The West Virginia Mountaineers Football Statistical Leaders are individual statistical leaders of the West Virginia Mountaineers Football program in various categories, 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, 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.
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. 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 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 2025 season.
Passing
Passing yards
+ Career 1 Geno Smith 11,662 2009 2010 2011 2012 2 Marc Bulger 8,153 1996 1997 1998 1999 3 Will Grier 7,354 2017 2018 4 Skyler Howard 7,302 2014 2015 2016 5 Jarret Doege 6,453 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 Garrett Greene5,370 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
+ Single season1Geno Smith4,38520112Geno Smith4,2052012 3 Will Grier 3,864 2018 4 Marc Bulger 3,607 1998 5 Will Grier 3,490 2017 6 Skyler Howard 3,328 2016 7 Clint Trickett 3,285 2014 8 Skyler Howard 3,145 2015 9 Jarret Doege 3,048 2021 10 Geno Smith 2,763 2010
+ Single game 1 Geno Smith 656 2012 Baylor 2 Will Grier 539 2018 Oklahoma 3 Skyler Howard 532 2015 Arizona State(Cactus Bowl) 4 Clint Trickett 511 2014 Maryland 5 Geno Smith4632011LSU 6 Geno Smith4502011Connecticut 7 Marc Bulger4291998Missouri Will Grier 429 2018 Tennessee 9 Mike Sherwood 416 1968 Pittsburgh 10 Geno Smith 411 2012 James Madison
Passing touchdowns
+ Career 1 Geno Smith 98 2009 2010 2011 2012 2 Will Grier 71 2017 2018 3 Skyler Howard 60 2014 2015 2016 4 Marc Bulger 59 1996 1997 1998 1999 5 Pat White 56 2005 2006 2007 2008 6 Rasheed Marshall 45 2001 2002 2003 2004 7 Oliver Luck 43 1978 1979 1980 1981 Chad Johnston 43 1993 1994 1995 1996 9 Major Harris 41 1987 1988 1989 10 Jarret Doege 40 2019 2020 2021
+ Single season 1 Geno Smith 42 2012 2 Will Grier 37 2018 3 Will Grier 34 2017 4 Marc Bulger 31 1998 Geno Smith 31 2011 6 Skyler Howard 262015 Skyler Howard 26 2016 8 Geno Smith 24 2010 9 Pat White 21 2008 10 Oliver Luck 19 1980 Rasheed Marshall 19 2004 Jarret Doege 19 2021
+ Single game1Geno Smith82012Baylor2Marc Bulger61998PittsburghGeno Smith62011 Clemson(Orange Bowl)4Allen McCune51965PittsburghBrad Lewis52000 Ole Miss(Music City Bowl)Pat White52008VillanovaGeno Smith52012James MadisonSkyler Howard52015 Arizona State(Cactus Bowl)Skyler Howard52016Youngstown State Will Grier 5 2017 East Carolina Will Grier 5 2017 Texas Tech Will Grier 5 2017 Baylor Will Grier 5 2018 Tennessee Will Grier 5 2018 Kansas State
Rushing
Rushing yards
+ Career1Avon Cobourne5,1641999 2000 2001 20022Pat White4,4802005 2006 2007 20083Noel Devine4,3152007 2008 2009 20104Amos Zereoué4,0861996 1997 19985Steve Slaton3,9232005 2006 20076Leddie Brown2,8882018 2019 2020 20217Arthur Owens2,6481972 1973 1974 19758Robert Walker2,6201993 1994 19959Quincy Wilson2,6081999 2001 2002 200310Wendell Smallwood2,4622013 2014 2015
+ Single season1Steve Slaton1,74420062Avon Cobourne1,71020023Amos Zereoué1,58919974Wendell Smallwood1,51920155Noel Devine1,46520096Amos Zereoué1,46219987Quincy Wilson1,38020038Pat White1,33520079Avon Cobourne1,298200110Robert Walker1,2501993
+ Single game1Tavon Austin3442012Oklahoma2Kay-Jay Harris3372004East Carolina3Justin Crawford3312016Oklahoma4Dustin Garrison2912011Bowling Green5Kerry Marbury2911971Temple6Avon Cobourne2602002East Carolina7Pat White2472006Syracuse8Amos Zereoué2341997Notre Dame9Amos Zereoué2281998Rutgers10Pat White2202005PittsburghPat White2202006PittsburghNoel Devine2202009Colorado
Rushing touchdowns
+ Career1Steve Slaton502005 2006 20072Pat White472005 2006 2007 20083Ira Errett Rodgers421915 1916 1917 1918 1919Avon Cobourne421999 2000 2001 20025Amos Zereoué401996 1997 19986CJ Donaldson Jr.302022 2023 20247Noel Devine292007 2008 2009 2010 8 Garrett Greene28 2020 2021 2022 2023 20249Leddie Brown272018 2019 2020 202110Rasheed Marshall242001 2002 2003 2004
+ Single season1Ira Errett Rodgers1919192Amos Zereoué181997Steve Slaton1820064Avon Cobourne172002Steve Slaton172005Steve Slaton1720077Kerry Marbury161972Pat White1620069Pat White14200710Amos Zereoué131998Rasheed Marshall132002Noel Devine132009Leddie Brown13 2021Garrett Greene13 2023
+ Single game1George Allen51932Marquette Steve Slaton 5 2005 Louisville
Receiving
Receptions
+ Career1Tavon Austin2882009 2010 2011 20122Stedman Bailey2102010 2011 20123Jock Sanders2062007 2008 2009 20104David Saunders1911995 1996 1997 19985Sam James190 2018 2019 2020 2021 20226Daikiel Shorts1772013 2014 2015 20167Shawn Foreman1691995 1996 1997 1998 8 Gary Jennings Jr. 168 2015 2016 2017 2018 9 Khori Ivy1601997 1998 1999 2000 10 Antonio Brown1551998 1999 2000 2001
+ Single season1Stedman Bailey1142012Tavon Austin11420123Kevin White 109 20144Tavon Austin1012011 5 Gary Jennings Jr. 97 2017 6 Shawn Foreman771997 David Saunders771998 8 David Saunders761996 9 Jock Sanders722009 Stedman Bailey722011
+ Single game1Kevin White162014Texas2Tavon Austin142012BaylorStedman Bailey142012Oklahoma StateSam James142019Texas Tech5Stedman Bailey132012OklahomaStedman Bailey132012BaylorJ.D. Woods132012BaylorStedman Bailey132012James MadisonTavon Austin132012MarylandKevin White132014MarylandKevin White132014Texas Tech
Receiving yards
+ Career1Tavon Austin3,4132009 2010 2011 20122Stedman Bailey3,2182010 2011 20123David Saunders2,6081995 1996 1997 19984Khori Ivy2,4021997 1998 1999 20005Shawn Foreman2,3471995 1996 1997 1998 6 Gary Jennings Jr. 2,294 2015 2016 2017 2018 7 Daikiel Shorts2,2632013 2014 2015 20168Sam James2,229 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 9 Rahsaan Vanterpool2,0221993 1994 1995 1996 10 Jock Sanders1,9802007 2008 2009 2010
+ Single season1Stedman Bailey1,62220122Kevin White1,447 20143Tavon Austin1,28920124Stedman Bailey1,27920115Tavon Austin1,1862011 6 Gary Jennings Jr. 1,096 2017 7 David Saunders1,0431996 8 Chris Henry1,0062003 9 Ka'Raun White 1,004 2017 10 David Sills V 980 2017
+ Single game1Stedman Bailey3032012Baylor 2 Stedman Bailey 225 2012 Oklahoma State Gary Jennings Jr. 225 2018 Oklahoma4Sam James2232019Texas Tech 5 Kevin White2162014Maryland 6 Mario Alford2152013Iowa State Tavon Austin2152012Baylor 8 Chris Henry2092003Syracuse 9 Stedman Bailey2052012Oklahoma Pat Greene2051997Pittsburgh Rahsaan Vanterpool2051994Pittsburgh
Receiving touchdowns
+ Career 1 Stedman Bailey 41 2010 2011 2012 2 David Sills V 35 2015 2017 2018 3 Tavon Austin 29 2009 2010 2011 2012 4 Cedric Thomas 23 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 5 Chris Henry 22 2003 2004 6 Khori Ivy 19 1997 1998 1999 2000 Darius Reynaud 19 2005 2006 2007 8 Reggie Rembert 18 1988 1989 David Saunders 18 1995 1996 1997 1998 10 Shelton Gibson 17 2014 2015 2016 Gary Jennings Jr. 17 2015 2016 2017 2018
+ Single season 1 Stedman Bailey 25 2012 2 David Sills V 18 2017 3 David Sills V 15 2018 4 Gary Jennings Jr. 13 2018 5 Chris Henry 12 2004 Darius Reynaud 12 2007 Stedman Bailey 12 2011 Tavon Austin 12 2012 Ka'Raun White 12 2017 10 Reggie Rembert 11 1989 Mario Alford 11 2014
+ Single game 1 Stedman Bailey 5 2012 Baylor
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.
Total offense yards
+ Career1Geno Smith12,004 2009 2010 2011 20122Pat White10,529 2005 2006 2007 20083Skyler Howard8,4072014 2015 20164Marc Bulger7,827 1996 1997 1998 1999 5 Rasheed Marshall 7,598 2001 2002 2003 2004 6 Garrett Greene7,506 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 7 Will Grier 7,386 2017 2018 8 Major Harris 7,334 1987 1988 1989 9 Oliver Luck 6,282 1978 1979 1980 1981 10 Jarret Doege 6,170 2019 2020 2021
+ Single season1Geno Smith4,356 20122Geno Smith4,352 2011 3 Skyler Howard 3,791 2016 4 Will Grier 3,774 2018 5 Skyler Howard 3,647 2015 6 Will Grier 3,612 2017 7 Marc Bulger 3,515 1998 8 Clint Trickett 3,179 2014 9 Garrett Greene3,178 2023 10 Pat White 3,059 2007
+ Single game 1 Geno Smith 687 2012 Baylor 2 Skyler Howard 555 2015 Arizona State(Cactus Bowl) 3 Will Grier 517 2018 Oklahoma 4 Clint Trickett 507 2014 Maryland 5 Geno Smith 468 2011 LSU 6 Skyler Howard 439 2016 Youngstown State 7 Garrett Greene 438 2023 Houston 8 Geno Smith 433 2011 Clemson(Orange Bowl) 9 Geno Smith 431 2011 Connecticut 10 Geno Smith 429 2012 James Madison Will Grier 429 2018 Tennessee
Touchdowns responsible for "Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
+ Career1Pat White103 2005 2006 2007 20082Geno Smith102 2009 2010 2011 2012 3 Skyler Howard 76 2014 2015 2016 Will Grier 76 2017 2018 5 Rasheed Marshall 69 2001 2002 2003 2004 6 Ira Errett Rodgers 66 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 7 Garrett Greene64 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 8 Marc Bulger 61 1996 1997 1998 9 Major Harris 59 1987 1988 1989 10 Oliver Luck 54 1978 1979 1980 1981
+ Single season 1 Geno Smith 44 2012 2 Will Grier 40 2018 3 Skyler Howard 36 2016 4 Will Grier 35 2017 5 Geno Smith 33 2011 6 Skyler Howard 32 2015 7 Marc Bulger 31 1998 Pat White 31 2006 9 Ira Errett Rodgers 30 1919 10 Pat White 29 2008 Garrett Greene29 2023
+ Single game1Geno Smith82012 Baylor
All-purpose yardage 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.
West Virginia's 2018 media guide fully lists single-game all-purpose yardage records, but does not break them down by individual statistics.
+ Career 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 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