The Northwestern Wildcats football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Northwestern Wildcats 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 Wildcats represent Northwestern University in the NCAA Division I FBS Big Ten Conference.
Although Northwestern began competing in intercollegiate football in , records from before the 1950s are often incomplete and inconsistent, so players from then may not make it onto these lists.
These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons: Since the 1950s, 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 Wildcats have played in 10 bowl games since the decision, allowing many recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics. Since 2018, players have been allowed to participate in as many as four games in a redshirt season; previously, playing in even one game "burned" the redshirt. Since 2024, postseason games have not counted against the four-game limit. These changes to redshirt rules have given very recent players several extra games to accumulate statistics.
These lists are updated through the end of the 2025 season.
Passing Passing yards
+ Career1 Clayton Thorson 10,731 2015 2016 2017 2018 2Brett Basanez10,5802002 2003 2004 2005 3 Len Williams7,4871990 1991 1992 1993 4 C. J. Bachér7,3192005 2006 2007 2008 5 Trevor Siemian5,9312011 2012 2013 2014 6 Zak Kustok5,8221999 2000 2001 7 Mike Greenfield5,8031984 1985 1986 1987 8 Sandy Schwab5,6791982 1983 1984 1985 9 Steve Schnur5,6121993 1994 1995 1996 10 Dan Persa5,1812009 2010 2011
+ Single season1C. J. Bachér3,65620072Brett Basanez3,62220053Mike Kafka3,4302009 4 Clayton Thorson 3,183 2018 5 Clayton Thorson 3,182 2016 6 Clayton Thorson 2,844 2017 7 Brett Basanez2,8382004 8 Sandy Schwab2,7351982 9 Zak Kustok2,6922001 10 Steve Schnur2,6321996
+ Single game1Mike Kafka5322009 Auburn (Outback Bowl)2C. J. Bachér5202007 Michigan State3Brett Basanez5132004 TCU4C. J. Bachér4702007 Minnesota5Brett Basanez4632005 Purdue6Clayton Thorson4552018 Nebraska7Mike Greenfield4461985 Northern Illinois8Sandy Schwab4361982 Michigan9Ryan Hilinski4352022 Duke10Zak Kustok4212001 Bowling Green
Passing touchdowns
+ Career1 Clayton Thorson 61 2015 2016 2017 20182 Len Williams441990 1991 1992 1993Brett Basanez442002 2003 2004 2005 4 C. J. Bachér432005 2006 2007 2008 5 Zak Kustok421999 2000 2001 6 Dan Persa342009 2010 2011 7 Steve Schnur321993 1994 1995 1996 8 Mitch Anderson281972 1973 1974 9 Trevor Siemian272011 2012 2013 2014 10 Maurie Daigneau231969 1970 1971
+ Single season 1 Clayton Thorson 22 20162Brett Basanez2120053Zak Kustok2020014Zak Kustok192000C. J. Bachér192007C. J. Bachér1920087Steve Schnur171996Dan Persa172011Preston Stone172025Clayton Thorson172018
+ Single game1Mitch Anderson51973 MinnesotaC. J. Bachér52007 Michigan State
Rushing Rushing yards
+ Career 1 Justin Jackson 5,440 2014 2015 2016 20172Damien Anderson4,4851998 1999 2000 20013Tyrell Sutton3,8862005 2006 2007 20084Darnell Autry3,7931994 1995 19965Bob Christian2,6431987 1988 1989 19906Jason Wright2,6252000 2001 2002 20037Noah Herron2,5242001 2002 2003 20048Greg Boykin2,4651972 1973 1975 19769Evan Hull2,417 2019 2020 2021 202210Kain Colter2,1802010 2011 2012 2013
+ Single season1Damien Anderson2,06320002Darnell Autry1,7851995 3 Justin Jackson 1,524 20164Tyrell Sutton1,47420055Darnell Autry1,4521996 6 Justin Jackson 1,418 20157Jason Wright1,38820038Noah Herron1,38120049Venric Mark1,3662012 10 Justin Jackson 1,311 2017
+ Single game1Mike Adamle3161969 Wisconsin2Byron Sanders2951987 Minnesota3Damien Anderson2922000 Indiana4Damien Anderson2682000 Michigan5Jason Wright2512003 Illinois6Tyrell Sutton2442005 Wisconsin7Darnell Autry2401996 Iowa8Jason Wright2372003 Bowling Green (Motor City Bowl)9Damien Anderson2302000 Minnesota10Darnell Autry2261995 Purdue
Rushing touchdowns
+ Career 1 Justin Jackson 41 2014 2015 2016 20172Damien Anderson381998 1999 2000 20013Darnell Autry351994 1995 19964Jason Wright322000 2001 2002 20035Tyrell Sutton312005 2006 2007 20086Kain Colter282010 2011 2012 20137Clayton Thorson272015 2016 2017 20188Noah Herron262001 2002 2003 20049Zak Kustok221999 2000 200110Ron Burton211957 1958 1959
+ Single season1Damien Anderson2320002Jason Wright2020033Darnell Autry171995Darnell Autry1719965Tyrell Sutton162005 6 Justin Jackson 15 20167Noah Herron1420048Ron Burton121958Jason Wright122002Venric Mark122012Kain Colter122012
+ Single game1Mike Adamle41970 MinnesotaDarnell Autry41996 IowaDamien Anderson42000 IllinoisDamien Anderson42000 IndianaDamien Anderson42001 DukeJason Wright42002 IndianaJason Wright42003 KansasJason Wright42003 IndianaJason Wright42003 IllinoisTyrell Sutton42005 Northern IllinoisKain Colter42012 Indiana
Receiving
Receptions
+ Career1D'Wayne Bates2101995 1996 1997 19982Richard Buchanan1971987 1988 1989 19903Jeremy Ebert1732008 2009 2010 20114Kunle Patrick1712000 2001 2002 20035Shaun Herbert1682003 2004 2005 20066Ross Lane1632005 2006 2007 20087Mark Philmore1632002 2003 2004 20058Eric Peterman1602005 2006 2007 20089Lee Gissendaner1561990 1991 1992 199310Tyrell Sutton1542005 2006 2007 2008
+ Single season1Richard Buchanan9419892Zeke Markshausen912009 3 Austin Carr 90 20164Ricky Edwards831983D'Wayne Bates8319986Shaun Herbert7920057D'Wayne Bates7519968Jeremy Ebert7520119Griffin Wilde71202510Lee Gissendaner681992
+ Single game1Jon Harvey171982 Michigan2Zeke Markshausen162009 Michigan State3Todd Jenkins151982 Purdue4Richard Buchanan141989 Minnesota Evan Hull142022 Duke6Don Stonesifer131950 MinnesotaSam Poulos131979 IllinoisRichard Buchanan131989 DukeLee Gissendaner131993 MinnesotaJeremy Ebert132011 IowaChristian Jones132013 Illinois Austin Carr 13 2016 Wisconsin
Receiving yards
+ Career1D'Wayne Bates3,3701995 1996 1997 19982Richard Buchanan2,4741987 1988 1989 19903Jeremy Ebert2,4002008 2009 2010 20114Ross Lane2,0682005 2006 2007 20085Eric Peterman2,0112005 2006 2007 20086Shaun Herbert1,9262003 2004 2005 20067Lee Gissendaner1,8781990 1991 1992 19938Kunle Patrick1,8732000 2001 2002 20039Bryce Kirtz 1,7812020 2021 2022 2023 202410Mark Philmore1,7682002 2003 2004 2005
+ Single season 1 Austin Carr 1,247 20162D'Wayne Bates1,24519983D'Wayne Bates1,19619964Richard Buchanan1,11519895Jeremy Ebert95320106Andrew Brewer92520097D'Wayne Bates88919958Griffin Wilde88020259Brian Musso865199710Shaun Herbert8622005
+ Single game1Jim Lash2261972 Michigan StateTodd Sheets2261980 Purdue3Bryce Kirtz2152023 Minnesota4Evan Hull2132022 Duke5Jon Harvey2081982 MichiganJeremy Ebert2082011 Rice7Jonathan Fields2022004 TCU8Todd Jenkins1891982 Purdue9Tony Jones1852013 Syracuse10Brian Musso1831997 Duke
Receiving touchdowns
+ Career1D'Wayne Bates261995 1996 1997 19982Richard Buchanan221987 1988 1989 19903Jeremy Ebert212008 2009 2010 20114Sam Simmons141998 1999 2000 2001 Steve Bogan141978 1979 1981Drake Dunsmore142007 2009 2010 2011 Austin Carr 14 2015 20168Joe Collier131951 1952 1953Lee Gissendaner131990 1991 1992 1993Ross Lane132005 2006 2007 2008
+ Single season1D'Wayne Bates121996Austin Carr1220163Jeremy Ebert1120114Richard Buchanan91989D'Wayne Bates91998Andrew Brewer920097Joe Collier81952Brian Musso81997Jeremy Ebert82010Griffin Wilde82025
+ Single game1Drake Dunsmore42011 Indiana
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.
Total offense yards
+ Career 1 Brett Basanez 11,576 2002 2003 2004 2005 2 Clayton Thorson 11,139 2015 2016 2017 2018 3 Len Williams8,029 1990 1991 1992 1993 4 C. J. Bachér7,571 2005 2006 2007 2008 5 Zak Kustok7,116 1999 2000 2001 6 Mike Greenfield6,707 1984 1985 1986 1987 7 Trevor Siemian5,908 2011 2012 2013 2014 8 Dan Persa5,897 2009 2010 2011 9 Steve Schnur5,542 1993 1994 1995 1996 10 Justin Jackson 5,464 2014 2015 2016 2017
+ Single season1Brett Basanez4,045 20052Mike Kafka3,725 20093C. J. Bachér3,687 2007 4 Clayton Thorson 3,280 20165Zak Kustok3,272 20016Dan Persa3,100 20107 Clayton Thorson 3,073 20188Brett Basanez3,096 20049Zak Kustok2,894 2000 10 Clayton Thorson 2,867 2017
+ Single game1Mike Kafka5662009 Auburn (Outback Bowl)2Brett Basanez5482004 TCU3Zak Kustok5322001 Bowling Green4C. J. Bachér5252007 Michigan State5Brett Basanez5062005 Purdue6C. J. Bachér4912007 Minnesota7Brett Basanez4482005 UCLA (Sun Bowl)Clayton Thorson4482018 Nebraska9Mike Greenfield4461985 Northern Illinois10Trevor Siemian4332013 Illinois
Total touchdowns
+ Career1 Clayton Thorson 88 2015 2016 2017 20182Zak Kustok64 1999 2000 20013Brett Basanez62 2002 2003 2004 2005 4 Len Williams55 1990 1991 1992 1993 5 C. J. Bachér51 2005 2006 2007 2008 6 Kain Colter46 2010 2011 2012 2013 7 Dan Persa44 2009 2010 2011 8 Justin Jackson 42 2014 2015 2016 2017 9 Steve Schnur38 1993 1994 1995 1996 Damien Anderson38 1998 1999 2000 2001
+ Single season1Zak Kustok31 20012Zak Kustok28 20003Brett Basanez28 20054Clayton Thorson27 20165Clayton Thorson26 20186Mike Kafka24 2009Dan Persa24 20108Damien Anderson23 2000C. J. Bachér23 2007 Clayton Thorson 23 2017
Defense
Interceptions
+ Career1Brett Whitley151984 1985 1986 19872Tom Worthington141946 1947 1948 19493Malcolm Hunter111974 1975 1976 1977Brian Peters112008 2009 2010 20115Eric Hutchinson101969 1970 1971Harold Blackmon101997 1998 1999 2000Ibraheim Campbell102011 2012 2013 20148Willie Lindsey91989 1990 1991 1992Sherrick McManis92006 2007 2008 2009Brandon Joseph92019 2020 2021
+ Single season1Brett Whitley71987Willie Lindsey719913Tom Worthington61947Eric Hutchinson61970Brandon Joseph62020
Tackles
+ Career1Tim McGarigle5452002 2003 2004 20052Chuck Kern5031977 1978 1979 19803Barry Gardner4681995 1996 1997 19984Ed Sutter4291988 1989 1990 19915William Bennett4181992 1993 1994 19956Paddy Fisher401 2017 2018 2019 20207Kevin Bentley3901998 1999 2000 20018Chris Bergin354 2017 2018 2019 2020 20219Paul Maly3431973 1975 1976 197710Eric Collier3421994 1995 1996 1997
+ Single season1Chuck Kern22719792Chuck Kern21819783John Voorhees19219714Barry Gardner17519985Barry Gardner17419976Ed Sutter16119907Tim McGarigle15620058Tim McGarigle15120049Kevin Bentley148199910Kevin Bentley1472001
+ Single game1Chuck Kern311979 Purdue
Sacks
+ Career1Joe Gaziano30.02016 2017 2018 20192Casey Dailey28.01994 1995 1996 19973Ifeadi Odenigbo23.52013 2014 2015 20164Steve Shine21.01990 1991 1992 19935Aidan Hubbard20.52022 2023 2024 20256Corey Wootton19.52006 2007 2008 20097Vince Browne19.02008 2009 2010 20118Dwayne Missouri17.01997 1998 1999 20009Tyler Scott16.02010 2011 201210Deonte Gibson15.02012 2013 2014 2015
+ Single season1Casey Dailey12.01997
+ Single game1Ifeadi Odenigbo4.02016Iowa
Kicking
Field goals made
+ Career1Brian Gowins581995 1996 1997 19982Jeff Budzien482010 2011 2012 20133John Duvic461983 1984 1985 19864Charlie Kuhbander432017 2018 2019 2020 20215Jack Mitchell402013 2014 2015 2016Jack Olsen402021 2022 2023 2024 20257Ira Adler391987 1988 1989 1990Sam Valenzisi391992 1993 1994 19959Stefan Demos342007 2008 2009 201010Amado Villarreal332005 2006 2007 2008
+ Single season1Jeff Budzien2320132Brian Gowins201997Amado Villarreal2020084Jeff Budzien192012John Duvic191986Jack Olsen1920257Stefan Demos182009Jack Mitchell1820159Brian Gowins17199810Brian Gowins161996Stefan Demos162010
+ Single game1Jeff Howells52005 Penn StateJeff Budzien52012 Boston College3Sam Valenzisi41993 MinnesotaSam Valenzisi41995 MichiganBrian Gowins41998 HawaiiTim Long42000 MichiganStefan Demos42009 PurdueStefan Demos42009 WisconsinJeff Budzien42013 MichiganJack Mitchell42014 Notre DameJack Olsen42023 Maryland
Field goal percentage