Penn State Nittany Lions football statistical leaders
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.
- 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.
Passing
Passing yards
Passing touchdowns
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Passing attempts
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Passing completions
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Passing completion percentage
- Minimum of 100 attempts for career
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Interceptions
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Longest touchdown pass
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Rushing
Rushing yards
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Rushing touchdowns
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Longest rushing plays
Rank | Player | Yards | Year | Opponent |
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1 | Blair Thomas | 92 | 1986 | Syracuse |
Bill Belton | 92 | 2014 | Indiana | |
Saquon Barley | 92 | 2017 | Washington (Fiesta Bowl) | |
4 | Chafie Fields | 84 | 1997 | Texas |
5 | Ki-Jana Carter | 83 | 1995 | Oregon |
6 | Saquon Barkley | 79 | 2016 | USC (Rose Bowl) |
7 | Zach Mills | 69 | 2001 | Ohio State |
Receiving
Receptions
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Receiving yards
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Receiving touchdowns
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Longest touchdown reception
Rank | Receiver | Passer | Yards | Year | Opponent |
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1 | Daniel George | Sean Clifford | 95 | 2018 | Kent State |
2 | K. J. Hamler | Trace McSorley | 93[19] | 2018 | Ohio State |
3 | Bob Higgins | Bill Hess | 92 | 1919 | Pittsburgh |
4 | Jim Scott | Steve Joachim | 86 | 1971 | Navy |
Jahan Dotson | Sean Clifford | 86 | 2021 | Maryland | |
6 | Saquon Barkley | Trace McSorley | 85 | 2017 | Georgia State |
7 | Sean Clifford | KeAndre Lambert-Smith | 83[5] | 2021 | Villanova |
8 | 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
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Total touchdowns
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Defense
Interceptions
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Tackles
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Sacks
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Kicking
Extra Point Attempts
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Extra Points Made
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Extra Point Percentage
- Minimum of 50 Attempts
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Field Goal Attempts
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Field Goals Made
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Field Goal Percentage
*Minimum of 50 Attempts
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Points
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Longest field goal made
Rank | Player | Yards | Year | Opponent |
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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 |
Special teams
Longest kickoff return
Rank | Player | Yards | Year | Opponent | Notes |
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1 | Chaz Powell | 100 | 2010 | Youngstown State | Resulted in Touchdown |
Lamont Wade | 100 | 2020 | Illinois | Resulted in Touchdown | |
3 | Saquon Barkley | 98 | 2017 | Indiana | Resulted in Touchdown |
4 | Larry Johnson | 97 | 2001 | Illinois | |
A.J. Wallace | 97 | 2007 | Ohio State | Resulted in Touchdown | |
Saquon Barkley | 97 | 2017 | Ohio State | Resulted in Touchdown | |
7 | Chaz Powell | 95 | 2011 | Indiana State | Resulted in Touchdown |
8 | Derrick Williams | 94 | 2008 | Illinois | Resulted in Touchdown |
9 | Derrick Williams | 89 | 2008 | Costal Carolina | Resulted in Touchdown |
Longest punt return
Rank | Player | Yards | Year | Opponent | Notes |
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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 | Derrick Williams | 63 | 2008 | Wisconsin | Resulted in Touchdown |
5 | DeAndre Tompkins | 61 | 2017 | Akron | Resulted in Touchdown |
6 | Jahan Dotson | 50 | 2020 | Illinois | Helped set up two play touchdown drive |
Overall team records
Longest win streaks
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Longest bowl streak
Rank | Streak | Years | Record | Head Coach | Notes |
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1 | 13 Years | 1971-1983 | 9-4 | Joe Paterno | 1982: Won 1st National Championship in Sugar Bowl vs Georgia 27-23 |
2 | 11 Years | 1989-1999 | 8-3 | Joe Paterno | 1994: Won Big Ten Championship, Won Rose Bowl vs Oregon 38-20 |
3 | 7 Years | 2005-2011 | 4-3 | Joe Paterno/ Tom Bradley | 2005: Won Big Ten Championship, Won Orange Bowl vs Florida State 26-23
2008: Won Big Ten Championship, Lost Rose Bowl vs USC 24-38 2011: Won Big Ten Leaders Division, Lost TicketCity Bowl vs Houston 14-30 Streak Ended with NCAA Sanctions |
4 | 6 Years | 2014-2019 | 3-3 | James Franklin | 2016 : Won Big Ten Championship, Lost Rose Bowl vs USC 49-52 |
5 | 4 Years | 1959-1962 | 3-1 | Charles A. "Rip" Engle | |
6 | 3 Years | 1967-1969 | 2-0-1 | Joe Paterno | |
3 Years | 1985-1987 | 1-2 | Joe Paterno | 1986 : Won 2nd national Championship in Fiesta Bowl vs Miami (FL) 14-10 |
Longest bowl win streak
Rank | Streak | Years | Head Coach | Notes |
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1 | 5 Years | 1979-1983 | Joe Paterno | 1982: Won 1st National Championship in Sugar Bowl vs Georgia 27-23 |
2 | 4 Years | 1993-1996 | Joe Paterno | 1994: Won Big Ten Championship, Won Rose Bowl vs Oregon 38-20 |
3 | 3 Years | 1959-1961 | Charles A. "Rip" Engle | |
3 Years | 2005-2007 | Joe Paterno | 2005: Won Big Ten Championship, Won Orange Bowl vs Florida State 26-23 |
Largest bowl win/ loss margin
Largest win margin
Largest loss margin
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References
- "2017 Penn State Football Yearbook". GoPSUSports.com. Retrieved 2017-08-19.
- "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 2002-08-28. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
- "Sean Clifford". ESPN.com.
- "Penn State stuns UCF, wins opener on Sam Ficken's game-winning FG". ESPN.com. 2014-08-30.
- "Villanova vs. Penn State Box Score". ESPN.com. September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- "Penn State vs. Maryland Box Score". ESPN.com. September 27, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
- "No. 7 Penn St. rallies to beat No. 6 Wisconsin 38-31". ESPN.com. 2016-12-04.
- "Penn State beats Michigan State to reach Big Ten title game". ESPN.com. 2016-11-26.
- "PSU edges BC on game-winning extra point in OT to win Pinstripe Bowl". ESPN.com. 2014-12-31.
- "USC hits FG at gun, beats Penn State 52-49 in epic Rose Bowl". ESPN.com. 2017-01-02.
- "Pitt holds off Penn State rally to win 42-39". ESPN.com. 2016-09-10.
- "Jahan Dotson". ESPN.com.
- "Parker Washingotn". ESPN.com.
- "Ohio State blows 17-point lead, rebounds to beat Penn State in 2OT". ESPN.com. 2014-10-26.
- "Michigan State takes division with rout of Penn State". ESPN.com. 2016-11-28.
- "Penn State vs. Ohio State Box Score". ESPN.com. October 30, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- "Pat Freiermuth". ESPN.com.
- "Ohio State vs. Penn State Box Score". ESPN.com. October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- "Ohio State vs. Penn State Box Score". ESPN.com. September 29, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- "Barkley's run lifts Penn State over Minnesota 29-26 in OT". ESPN.com. 2016-10-01.
- "Arnold Ebiketie". ESPN.com.
- "Jake Pinegar". ESPN.com.