The Houston Cougars football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Houston Cougars 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 Cougars represent the University of Houston in the NCAA Division I FBS Big 12 Conference.
Houston began competing in intercollegiate football in 1946, but these lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons: Since 1946, regular 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 Cougars have played in 16 bowl games since then, allowing recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics. Similarly, the Cougars played in the Conference USA Championship Game three times and the AAC Championship Game twice, so players in those seasons played 14 games. Houston has recently run a spread offense under coaches Art Briles, Kevin Sumlin, Tony Levine, Tom Herman, Major Applewhite, and Dana Holgorsen, allowing offensive players to accumulate many yards and touchdowns. Most notably among these is quarterback Case Keenum, who holds the records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total offense across all of college football.
These lists are updated through the end of the 2025 season.
Passing
Passing yards
+ Career1Case Keenum19,2172007 2008 2009 2010 20112Kevin Kolb12,9642003 2004 2005 20063Clayton Tune11,9912018 2019 2020 2021 20224David Klingler9,4301988 1989 1990 19915Greg Ward Jr.8,7052013 2014 2015 20166Jason McKinley8,6941997 1998 1999 20007Andre Ware8,2021987 1988 19898Chuck Clements7,1121993 1994 1995 19969David Piland5,7902010 2012 201310Jimmy Klingler5,2431991 1992 1993
+ Single season1Case Keenum5,67120092Case Keenum5,63120113David Klingler5,14019904Case Keenum5,02020085Andre Ware4,69919896Clayton Tune4,06920227Jimmy Klingler3,81819928Kevin Kolb3,80920069Greg Ward Jr.3,557201610Clayton Tune3,5462021
+ Single game1David Klingler7161990 Arizona State2Jimmy Klingler6131992 Rice3David Piland5802012 Louisiana Tech4David Klingler5721990 Eastern Washington5David Klingler5631990 TCU6Case Keenum5592009 Southern Miss7Case Keenum5362009 UTEP8Case Keenum5342011 Rice9David Klingler5331991 Texas Tech10Case Keenum5322011 Penn State
Passing touchdowns
+ Career1Case Keenum1552007 2008 2009 2010 20112Clayton Tune1042018 2019 2020 2021 20223David Klingler911988 1989 1990 19914Kevin Kolb852003 2004 2005 20065Andre Ware751987 1988 19896Greg Ward Jr.522013 2014 2015 20167D'Eriq King502016 2017 2018 20198Jason McKinley461997 1998 1999 20009Chuck Clements431993 1994 1995 199610David Piland412010 2012 2013
+ Single season1David Klingler5419902Case Keenum4820113Andre Ware4619894Case Keenum442008Case Keenum4420096Clayton Tune4020227D'Eriq King3620188Jimmy Klingler3219929Kevin Kolb302006Clayton Tune302021
+ Single game1David Klingler111990 Eastern Washington2David Klingler91991 Louisiana TechCase Keenum92011 Rice4Andre Ware71989 TempleDavid Klingler71990 Arizona StateDavid Klingler71990 ArkansasDavid Klingler71990 TCUJimmy Klingler71992 RiceClayton Tune72022 SMU10Andre Ware61989 BaylorAndre Ware61989 SMUAndre Ware61989 TCUCase Keenum62008 TulsaCase Keenum62011 Marshall
Rushing
Rushing yards
+ Career1Ketric Sanford3,6361996 1997 1998 19992Chuck Weatherspoon3,2471987 1988 1989 19903Bryce Beall3,0982008 2009 2010 20114Kenneth Farrow2,9752012 2013 2014 20155Robert Newhouse2,9611969 1970 19716Joffrey Reynolds2,9471999 2000 2001 20027Paul Gipson2,7691966 1967 19688Anthony Alridge2,5952005 2006 20079Alois Blackwell2,4671975 1976 197710Greg Ward Jr.2,3752013 2014 2015 2016
+ Single season1Robert Newhouse1,75719712Anthony Alridge1,59720073Paul Gipson1,55019684Joffrey Reynolds1,54520025Jim Strong1,29319696Bryce Beall1,24720087Antowain Smith1,23919968Nat "Puddin" Jones1,21619729Ketric Sanford1,199199910Alois Blackwell1,1691977
+ Single game1Joffrey Reynolds3002002 East Carolina2Paul Gipson2821968 TulsaAnthony Evans2822004 Army4Robert Newhouse2451969 Mississippi State5Robert Newhouse2371971 Cincinnati6Antowain Smith2311996 Southern Miss7Paul Gipson2301968 GeorgiaJim Strong2301969 Arizona9Paul Gipson2291967 Georgia10Sloan Hood2261985 TCU
Rushing touchdowns
+ Career1Bryce Beall392008 2009 2010 2011Greg Ward Jr.392013 2014 2015 20163Kenneth Farrow342012 2013 2014 20154Jackie Battle312003 2004 2005 20065Charles Sims292009 2011 20126Ketric Sanford281996 1997 1998 1999D'Eriq King282016 2017 2018 20198Chuck Weatherspoon271987 1988 1989 19909Paul Gipson251966 1967 196810Gene Shannon231949 1950 1951Joffrey Reynolds231999 2000 2001 2002Case Keenum232007 2008 2009 2010 2011
+ Single season1Greg Ward Jr.2120152Alton McCaskill1620213Jackie Battle1520064Antowain Smith141996Anthony Alridge142007Kenneth Farrow142014D'Eriq King14D'Eriq King College Stats. Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-11-16.20188Paul Gipson131968Bryce Beall13200810Robert Newhouse121971Leonard Parker121973Ketric Sanford121999Bryce Beall122010Kenneth Farrow122015
+ Single game1Antowain Smith51996 Southern Miss2Joffrey Reynolds42002 East CarolinaAnthony Alridge42007 RiceBryce Beall42010 TulaneKenneth Farrow42014 TulsaGreg Ward Jr.42015 SMU
Receiving
Receptions
+ Career1Tyron Carrier3202008 2009 2010 20112Patrick Edwards2912008 2009 2010 20113Vincent Marshall2722003 2004 2005 20064Nathaniel Dell2282020 2021 20225Orlando Iglesias2221997 1998 1999 20006Manny Hazard2201989 19907Donnie Avery2102004 2005 2006 20078Jason Phillips2071987 19889Linell Bonner2032015 2016 201710Deontay Greenberry2012012 2013 2014
+ Single season1Manny Hazard14219892Nathaniel Dell10920223Jason Phillips10819884Freddie Gilbert10619915James Cleveland10420096Sherman Smith10319927James Dixon10219888Jason Phillips9919879Demarcus Ayers982015Linell Bonner982016
+ Single game1Manny Hazard191989 TCUManny Hazard191989 TexasJames Cleveland192009 East Carolina4Jason Phillips161988 Louisiana TechManny Hazard161989 Arizona StateFreddie Gilbert161991 Miami (FL)Freddie Gilbert161991 Texas Tech8Jason Phillips151987 TCUJames Dixon151988 RiceSherman Smith151992 SMUBrian Robinson152000 Army
Receiving yards
+ Career1Patrick Edwards4,5072008 2009 2010 20112Vincent Marshall3,7702006 2007 2008 20093Tyron Carrier3,4932008 2009 2010 20114Elmo Wright3,3471968 1969 19705Donnie Avery3,2892004 2005 2006 20076Nathaniel Dell3,1552020 2021 20227Brandon Middleton2,8731999 2000 2001 2002 20038Orlando Iglesias2,8101997 1998 1999 2000 20019Manny Hazard2,6351989 199010Deontay Greenberry2,6122012 2013 2014
+ Single season1Patrick Edwards1,75220112Manny Hazard1,68919893Donnie Avery1,45620074Jason Phillips1,44419885Nathaniel Dell1,39820226Nathaniel Dell1,32920217Elmo Wright1,27519698Marcus Grant1,26219919Brandon Middleton1,250200310Justin Johnson1,2292011
+ Single game1Donnie Avery3462007 Rice2Patrick Edwards3182011 Rice3Elmo Wright2621969 Wyoming4Paul Smith2551989 SMU5Elmo Wright2491968 Idaho6Elmo Wright2441968 Cincinnati7James Cleveland2412009 East Carolina8Brandon Middleton2322003 TCU9Robert Ford2311972 San Diego State10Patrick Edwards2282011 Penn State
Receiving touchdowns
+ Career1Patrick Edwards432008 2009 2010 20112Elmo Wright341968 1969 19703Nathaniel Dell322020 2021 20224Manny Hazard311989 19905Vincent Marshall262006 2007 2008 20096Brandon Middleton241999 2000 2001 2002 20037Ken Hebert221965 1966 1967Tyron Carrier222008 2009 2010 2011Marquez Stevenson222016 2018 2019 202010James Cleveland202009 2010Deontay Greenberry202012 2013 2014
+ Single season1Manny Hazard2219892Patrick Edwards2020113Nathaniel Dell1720224Jason Phillips1519885Elmo Wright141969Brandon Middleton142003James Cleveland1420098Patrick Edwards1320109Justin Johnson122011Nathaniel Dell122021Amare Thomas122025
+ Single game1Manny Hazard51989 BaylorPatrick Edwards52011 Rice3Ken Hebert41966 TampaElmo Wright41968 IdahoElmo Wright41969 WyomingDon Bass41976 TCUJason Phillips41988 TexasPatrick Edwards42011 Tulsa
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.
Total offense yards
+ Career1Case Keenum20,114 2007 2008 2009 2010 20112Kevin Kolb13,715 2003 2004 2005 20063Clayton Tune13,244 2018 2019 2020 2021 20224Greg Ward Jr.11,0802013 2014 2015 20165David Klingler9,327 1988 1989 1990 19916Jason McKinley8,277 1997 1998 1999 20007Andre Ware8,058 1987 1988 19898Chuck Clements6,893 1993 1994 1995 19969D'Eriq King6,346D'Eriq King College Stats. Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-09-29. 2016 2017 2018 201910David Piland6,039 2010 2012 2013
+ Single season1Case Keenum5,829 20092Case Keenum5,666 20113Case Keenum5,241 20084David Klingler5,221 19905Andre Ware4,631 19896Clayton Tune4,615 20227Greg Ward Jr.4,07520168Kevin Kolb3,963 20069Greg Ward Jr.3,936 201510Jimmy Klingler3,768 1992
+ Single game1David Klingler7321990 Arizona State2Clayton Tune6382022 SMU3David Klingler6251990 TCU4Jimmy Klingler6121992 Rice5David Piland5842012 Louisiana Tech6David Klingler5781990 Eastern WashingtonKevin Kolb5782003 TCU8Case Keenum5692009 Southern Miss9Greg Ward Jr.5522016 Memphis10D'Eriq King551King totals 7 TDs, Houston beats No. 21 USF 57-36. CBS Sports, 27 Oct 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-27.2018 South Florida
Touchdowns responsible for "Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
+ Career1Case Keenum178 2007 2008 2009 2010 20112Clayton Tune119 2018 2019 2020 2021 20223Kevin Kolb106 2003 2004 2005 20064David Klingler93 1988 1989 1990 19915Greg Ward Jr.912013 2014 2015 20166Andre Ware81 1987 1988 19897D'Eriq King78 2016 2017 2018 20198Gary Mullins52 1969 1970 19719Jason McKinley47 1997 1998 1999 200010Chuck Clements43 1993 1994 1995 1996David Piland43 2010 2012 2013
+ Single season1David Klingler55 19902Case Keenum51 2008Case Keenum51 20114D'Eriq King50 20185Andre Ware49 19896Case Keenum48 20097Clayton Tune4520228Greg Ward Jr.38 20159Conner Weigman36 202510Kevin Kolb34 2006
+ Single game1David Klingler111990 Eastern Washington2David Klingler91991 Louisiana TechCase Keenum92011 Rice4Clayton Tune82022 SMU5Andre Ware71989 TempleDavid Klingler71990 ArkansasDavid Klingler71990 TCUDavid Klingler71990 Arizona StateJimmy Klingler71992 RiceCase Keenum72008 TulsaD'Eriq King72018 South Florida
Defense
Interceptions
+ Career1Adrian McDonald17Adrian McDonald. Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-12-24.2012 2013 2014 20152Cornelius Price161989 19903Gus Hollomon141965 1966 1967Anthony Francis141975 1976 1977Johnnie Jackson141986 1987 19886Will Gulley132002 2003 2004 20067Paul Shires121966 1967 1968Calvin Eason121980 1981 1982Trevon Stewart122012 2013 2014 2015
+ Single season1Cornelius Price1219892Byron Beaver101962Paul Shires101968Anthony Francis1019765L.D. Rowden81969Johnnie Jackson81987Jerry Parks819908Butch LaCroix71981Mike James71999
+ Single game1Byron Beaver51962 Baylor2Jack Howton41952 Texas Tech3Ken Bolin31961 Boston CollegeTom Paciorek31966 Florida StatePaul Shires31968 MemphisBill Jones31973 Virginia TechDonnie Love31979 Texas A&MJohnnie Jackson31987 TexasWill Gulley32004 East CarolinaLoyce Means32008 Tulsa
Tackles
+ Career1Marcus McGraw5102008 2009 2010 20112Ryan McCoy5071993 1994 1995 19963Gary McGuire4721984 1985 1986 19874Hanik Milligan4112000 2001 20025Derrick Mathews4002011 2012 2013 20146Mike Parker3911994 1995 1996 19977Phillip Steward3782009 2010 2011 20128David Hodge3761975 1976 1978 19799Trevon Stewart3672012 2013 2014 201510Greg Brezina3501965 1966 1967
+ Single season1Frank Ditta17719702Hanik Milligan17420013Bryant Winn16719844Gary McGuire16319865Ryan McCoy15719936Marcus McGraw15620097Gary McGuire15519858Gary McGuire1481987Hanik Milligan148200210Kenny Hill1431999C.J. Cavness1432009