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.
These lists are updated through November 4, 2017, after the first nine games of the 2017 season .
Passing
Passing yards
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Trace McSorley
9,899
2015 2016 2017 2018
2
Christian Hackenberg
8,427
2013 2014 2015
3
Zack Mills
7,212
2001 2002 2003 2004
4
Matt McGloin
6,390
2009 2010 2011 2012
5
Tony Sacca
5,869
1988 1989 1990 1991
6
Daryll Clark
5,742
2006 2007 2008 2009
7
Chuck Fusina
5,382
1975 1976 1977 1978
8
Kerry Collins
5,304
1991 1992 1993 1994
9
Anthony Morelli
5,275
2004 2005 2006 2007
10
Todd Blackledge
4,812
1980 1981 1982
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Trace McSorley
3,614
2016
2
Trace McSorley
3,570
2017
3
Matt McGloin
3,271
2012
4
Daryll Clark
3,003
2009
5
Christian Hackenberg
2,977
2014
6
Christian Hackenberg
2,955
2013
7
Kerry Collins
2,679
1994
8
Sean Clifford
2,654[3]
2019
9
Anthony Morelli
2,651
2007
10
Daryll Clark
2,592
2008
Passing touchdowns
Longest touchdown pass
Rushing
Rushing yards
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Evan Royster
3,932
2007 2008 2009 2010
2
Saquon Barkley
3,843
2015 2016 2017
3
Curt Warner
3,398
1979 1980 1981 1982
4
Tony Hunt
3,320
2003 2004 2005 2006
5
Blair Thomas
3,301
1986 1987 1988 1989
6
Curtis Enis
3,256
1995 1996 1997
7
DJ Dozier
3,227
1983 1984 1985 1986
8
Larry Johnson
2,953
2000 2001 2002
9
Lydell Mitchell
2,934
1969 1970 1971
10
Ki-Jana Carter
2,829
1992 1993 1994
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Larry Johnson
2,087
2002
2
Ki-Jana Carter
1,539
1994
3
Lydell Mitchell
1,567
1971
4
John Cappelletti
1,522
1973
5
Saquon Barkley
1,496
2016
6
Blair Thomas
1,414
1987
7
Tony Hunt
1,386
2006
8
Curtis Enis
1,363
1997
9
Blair Thomas
1,341
1989
10
Rodney Kinlaw
1,329
2007
Rushing touchdowns
Longest rushing touchdown
Receiving
Receptions
Receiving yards
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Bobby Engram
3,026
1993 1994 1995
2
DaeSean Hamilton
2,842
2014 2015 2016 2017
3
Deon Butler
2,771
2005 2006 2007 2008
4
Allen Robinson
2,474
2011 2012 2013
5
Chris Godwin
2,421
2014 2015 2016
6
Derek Moye
2,395
2008 2009 2010 2011
7
Jordan Norwood
2,015
2005 2006 2007 2008
8
Bryant Johnson
2,008
2000 2001 2002
9
Kenny Jackson
2,006
1980 1981 1982 1983
10
O. J. McDuffie
1,988
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
Receiving touchdowns
Longest touchdown reception
All-time career and single season records for Tight Ends
Total offense
Total offense yards
Career
Rk
Player
Yards
Years
1
Trace McSorley
11,596
2015 2016 2017 2018
2
Christian Hackenberg
8,215
2013 2014 2015
3
Zack Mills
7,853
2001 2002 2003 2004
4
Daryll Clark
6,377
2006 2007 2008 2009
5
Matt McGloin
6,325
2009 2010 2011 2012
6
Tony Sacca
6,000
1988 1989 1990 1991
7
Saquon Barkley
5,574
2015 2016 2017
8
Sean Clifford
5,466 [3]
2018 2019 2020
9
Kerry Collins
5,300
1991 1992 1993 1994
10
Michael Robinson
5,168
2002 2003 2004 2005
Single season
Rk
Player
Yards
Year
1
Trace McSorley
4,061
2017
2
Trace McSorley
3,979
2016
3
Trace McSorley
3,328
2018
4
Matt McGloin
3,220
2012
5
Daryll Clark
3,214
2009
6
Michael Robinson
3,156
2005
7
Sean Clifford
3,056 [3]
2019
8
Christian Hackenberg
2,887
2013
9
Christian Hackenberg
2,883
2014
10
Daryll Clark
2,874
2008
Total touchdowns
Defense
Interceptions
Tackles
Sacks
Kicking
Field goals made
Longest field goal made
Special teams
Longest kickoff return
Longest punt return
Overall team records
Largest win / loss margin
Longest win streaks
Longest bowl streak
All-Time
Rank
Streak
Years
Record
Head Coach
Notes
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
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
References