com . November 19, 2016.
^ "Dustin Garrison boosts West Virginia past Bowling Green with 291 rushing yards" . ESPN.com . October 1, 2011. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013.
^ "White runs for 247 yards, 4 TDs as WVU pulls away from Syracuse" . ESPN.com . October 14, 2006. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014.
^ "White breaks rushing record as No. 12 West Virginia rolls" . ESPN.com . November 24, 2005. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014.
^ "Slaton (345 total yards, 4 TDs) leads No. 8 WVU past Pitt" . ESPN.com . November 16, 2006. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014.
^ "Devine shines as West Virginia adds to Colorado's early-season woes" . ESPN.com . October 1, 2009. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014.
^ a b c "Garrett Greene" . ESPN.com .
^ "Freshman QB Slaton scores 6 TDs for Mountaineers" . ESPN.com . October 15, 2005. Archived from the original on November 24, 2014.
^ a b "Sam James" . ESPN.com .
^ a b "Daikiel Shorts" . ESPN.com . Retrieved January 17, 2017 .
^ a b c d e "Gary Jennings Jr" . ESPN.com . Retrieved November 24, 2018 .
^ "Johnathan Gray's 3 TDs push Texas past No. 23 West Virginia" . ESPN.com . November 8, 2014.
^ a b "Clint Chelf has 4 TDs in 1st start, propels Okla. St. by WVU" . ESPN.com . November 10, 2012.
^ a b "Texas Tech vs. West Virginia Box Score" . ESPN.com . November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2019 .
^ "Geno Smith, Tavon Austin team as West Virginia outlasts Maryland" . ESPN.com . September 22, 2012.
^ "West Virginia upends Texas Tech 37-34" . ESPN.com . October 11, 2014.
^ a b "Ka'Raun White" . ESPN.com . Retrieved April 11, 2018 .
^ a b c d "David Sills V" . ESPN.com . Retrieved October 27, 2018 .
^ "Iowa St beats West Virginia 52-44 in 3 OTs" . ESPN.com . November 30, 2013.
^ "WEST VIRGINIA 34, SYRACUSE 23" . ESPN.com . November 22, 2003. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013.
^ "Shelton Gibson" . ESPN.com . Retrieved January 17, 2017 .
^ "Mario Alford" . ESPN.com . Retrieved January 3, 2015 .
^ a b "2018 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF) . National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved September 1, 2018 .
^ "West Virginia vs. Houston Box Score" . ESPN.com . October 12, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023 .
^ "2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF) . NCAA. p. 12. Retrieved December 4, 2021 .
^ "Dante Stills" . ESPN.com .
^ Adelson, Andrea (November 26, 2011). "WVU rides stout defense to win over Pitt" . ESPN.com .
^ a b c d "Josh Lambert" . ESPN.com . Retrieved January 21, 2017 .
^ a b c d e "Casey Legg" . ESPN.com .
^ a b "Evan Staley" . ESPN.com .
^ a b "Michael Hayes" . ESPN.com .
^ "WVU outlasts Rutgers in 3 OT thriller; Louisville gets Big East BCS bid" . ESPN.com . December 2, 2006. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015.
^ "West Virginia's Bitancurt kicks four FGs vs. Liberty" . ESPN.com . September 5, 2009. Archived from the original on August 6, 2014.
^ "Bitancurt's leg fuels West Virginia's upset of No. 9 Pittsburgh" . ESPN.com . November 27, 2009. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013.
^ "Syracuse tops West Virginia in Camping World Bowl, 34-18" . ESPN.com . December 28, 2018.
^ "West Virginia vs. Virginia Tech Box Score" . ESPN.com . September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons