Penn State Nittany Lions football statistical leaders

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The Penn State Nittany Lions football statistical leaders are statistical leaders of the Penn State Nittany Lions football program in various categories,[1] including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, kicking and overall team performance. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, career leaders and all time records. The Nittany Lions represent Pennsylvania State University in the NCAA's Big Ten Conference.

Although Penn State began competing in intercollegiate football in 1887,[1] the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in 1970. 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 1970, 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] allowing players in most seasons since then an extra game to accumulate statistics.
  • The Nittany Lions played in the 2016 Big Ten Football Championship Game, giving players in that season yet another game to amass statistics.
  • Starting in 2018 a redshirted player was allowed to play in up to 4 games in a season and still maintain their status allowing players to gain an extra season of statistics.
  • Due to COVID-19 issues, the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season would not count against the athletic eligibility of any football player, giving everyone who played in that season the opportunity for five years of eligibility instead of the normal four.[3]

Passing yards

Passing touchdowns

Passing attempts

Passing completions

Passing completion percentage

  • Minimum of 100 attempts for career

Interceptions

Longest touchdown pass

Rushing

Rushing yards

Rushing touchdowns

Longest rushing plays

Receiving

Receptions

Receiving yards

Receiving touchdowns

Longest touchdown reception

All-Time
Rank Receiver Passer Yards Year Opponent
1 Daniel George Sean Clifford 95 2018 Kent State
2 K. J. Hamler Trace McSorley 93 2018 Ohio State
3 Bob Higgins Bill Hess 92 1919 Pittsburgh
4 KeAndre Lambert-Smith Sean Clifford 88 2022 Utah (Rose Bowl)
5 Jim Scott Steve Joachim 86 1971 Navy
Jahan Dotson Sean Clifford 86 2021 Maryland
7 Saquon Barkley Trace McSorley 85 2017 Georgia State
8 Sean Clifford KeAndre Lambert-Smith 83[22] 2021 Villanova
9 Eric Hamilton Matt Knizner 82 1982 Pittsburgh
Eric Hamilton Matt Knizner 82 1986 Pittsburgh
Freddie Scott Kerry Collins 82 1994 Rutgers
  • All-time career and single season records for Tight Ends

Total offense

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.[27]

Defense

Interceptions

Tackles

Sacks

Kicking

Extra Point Attempts

Extra Points Made

Extra Point Percentage

  • Minimum of 40 Attempts

Field Goal Attempts

Field Goals Made

Field Goal Percentage

*Minimum of 40 Attempts

Points

Longest field goal made

All-Time
Rank Player Yards Year Opponent
1 Jordan Stout 57 2019 Pittsburgh
2 Chris Bahr 55 1975 Temple
3 Sam Ficken 54 2013 Kent State
4 Kevin Kelly 53 2007 Iowa
Jordan Stout 53 2019 Idaho
6 Kevin Kelly 52 2008 Syracuse
Jordan Stout 52 2021 Michigan
8 Jake Pinegar 50 2022 Indiana
Jake Pinegar 50 2022 Maryland
Alex Felkins 50[32] 2023 Indiana

Special teams

Longest kickoff return

All-Time
Rank Player Yards Year Opponent Notes
1 Chaz Powell 100 2010 Youngstown State Resulted in Touchdown
Lamont Wade 100 2020 Illinois Resulted in Touchdown
Nicholas Singleton 100 2022 Rutgers Resulted in Touchdown
4 Saquon Barkley 98 2017 Indiana Resulted in Touchdown
5 Larry Johnson 97 2001 Illinois
A.J. Wallace 97 2007 Ohio State Resulted in Touchdown
Saquon Barkley 97 2017 Ohio State Resulted in Touchdown
8 Chaz Powell 95 2011 Indiana State Resulted in Touchdown
9 Derrick Williams 94 2008 Illinois Resulted in Touchdown
Johnathan Thomas 94 2018 Indiana

Longest punt return

All-Time
Rank Player Yards Year Opponent Notes
1 Jahan Dotson 81 2020 Michigan State Resulted in Touchdown
2 Derrick Williams 78 2007 Notre Dame Resulted in Touchdown
3 Derrick Williams 78 2006 Temple Resulted in Touchdown
4 Daequan Hardy 68[33] 2023 UMass Resulted in Touchdown
5 Derrick Williams 63 2008 Wisconsin Resulted in Touchdown
6 DeAndre Tompkins 61 2017 Akron Resulted in Touchdown
7 Daequan Hardy 56[33] 2023 UMass Resulted in Touchdown
8 Jahan Dotson 50 2020 Illinois Helped set up two play touchdown drive

Overall team records

References

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