The UTEP Miners football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the UTEP Miners 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. As of the upcoming 2026 season, the Miners represent the University of Texas at El Paso in the NCAA Division I FBS Mountain West Conference.
Although UTEP began competing in intercollegiate football in 1914, the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in 1937. 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 1937, 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 Miners have played in four bowl games since this decision, giving many recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics.
These lists are updated through the end of the 2025 season.
Passing
Passing yards
+ Career1Trevor Vittatoe12,4392007 2008 2009 2010 2Jordan Palmer11,0842003 2004 2005 2006 3Gavin Hardison7,9632019 2020 2021 2022 20234Billy Stevens6,4851965 1966 1967 5Sammy Garza6,1301983 1984 1985 1986 6Rocky Perez5,1081997 1998 1999 2000 7Pat Hegarty4,5931987 1988 8John Rayborn4,1941995 1997 1998 9Mike Perez4,1441990 1991 1992 1993 10Bill Craigo3,8071969 1970 1971
+ Single season1Jordan Palmer3,5952006 2Jordan Palmer3,5032005 3Trevor Vittatoe3,3082009 4Trevor Vittatoe3,2742008 5Gavin Hardison3,218 20216Sammy Garza3,1401986 7Trevor Vittatoe3,1012007 8Billy Stevens3,0321965 9Jordan Palmer2,8182004 10Trevor Vittatoe2,7562010
+ Single game1Trevor Vittatoe5172009 Marshall2Bill Craigo5071970 Colorado State3Billy Stevens5001965 North Texas4Sammy Garza4581986 Northern Michigan5Jordan Palmer4552006 UAB6Jordan Palmer4312005 Memphis7Brooks Dawson4261967 New Mexico State8Trevor Vittatoe4192009 UAB9Jordan Palmer4142006 New Mexico State10Trevor Vittatoe4102008 SMU
Passing touchdowns
+ Career1Trevor Vittatoe972007 2008 2009 2010 2Jordan Palmer882003 2004 2005 2006 3Billy Stevens511965 1966 1967 4Gavin Hardison402019 2020 2021 2022 20235Sammy Garza351983 1984 1985 1986 6Brooks Dawson341966 1967 1968 7Rocky Perez331997 1998 1999 2000 8John Rayborn321995 1997 1998 9Pat Hegarty301987 1988 10John Furman241958 1959 1960 1961 Nick Lamaison242011 2012
+ Single season1Trevor Vittatoe332008 2Jordan Palmer292005 3Rocky Perez262000 Jordan Palmer262004 Jordan Palmer262006 6Trevor Vittatoe252007 7Trevor Vittatoe222010 8Billy Stevens211965 Sammy Garza211986 10Billy Stevens191966
+ Single game1Sammy Garza71986 Northern Michigan2Billy Stevens61967 BYUBrooks Dawson61967 New Mexico4Bob Laraba51957 ArizonaBilly Stevens51965 New MexicoBilly Stevens51966 Texas-ArlingtonHoward Gasser51989 UtahJohn Rayborn51995 Air ForceJordan Palmer52006 UABTrevor Vittatoe52007 RiceTrevor Vittatoe52008 Louisiana-LafayetteTrevor Vittatoe52009 MarshallTrevor Vittatoe52010 New Mexico StateJameill Showers52013 Colorado State
Rushing
Rushing yards
+ Career1Aaron Jones4,1142013 2014 2015 2016 2John Harvey3,5761985 1986 1987 1988 3Howard Jackson3,4662001 2002 2003 2004 4Robert Elliott2,8341974 1975 1976 1977 5Toraino Singleton2,6351994 1995 6Marcus Thomas2,6152004 2005 2006 2007 7Deion Hankins2,6042019 2020 2021 2022 20238Paul Smith2,5391996 1997 1998 1999 9Donald Buckram2,4172006 2007 2008 2009 2010 10Pug Gabrel2,3211947 1948 1949 1950
+ Single season1Aaron Jones1,7732016 2Donald Buckram1,5942009 3Fred Wendt1,5461948 4Toraino Singleton1,3581995 5Aaron Jones1,3212014 6Toraino Singleton1,2771994 7Paul Smith1,2581999 8Howard Jackson1,1872004 9John Harvey1,1701987 10Marcus Thomas1,1662007
+ Single game1Fred Wendt3261948 New Mexico State2Aaron Jones3012016 North Texas3Donald Buckram2622009 Houston4Aaron Jones2492016 New Mexico State5Donald Buckram2412009 SMU6Joe Banyard2402011 Houston7Toraino Singleton2371995 Valdosta State8Aaron Jones2372014 New Mexico9Donald Buckram2342009 Tulane10John Harvey2321985 Colorado State
Rushing touchdowns
+ Career1John Harvey421985 1986 1987 1988 2Aaron Jones332013 2014 2015 2016 3Pug Gabrel271947 1948 1949 1950 4Marcus Thomas262004 2005 2006 2007 5Howard Jackson252001 2002 2003 2004 6Fred Wendt231942 1946 1947 1948 Deion Hankins232019 2020 2021 2022 20238Owen Price211938 1940 1941 Donald Buckram212006 2007 2008 2009 2010 10Ken Heineman191937 1938 1939 1940 Clovis Riley191951 1952 1953 Toraino Singleton191994 1995
+ Single season1Fred Wendt201948 2Donald Buckram182009 3Aaron Jones172016 4John Harvey161987 Marcus Thomas162007 6Paul Smith121999 Treyvon Hughes122019 8Owen Price111941 Pug Gabrel111949 John Harvey111986 Toraino Singleton111994 Aaron Jones112014
+ Single game1Fred Wendt61948 New Mexico State2Fred Wendt41948 BYUJack Burris41952 HawaiiJohn Harvey41988 Weber StateHoward Jackson42002 Sacramento StateDonald Buckram42009 HoustonAaron Jones42016 North Texas
Receiving
Receptions
+ Career1Lee Mays2001998 1999 2000 2001 2Johnnie Lee Higgins1902003 2004 2005 2006 3Brian Natkin1721997 1998 1999 2000 4Jeff Moturi1702006 2007 2008 2009 5Chuck Hughes1621964 1965 1966 6Reggie Barrett1531987 1988 1989 1990 7Kris Adams1442007 2008 2009 2010 8Jacob Cowing141 2019 2020 20219Ed Puishes1381969 1970 1971 10Chris Francies1282002 2003 2004 2005 Justin Garrett128 2019 2020 2021
+ Single season1Johnnie Lee Higgins822006 2Chuck Hughes801965 3Tyrin Smith7120224Lee Mays7020005Jacob Cowing69 20216Jeff Moturi652007 7Brian Natkin642000 8Kenny Odom622025 9Lee Mays601999 10Brian Natkin591999
+ Single game1Chuck Hughes171965 Arizona State2Johnnie Lee Higgins132006 Texas Tech3Chuck Hughes121965 Colorado StateEd Puishes121970 Trinity (Texas)Greg Taylor121972 LamarHarold Johnson121978 San Diego StateRicki Lopez121990 Air ForceJeff Moturi122007 East CarolinaTrey Goodman122024 Kennesaw State
Receiving yards
+ Career1Johnnie Lee Higgins3,2182003 2004 2005 2006 2Lee Mays2,9081998 1999 2000 2001 3Chuck Hughes2,8821964 1965 1966 4Kris Adams2,6572007 2008 2009 2010 5Jacob Cowing2,595 2019 2020 20216Reggie Barrett2,5581987 1988 1989 1990 7Jeff Moturi2,5272006 2007 2008 2009 8Ed Puishes2,2341969 1970 1971 9Bob Wallace2,1611965 1966 1967 10Chris Francies2,0222002 2003 2004 2005
+ Single season1Chuck Hughes1,5191965 2Jacob Cowing1,354 20213Johnnie Lee Higgins1,3192006 4Lee Mays1,0982000 5Kris Adams1,0702010 6Reggie Barrett1,0421989 7Tyrin Smith1,03920228Kelly Akharaiyi1,03320239Ed Puishes1,0001970 10Jeff Moturi9742009
+ Single game1Chuck Hughes3491965 North Texas2Chuck Hughes2541965 Arizona State3Volley Murphy2341967 New Mexico4Bob Wallace2331967 New Mexico State5Johnnie Lee Higgins2232006 New Mexico State Kelly Akharaiyi2232023 Florida International7Jordan Leslie2182012 Tulsa8Arnie Adkison2001987 Utah9Ed Puishes1981970 Colorado State10Greg Taylor1971972 Lamar
Receiving touchdowns
+ Career1Johnnie Lee Higgins322003 2004 2005 2006 2Kris Adams302007 2008 2009 2010 3Lee Mays281998 1999 2000 2001 4Jeff Moturi262006 2007 2008 2009 5Chuck Hughes191964 1965 1966 Bob Wallace191965 1966 1967 Volley Murphy191967 1968 Reggie Barrett191987 1988 1989 1990 9Jordan Leslie152011 2012 2013 10David Karns141966 1967 1968 Cedric Johnson141993 1994 1995 1996 Kenny Odom142024 2025
+ Single season1Lee Mays152000 2Kris Adams142008 Kris Adams142010 4Johnnie Lee Higgins132006 Jeff Moturi132007 6Chuck Hughes121965 Volley Murphy121967 8David Karns101966 Reggie Barrett101989 Johnnie Lee Higgins102004
+ Single game1Volley Murphy41967 BYU
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.
Total offense yards
+ Career1Trevor Vittatoe12,291 2007 2008 2009 2010 2Jordan Palmer11,041 2003 2004 2005 2006 3Gavin Hardison7,9482019 2020 2021 2022 20234Sammy Garza6,056 1983 1984 1985 1986 5Billy Stevens5,696 1965 1966 1967 6Rocky Perez5,394 1997 1998 1999 2000 7Ken Heineman4,874 1937 1938 1939 1940 8Shawn Gray4,822 1991 1992 1993 1994 9Pat Hegarty4,522 1987 1988 10John Rayborn4,494 1995 1997 1998
+ Single season1Jordan Palmer3,509 2006 2Jordan Palmer3,453 2005 3Trevor Vittatoe3,243 2008 4Trevor Vittatoe3,225 2009 5Gavin Hardison3,173 20216Sammy Garza3,002 1986 7Trevor Vittatoe2,969 2007 8Trevor Vittatoe2,854 2010 9Jordan Palmer2,801 2004 10Rocky Perez2,743 2000
+ Single game1Trevor Vittatoe5172009 Marshall2Bill Craigo4851970 Colorado State3Billy Stevens4831965 North Texas4Sammy Garza4741986 Northern Michigan5Kai Locksley4612019 New Mexico State6Jordan Palmer4252005 Memphis7Brooks Dawson4241967 New Mexico State8Sammy Garza4201986 Utah9Jordan Palmer4162006 New Mexico State10Trevor Vittatoe4122008 SMU
Total touchdowns
+ Career1Trevor Vittatoe98 2007 2008 2009 2010 2Jordan Palmer95 2003 2004 2005 2006 3Billy Stevens56 1965 1966 1967 4Sammy Garza47 1983 1984 1985 1986 5Rocky Perez46 1997 1998 1999 2000 6Gavin Hardison432019 2020 2021 2022 20237John Harvey42 1985 1986 1987 1988 8John Rayborn40 1995 1997 1998 9Brooks Dawson37 1966 1967 1968 10Pat Hegarty34 1987 1988 Aaron Jones342013 2014 2015 2016
+ Single season1Trevor Vittatoe34 2008 2Rocky Perez32 2000 3Jordan Palmer31 2005 4Jordan Palmer27 2004 5Jordan Palmer27 2006 6Trevor Vittatoe25 2007 7Sammy Garza24 1986 8Billy Stevens22 1965 9Trevor Vittatoe22 2010 10Billy Stevens21 1966 Skyler Locklear212025
Defense
Interceptions
+ Career1Charlie West191965 1966 1967 2Quintin Demps172004 2005 2006 2007 3D. J. Walker161999 2000 2001 2002 4Terry Walker141985 1986 1987 1988 5Ken Heineman131937 1938 1939 Owen Price131938 1940 1941 7Ron Bostwick131962 1963 1964 1965 8Grady Cavness111966 1967 1968
+ Single season1Charlie West111966 2Ken Heineman81939 Owen Price81941 4Ron Bostwick71965 Eddie Forkerway71978 Quintin Demps72006 7Del Williams61960 Bernard Chapman61971
+ Single game1Charlie West41966 West Texas State2Ken Heineman31939 ArizonaMike Maros31939 Wichita StateGerald Campbell31950 New MexicoRon Bostwick31965 West Texas StateDanny Taylor31985 BYUKen Sale31989 San Diego State
Tackles
+ Career1Barron Wortham5661990 1991 1992 1993 2Doug Morgan5231986 1987 1988 1989 3Tony Perea4591970 1971 1972 4Raymond Morris4581980 1981 1982 1983 5Robert Rodriguez4432001 2002 2003 2004 6Micheal Comer4371993 1994 1995 1996 7Fred Carr4101965 1966 1967 8Hal Barnett4071974 1975 1976 9Tyrice Knight392 2020 2021 2022 202310Pete Shufelt3851989 1990 1991 1992 1993
+ Single season1Tony Perea1921971 2Hal Barnett1851975 3Don Croft1561971 4Micheal Comer1521995 5Barron Wortham1511993 6Ken Sale1501989 7Seth Joyner1491985 8Fred Carr1481967 Fred Williams1481986 Barron Wortham1481991
Sacks
+ Career1Praise Amaewhule22.52018 2019 2020 2021 2022 20232Gonzalo Floyd20.01990 1991 1993 3Chris Mineo16.52002 2003 2004 2005 4Herman Whiting16.01979 1980 1981 1982 Jadrian Taylor16.0 2020 2021 20226Melvin Besses15.01979 1980 1981 Maurice Westmoreland15.02023 20248Brian Young14.51995 1997 1998 1999 9Alex Obomese14.02003 2004 2005 2006 10Thomas Howard13.02002 2003 2004 2005 Justin Hanel13.02003 2004 2005 2006
+ Single season1Melvin Besses11.01979 2Menson Holloway10.52000 3Ricky Massey10.01991 4Jadrian Taylor9.520225Brian Young8.01999 Thomas Howard8.02004 Chris Mineo8.02004 Cal Wallerstedt8.020229Maurice Westmoreland7.52023 Maurice Westmoreland7.52024
Kicking
Field goals made
+ Career1Gavin Baechle582019 2020 2021 2022 2Reagan Schneider502003 2004 2005 20063Ricky Bishop421997 1998 1999 2000 4Jay Mattox402013 2014 2015 2016 5Hugo Castellanos381984 1985 1986 1987 6Jose Martinez372007 2008 7Scott Wedell351980 1981 1982 1983 Marshall Young351992 1993 1994 1995 9Chris Jacke301984 1985 1986 1988 10Miguel Alvarez281975 1976 1977