The Cincinnati Bearcats football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Cincinnati Bearcats 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. As of the upcoming 2023 season, the Bearcats represent the University of Cincinnati in the NCAA Division I FBS Big 12 Conference.
Although Cincinnati began competing in intercollegiate football in 1885, the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in 1950s. 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 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 Bearcats have played in 14 bowl games since then, giving many recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics. The American Athletic Conference, in which Cincinnati played from 2013 to 2022, has held a championship game since 2015. The Bearcats played in that game three times (2019, 2020, 2021), giving players in those seasons yet another game to accumulate statistics. However, the 2020 team only played 10 regularly scheduled games instead of the normal 12 due to COVID-19 constraints. Due to COVID-19 issues, the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season would not count against any football player's athletic eligibility, giving all who played in that season the opportunity for five years of eligibility instead of the normal four.
These lists are updated through the 2025 regular season.
Passing
Passing yards
+ Career 1 Gino Guidugli 11,453 2001 2002 2003 2004 2 Desmond Ridder 10,239 2018 2019 2020 2021 3 Gunner Kiel 6,835 2014 2015 2016 4 Danny McCoin 6,801 1984 1985 1986 1987 5 Hayden Moore 6,518 2015 2016 2017 2018 6 Zach Collaros 6,278 2008 2009 2010 2011 7 Deontey Kenner 6,278 1997 1998 1999 2000 8 Brendan Sorsby 5,613 2024 2025 9 Tony Pike 5,018 2007 2008 2009 10 Greg Cook 4,906 1966 1967 1968
+ Single season 1 Gino Guidugli 3,543 2002 2 Desmond Ridder 3,334 2021 3 Greg Cook 3,272 1968 4 Gunner Kiel 3,254 2014 5 Ben Mauk 3,121 2007 Brendon Kay 3,121 2013 7 Zach Collaros 2,902 2010 8 Danny McCoin 2,831 1986 9 Brendan Sorsby2,8132024 10 Brendan Sorsby2,8002025
+ Single game1Hayden Moore557 2015 Memphis2Greg Cook5541968 Ohio3Gunner Kiel523 2015 Houston4Zach Collaros4802009 Connecticut5Zach Collaros4632010 South Florida6Gunner Kiel436 2014 East Carolina7Ben Mauk4312007 Syracuse8Gunner Kiel427 2015 Temple9Brendan Sorsby426 2024 Texas Tech10Gunner Kiel418 2014 Toledo
Passing touchdowns
+ Career 1 Desmond Ridder 87 2018 2019 2020 2021 2 Gino Guidugli 78 2001 2002 2003 2004 3 Gunner Kiel 56 2014 2015 20164Zach Collaros512008 2009 2010 20115Tony Pike492007 2008 20096 Brendan Sorsby452024 20257Danny McCoin391984 1985 1986 19878Gene Rossi371949 1950 1951 19529Greg Cook341966 1967 196810Brendon Kay322009 2010 2011 2012 2013
+ Single season 1 Ben Mauk 31 2007 Gunner Kiel 31 2014 3 Desmond Ridder 30 2021 4 Tony Pike 29 2009 5 Brendan Sorsby 27 2025 6 Gino Guidugli 26 2004 Zach Collaros 26 2010 8 Greg Cook 25 1968 9 Gino Guidugli 22 2002 Brendon Kay 22 2013
+ Single game1Tony Pike62009 IllinoisGunner Kiel62014 Toledo3Gino Guidugli52004 Southern MissZach Collaros52010 LouisvilleGunner Kiel5 2015 Central FloridaEmory Jones52023 Eastern KentuckyBrendan Sorsby52025 Northwestern State
Rushing
Rushing yards
+ Career1Reggie Taylor4,2421983 1984 1985 19862DeMarco McCleskey3,4871998 2000 2001 20023Isaiah Pead3,2882008 2009 2010 20114Allen Harvin2,9981978 1979 1980 1981 19825David Small2,9631991 1992 19936Michael Warren II 2,918 2017 2018 20197Robert Cooper 2,788 1996 1997 1998 19998James Bettis 2,675 1978 1979 1980 1981 9 Mike Boone 2,250 2014 2015 2016 2017 10 Al McKinney 2,237 1985 1986 1987 1988
+ Single season1DeMarco McCleskey1,36120022George Winn1,33420123Michael Warren II1,329 20184Reggie Taylor1,3251986 5 Jerome Ford 1,319 20216Allen Harvin1,28319787Michael Warren II1,265 20198Isaiah Pead1,2592011 9 Robert Cooper 1,245 1999 10 James Bettis 1,226 1981
+ Single game1Bob Hynes3061923 Case Western Reserve2Daryl Royal2821996 Miami (Ohio)3Clem Turner2671966 Kansas State4Steve Cowan2661970 Ohio5Reggie Taylor2591986 Miami (Ohio)6Richard Hall2382004 Miami (Ohio)7DeMarco McCleskey2341998 East Carolina8David Small2331992 Kent State9David Small2191991 Middle Tennessee State10Isaiah Pead2132010 Rutgers
Rushing touchdowns
+ Career 1 DeMarco McCleskey 39 1998 2000 2001 2002 2 Michael Warren II 34 2017 2018 2019 3 David Small 31 1991 1992 1993 4 Desmond Ridder 28 2018 2019 2020 2021 5 Isaiah Pead 27 2008 2009 2010 2011 Jerome Ford 27 2020 2021 7 Reggie Harrison 25 1971 1972 1973 8 Reggie Taylor 24 1983 1984 1985 1986 Mike Boone 24 2014 2015 2016 2017 10 Bob Heuck221910 1911 1912
+ Single season 1 Michael Warren II 19 2018 Jerome Ford 19 2021 3 David Small 17 1993 4 DeMarco McCleskey 15 2002 5 Michael Warren II 14 2019 6 Al Nelson 13 1964 George Winn 13 2012 8 Isaiah Pead 12 2011 Desmond Ridder 12 2020 10 Joe Miller 11 1954 Reggie Harrison 11 1972 Tony Kapetanis 11 1979 Reggie Taylor 11 1986 DeMarco McCleskey 11 1998
+ Single game1Ike Stewart61912 TransylvaniaBob Heuck61912 Transylvania3David Small41992 Kent StateDavid Small41993 HoustonDeMarco McCleskey41998 Arkansas StateDeMarco McCleskey41998 HoustonIsaiah Pead42010 Rutgers Jerome Ford 4 2021 UCF
Receiving
Receptions
+ Career 1 Shaq Washington2402011 2012 2013 2014 2 LaDaris Vann 215 1999 2000 2001 2002 3 Dominick Goodman2042005 2006 2007 2008 Mardy Gilyard2042005 2007 2008 2009 5 Anthony McClung 177 2010 2011 2012 2013 6 Kahlil Lewis 168 2015 2016 2017 2018 7 D. J. Woods1592008 2009 2010 2011 8 Armon Binns1382007 2008 2009 2010 9 Tye Keith1351999 2000 2001 2002 10 Marcus Barnett1272007 2008 2009 2010
+ Single season1Shaq Washington9020152Mardy Gilyard8720093Dominick Goodman842008 4 LaDaris Vann 812001 Mardy Gilyard812008 6 Tom Rossley801968 7 Armon Binns752010Shaq Washington752013 9 Anthony McClung 72 2013 10 LaDaris Vann712002
+ Single game1Shaq Washington15 2015 East Carolina2Tom Rossley131968 Wichita StateJon Olinger132002 Miami (Ohio)4Zeke Harden121972 North Texas StateLaDaris Vann122001 ArmyLaDaris Vann122002 TulaneMardy Gilyard122009 ConnecticutArmon Binns122010 South FloridaShaq Washington12 2014 South Florida Kahlil Lewis 12 2018 SMU Xzavier Henderson12 2023 Miami (OH)
Receiving yards
+ Career1Mardy Gilyard 2,962 2005 2007 2008 2009 2 LaDaris Vann 2,703 1999 2000 2001 2002 3 Shaq Washington2,5632011 2012 2013 2014 2015 4 Dominick Goodman2,5122005 2006 2007 2008 5 Anthony McClung 2,378 2010 2011 2012 2013 6 Chris Moore2,3012012 2013 2014 2015 7 Jim O'Brien2,2851967 1968 1969 8 D. J. Woods2,1562008 2009 2010 2011 9 Kahlil Lewis 2,116 2015 2016 2017 2018 10 Marlon Pearce 2,096 1990 1991 1992
+ Single season1Mardy Gilyard1,27620082Mardy Gilyard1,19120093Jon Olinger1,11420024Jim O'Brien1,10719685Armon Binns1,10120106Tom Rossley1,07219687Hannibal Thomas1,0282004Dominick Goodman1,02820089Shaq Washington982201510Anthony McClung9082013
+ Single game1Tom Rossley2541968 Louisville2Jon Olinger2402002 Miami (Ohio)3Chris Moore221 2014 Ohio State 4 Jim O'Brien2121968 Ohio 5 Marcus Barnett2102007 West Virginia 6 Kahlil Lewis 203 2018 East Carolina 7 Jim O'Brien1961968 Tampa 8 Jon Olinger1942002 East Carolina 9 Marlon Pearce1851992 Louisville Tyler Scott1852022 Indiana
Receiving touchdowns
+ Career1Chris Moore262012 2013 2014 20152Mardy Gilyard252005 2007 2008 20093Dominick Goodman222005 2006 2007 20084Jim O'Brien211967 1968 1969Armon Binns212007 2008 2009 2010 Kahlil Lewis 21 2015 2016 2017 2018 7 Deno Foster171981 1982 1983 1984 Jason Stargel 17 1982 1983 1984 1986Marcus Barnett172007 2008 2009 2010Mekale McKay172013 2014 2015
+ Single season1Marcus Barnett132007 Cyrus Allen1320253Jim O'Brien1219684Mardy Gilyard112008Armon Binns112009Mardy Gilyard1120097Armon Binns1020108Jim Kelly91950Hannibal Thomas92004Chris Moore92013 Kahlil Lewis 9 2018 Tyler Scott 9 2022
+ Single game1Jim O'Brien31968 TampaDeno Foster31983 LouisvilleJon Olinger32002 East CarolinaHannibal Thomas32004 Southern MissMarcus Barnett32007 SyracuseArmon Binns32010 LouisvilleChris Moore3 2014 Ohio StateKahlil Lewis32016 East Carolina Tyler Scott32022 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 Desmond Ridder 12,418 2018 2019 2020 2021 2 Gino Guidugli 11,661 2001 2002 2003 2004 3 Zach Collaros 7,087 2008 2009 2010 2011 4 Gunner Kiel 7,000 2014 2015 2016 5 Brendan Sorsby 6,640 2024 2025 6 Deontey Kenner 6,558 1997 1998 1999 2000 7 Danny McCoin 6,210 1984 1985 1986 1987 8 Tony Pike 5,146 2007 2008 2009 9 Lance Harp 4,909 1991 1992 1993 10 Greg Cook 4,760 1966 1967 1968
+ Single season 1 Desmond Ridder 3,699 2021 2 Gino Guidugli 3,570 2002 3 Ben Mauk 3,498 2007 4 Gunner Kiel 3,396 2014 5 Brendan Sorsby3,3802025 6 Brendan Sorsby3,2602024 7 Greg Cook 3,210 1968 8 Zach Collaros 3,104 2010 9 Desmond Ridder 3,017 2018 10 Desmond Ridder 2,888 2020
+ Single game1Hayden Moore564 2015 Memphis2Zach Collaros5552009 Connecticut3Greg Cook5251968 Ohio4Gunner Kiel499 2015 Houston5Zach Collaros4902010 South Florida6Brendan Sorsby478 2024 Texas Tech7Gunner Kiel442 2014 East Carolina Gunner Kiel442 2014 Toledo9 Brendan Sorsby4402025Kansas10Gunner Kiel437 2015 Temple
Touchdowns responsible for "Touchdowns responsible for" is the official NCAA term for combined rushing and passing touchdowns. It does not include receiving or returns.
Cincinnati's 2021 record book only lists this statistic from the 2000 season forward. Past editions of its record book did include seasons before 2000.
+ Career 1 Desmond Ridder 115 2018 2019 2020 2021 2 Gino Guidugli 83 2001 2002 2003 2004 3 Zach Collaros 67 2008 2009 2010 2011 4 Brendan Sorsby63 2024 2025 5 Gunner Kiel 59 2014 2015 6 Tony Pike 52 2007 2008 2009 7 Danny McCoin 49 1984 1985 1986 1987 8 Greg Cook 40 1966 1967 1968 9 Brendon Kay 40 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 10 Deontey Kenner 39 1997 1998 1999 2000
+ Single season 1 Desmond Ridder 36 2021 Brendan Sorsby362025 3 Ben Mauk 34 2007 4 Gunner Kiel 32 2014 5 Tony Pike 31 2009 Desmond Ridder 31 2020 7 Greg Cook 30 1968 Zach Collaros 30 2010 9 Brendon Kay 28 2013 10 Gino Guidugli 27 2004 Brendan Sorsby272024
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.
While Cincinnati lists a complete top 10 in all-purpose yardage over all relevant time frames (career, season, game), it does not break down its leaders' performances by type of play.
+ Career 1 Mardy Gilyard 5,862 2005 2007 2008 2009 2 Reggie Taylor 5,322 1983 1984 1985 1986 3 DeMarco McCleskey 4,113 1998 2000 2001 2002 4 Isaiah Pead 4,104 2008 2009 2010 2011 5 Al McKinney 4,038 1985 1986 1987 1988 6 Michael Warren II 3,799 2017 2018 2019 7 Dominick Goodman 3,692 2005 2006 2007 2008 8 Allen Harvin 3,663 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 9 Mike Boone 3,656 2014 2015 2016 2017 10 Ralph David Abernathy IV 3,643 2011 2012 2013 2014
+ Single season 1 Mardy Gilyard 2,690 2009 2 Mardy Gilyard 2,197 2008 3 D. J. Woods 1,859 2010 4 DeMarco McCleskey 1,729 2002 5 Robert Tate 1,685 1995 6 Isaiah Pead 1,652 2011 7 Reggie Taylor 1,643 1986 8 Roger Stephens 1,572 1947 9 Kahlil Lewis 1,561 2018 Michael Warren II 1,561 2018