The Vanderbilt Commodores football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Vanderbilt Commodores football program in various categories, including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, Single season and career leaders. The Commodores represent Vanderbilt University in the NCAA Division I FBS Southeastern Conference.
Although Vanderbilt began competing in intercollegiate football in 1890, the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in 1946. 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 1950, 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. From 2018 through 2025, players were allowed to participate in as many as four games in a redshirt season; previously, playing in even one game "burned" the redshirt. In 2024 and 2025, postseason games did not count against the four-game limit. These changes to redshirt rules have given very recent players several extra games to accumulate statistics. A more recent change likely to significantly affect future career leaderboards was introduced in 2026 with full implementation starting with the 2027 freshman class. Going forward, redshirting will be prohibited, but players will have five years of full athletic eligibility, provided that they are no older than 19 when they first enroll in a postsecondary institution. Players who had remaining eligibility under previous rules at the end of the 2025 season will benefit from the new rule. Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002. The Commodores have played in eight bowl games since then. 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. The 2011, 2012, and 2013 seasons, all played under head coach James Franklin, were at the time the three highest-scoring Commodore seasons of the modern era, and three of the four seasons with the most offensive yards. The 2025 team, under head coach Clark Lea, set a new record for total points even before the end of the regular season and ended with the highest per-game average. (seasons before 2025)
The statistics below are updated through the end of the 2025 season. Players expected to be active for Vanderbilt in the 2026 season are in bold.
Passing
Passing yards
+ Career 1 Kyle Shurmur 8,865 2015 2016 2017 2018 2 Jay Cutler 8,697 2002 2003 2004 2005 3 Greg Zolman 7,981 1998 1999 2000 2001 4 Whit Taylor 6,307 1979 1980 1981 1982 5 Kurt Page 6,233 1981 1982 1983 1984 6 Diego Pavia 5,832 2024 2025 7 Eric Jones 5,029 1986 1987 1988 8 Ken Seals 4,292 2020 2021 2023 9 Jordan Rodgers 4,063 2011 2012 10 Damian Allen 3,704 1994 1995 1996 1997
+ Single season 1 Diego Pavia 3,539 2025 2 Kurt Page 3,178 1983 3 Kyle Shurmur 3,130 2018 4 Jay Cutler 3,073 2005 5 Kyle Shurmur 2,823 2017 6 Eric Jones 2,548 1988 7 Jordan Rodgers 2,539 2012 8 Greg Zolman 2,512 2001 9 Whit Taylor 2,481 1982 10 Greg Zolman 2,441 2000
+ Single game 1 Diego Pavia 484 2025 Kentucky 2 Whit Taylor 464 1981 Tennessee 3 Whit Taylor 452 1982 Air ForceHall of Fame Bowl 4 Chris Nickson 446 2006 Kentucky 5 Greg Zolman 441 2001 Kentucky 6 Kyle Shurmur 416 2016 Tennessee 7 Jay Cutler 395 2005 Kentucky 8 Whit Taylor 391 1982 Tennessee 9 Riley Neal 378 2019 Purdue 10 Diego Pavia 377 2025 Auburn
Passing touchdowns
+ Career 1 Kyle Shurmur 64 2015 2016 2017 2018 2 Jay Cutler 59 2002 2003 2004 2005 3 Diego Pavia 49 2024 2025 4 Whit Taylor 41 1979 1980 1981 1982 Greg Zolman 41 1998 1999 2000 2001 6 Kurt Page 35 1981 1982 1983 1984 7 Eric Jones 32 1986 1987 1988 8 Bill Wade 31 1949 1950 1951 9 Chris Nickson 29 2005 2006 2007 2008 10 Ken Seals 28 2020 2021 2023
+ Single season 1 Diego Pavia 29 2025 2 Kyle Shurmur 26 2017 3 Kyle Shurmur 24 2018 4 Jay Cutler 21 2005 5 Diego Pavia 20 2024 6 Jay Cutler 18 2003 7 Kurt Page 16 1983 Eric Jones 16 1987 9 Whit Taylor 15 1981 Chris Nickson 15 2006 Jordan Rodgers 15 2012
+ Single game 1 Bill Wade 5 1950 Auburn Jay Cutler 5 2005 Kentucky Johnny McCrary 5 2014 Old Dominion Diego Pavia 52025 Utah State Diego Pavia 5 2025 Kentucky 6 10 times by 6 players 4 Most recent: AJ Swann, 2022 vs. Northern Illinois
Rushing
Rushing yards
+ Career1Ralph Webb4,173 2014 2015 2016 20172Zac Stacy3,1432009 2010 2011 20123Frank Mordica2,6321976 1977 1978 19794Carl Woods2,4901983 1984 1985 19865Ke'Shawn Vaughn2,272 2018 20196Jamie O’Rourke2,2021971 1973 19747Jermaine Johnson2,1521993 1994 19958Jared McGrath2,1511997 1998 1999 20009Lonnie Sadler2,0961972 1973 1974 197510Rodney Williams2,0211998 1999 2000 2001
+ Single season1Ralph Webb1,384 20162Ke'Shawn Vaughn1,244 20183Zac Stacy1,19320114Ralph Webb1,152 20155Zac Stacy1,14120126Corey Harris1,10319917Jermaine Johnson1,07219958Frank Mordica1,06519789 Ray Davis 1,042 202210Ke'Shawn Vaughn1,028 2019
+ Single game1Frank Mordica3211978Air Force2Ke'Shawn Vaughn2432018Baylor3Doug Mathews2141969Tulane4Ralph Webb198 2016Middle Tennessee5Zac Stacy198 2011Army6Jamie O’Rourke1871971TulaneFrank Mordica1871979Citadel8Zac Stacy184 2011Wake Forest9Corey Harris1801991ArmyZac Stacy180 2012Wake Forest
Rushing touchdowns
+ Career1Ralph Webb32 2014 2015 2016 20172Zac Stacy302009 2010 2011 20123Marcus Wilson241989 1990 1991 19924Steve Burger211970 1971 1972Ke'Shawn Vaughn21 2018 2019 Sedrick Alexander 21 2023 2024 2025 7 Jamie O’Rourke201971 1973 1974 8 Jerron Seymour192011 2013 2014 9 Frank Mordica181976 1977 1978 1979 Cassen Jackson-Garrison 18 2004 2005 2006 2007 Diego Pavia 18 2024 2025
+ Single season1Zac Stacy142011Jerron Seymour1420133Ronnie Gordon131994Ralph Webb14 20165Jamie O'Rourke121974Ke'Shawn Vaughn12 20187Marcus Wilson111991 Sedrick Alexander 11 2025 9 Steve Burger101970Zac Stacy102012Khari Blasingame102016Ralph Webb10 2017 Diego Pavia 10 2025
+ Single game1Frank Mordica51978Air Force
Receiving
Receptions
+ Career1Jordan Matthews2622010 2011 2012 20132Earl Bennett2362005 2006 20073Keith Edwards2001980 1982 19834Kalija Lipscomb198 2016 2017 2018 20195Boo Mitchell1881985 1986 1987 19886Dan Stricker1821999 2000 2001 20027Will Sheppard152 2020 2021 2022 20238Chuck Scott1451981 1982 1983 19849Everett Crawford1431984 1985 1986 198710Trent Sherfield1362014 2015 2016 2017
+ Single season1Jordan Matthews11220132Keith Edwards9719833Jordan Matthews9420124Kalija Lipscomb87 20185Earl Bennett8220066Bob Goodridge791967Earl Bennett7920058Boo Mitchell7819889Earl Bennett75200710Chuck Scott701983
+ Single game1Norman Jordan201982Air Force2Trent Sherfield162015 Austin Peay
Receiving yards
+ Career1Jordan Matthews3,7592010 2011 2012 20132Boo Mitchell2,9641985 1986 1987 19883Dan Stricker2,8801999 2000 2001 20024Earl Bennett2,8522005 2006 20075Kalija Lipscomb 2,356 2016 2017 2018 20196Martin Cox2,2751975 1976 1977 19787Chuck Scott2,2191981 1982 1983 19848Will Sheppard2,067 2020 2021 2022 20239Clarence Sevillian1,9781989 1990 1991 199210Trent Sherfield1,8692014 2015 2016 2017
+ Single season1Jordan Matthews1,47720132Jordan Matthews1,32320123Boo Mitchell1,21319884Earl Bennett1,14620065Bob Goodridge1,11419676Dan Stricker1,07920017Dan Stricker99420008Chuck Scott97519849Chuck Scott971198310Kalija Lipscomb916 2018
+ Single game1Trent Sherfield240 2015Austin Peay2Earl Bennett223 2007Richmond3Clarence Sevillian2221992Tennessee4Earl Bennett220 2006Kentucky5M.J. Garrett2192001Middle Tennessee6Dan Stricker2042001DukeEarl Bennett204 2005South Carolina8Bob Goodridge2011967Navy9Bucky Curtis1961950Alabama10Boo Mitchell1841985KansasEarl Bennett184 2006DukeTrent Sherfield184 2016Tennessee
Receiving touchdowns
+ Career1Jordan Matthews242010 2011 2012 20132Kalija Lipscomb22 2016 2017 2018 20193Dan Stricker211999 2000 2001 2002Will Sheppard21 2020 2021 2022 20235Chuck Scott201981 1982 1983 1984Earl Bennett202005 2006 20077Allama Matthews181981 19828Carl Parker161983 1985 1986 19879Erik Davis142002 2003 2004 200510Marlon White132003 2004 2005 2006Chris Boyd132011 2012 2013 Junior Sherrill 13 2023 2024 2025
+ Single season1Allama Matthews1419822Carl Parker1219873Bucky Curtis91950Chuck Scott91983Earl Bennett92005Kalija Lipscomb9 2018Will Sheppard9 20228Chuck Scott81984Dan Stricker82001Erik Davis82003Chris Boyd82011Jordan Matthews82012Kalija Lipscomb8 2017Will Sheppard8 2023
+ Single game1Earl Bennett5 2005Kentucky
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.
Total offense yards
+ Career1Jay Cutler9,953 2002 2003 2004 20052Kyle Shurmur 8,539 2015 2016 2017 20183Greg Zolman7,707 1998 1999 2000 2001 4 Diego Pavia 7,494 2024 2025 5 Whit Taylor 6,727 1979 1980 1981 1982 6 Eric Jones 6,240 1986 1987 1988 7 Kurt Page 6,008 1981 1982 1983 1984 8 Chris Nickson 4,869 2005 2006 2007 2008 9 Jordan Rodgers4,554 2011 2012 10 Ken Seals4,231 2020 2021 2023
+ Single season 1 Diego Pavia 4,401 2025 2 Jay Cutler 3,288 2005 3 Diego Pavia 3,093 2024 4 Kyle Shurmur3,050 2018 5 Kurt Page3,034 1983 6 Eric Jones2,853 1988 7 Chris Nickson2,779 2006 8 Kyle Shurmur2,739 2017 9 Whit Taylor2,679 1982 10 Jay Cutler2,646 2003
+ Single gameThe 2014 Vanderbilt Media Guide only listed a single leader, and the 2025 Vanderbilt Football Yearbook does not list any leaders for this statistic. The record from 2014 was broken in 2025. 1 Diego Pavia 532 2025 Kentucky 2 Whit Taylor 5211981 Tennessee
Touchdowns responsible for "Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official designation for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
+ Career1Jay Cutler76 2002 2003 2004 2005 2 Kyle Shurmur 67 2015 2016 2017 2018 Diego Pavia 67 2024 2025 4 Greg Zolman 53 1998 1999 2000 2001 5 Whit Taylor 46 1979 1980 1981 1982 Chris Nickson 46 2005 2006 2007 2008 7 Eric Jones 45 1986 1987 1988 8 Kurt Page 38 1981 1982 1983 1984 9 Marcus Wilson 32 1989 1990 1991 1992 10 Zac Stacy 31 2009 2010 2011 2012 Ken Seals 31 2020 2021 2023
+ Single season 1 Diego Pavia 39 2025 2 Kyle Shurmur29 2017 3 Diego Pavia 28 2024 4 Whit Taylor24 1982 Chris Nickson24 2006 Kyle Shurmur24 2018 7 Eric Jones 22 1987 Jay Cutler 22 2005 9 Greg Zolman 19 2001 Jay Cutler 19 2002 Jay Cutler 19 2003
+ Single game1Mike Wright6 2022 Elon Diego Pavia 6 2025 Utah State Diego Pavia 6 2025 Kentucky 4 Bill Wade51950AuburnFrank Mordica51978Air ForceJay Cutler5 2005 KentuckyJohnny McCrary5 2014 Old DominionKyle Shurmur5 2017 Alabama A&M Diego Pavia 5 2024 Georgia Tech
Defense
Interceptions
+ Career1Leonard Coleman151980 1981 1982 1983Casey Hayward152008 2009 2010 20113Donald Gleisner131950 1951 1952Ken Stone131970 1971 1972D.J. Moore132006 2007 20086Corey Chavous121994 1995 1996 19977Christie Hauck111967 1968 1969Manuel Young111981 1982 1983 1984Reshard Langford112005 2006 2007 2008
+ Single season1Scott Wingfield81973Leonard Coleman819823Donald Gleisner71952Ed Oaks71975Casey Hayward720116David Malone61964D.J. Moore62007D.J. Moore62008Casey Hayward62010
+ Single game1Scott Wingfield31973VirginiaJohn Chandler31979MemphisLeonard Coleman31980ChattanoogaChris Donnelly31989MemphisRyan Hamilton3 2008Ole Miss
Tackles
+ Career1Andrew Coleman4581978 1979 1980 1981
+ Single season1Chris Gaines2141987
+ Single game1Chris Gaines371987Tulane
Sacks
+ Career1Alan Young21.51990 1991 1992 1993
+ Single seasonThe 2014 Vanderbilt Football Media Guide lists only a leader for this statistic, rather than a top 10.1Alan Young12.01993
Kicking
Field goals made