The Marshall Thundering Herd football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Marshall Thundering Herd 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 Thundering Herd represent Marshall University in the NCAA Division I FBS Sun Belt Conference.
Although Marshall began competing in intercollegiate football in 1895, the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in 1950. 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 1950, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length. With the exception of the World War II years, freshmen were not allowed to play until the 1971 season in the aftermath of the crash of Southern Airways Flight 932. The NCAA allowed freshmen at all schools to start playing in 1972. Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002. The Thundering Herd have played in seven bowl games since this decision, giving many recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics. Although bowl games were not counted toward single-season and career statistics until 2002, games in NCAA championship tournaments have always been included. This is relevant because Marshall had a very successful tenure in Division I-AA, now known as the Football Championship Subdivision. When Marshall first played at the I-AA level in 1982, the tournament involved 12 teams; it expanded to 16 teams in 1986, remaining at that size through Marshall's final I-AA season in 1996. The Herd were regularly involved in the division's championship tournament, advancing to the championship game seven times and winning it twice. Several single-season records date from this era.
These lists are updated through the end of the 2025 season.
Passing
Passing yards
+ Career1Rakeem Cato14,0792011 2012 2013 2014 2Chad Pennington13,1431995 1997 1998 1999 3Byron Leftwich11,9031998 1999 2000 2001 2002 4Michael Payton9,4111989 1990 1991 1992 5Chase Litton8,3352015 2016 20176Todd Donnan7,0501991 1992 1993 1994 7John Gregory7,0201986 1987 1988 1989 8Carl Fodor6,6551982 1983 1984 1985 9Tony Petersen6,5011986 1987 10Grant Wells5,6232019 2020 2021
+ Single season1Tony Petersen4,9021987 2Byron Leftwich4,2682002 3Rakeem Cato4,2012012 4Byron Leftwich4,1322001 5Rakeem Cato3,9162013 6Rakeem Cato3,9032014 7Chad Pennington3,7991999 8Michael Payton3,6101992 9Grant Wells3,5322021 10Chad Pennington3,4801997
+ Single game1Byron Leftwich5762001 East CarolinaGMAC Bowl2Michael Payton4961991 VMI3Chase Litton4862015 Charlotte4Tony Petersen4811987 Western Carolina5Tony Petersen4741987 Northeast Louisiana6Byron Leftwich4712001 Central Michigan7Byron Leftwich4692002 Appalachian State8Rakeem Cato4562013 Tulsa9Byron Leftwich4552001 Buffalo10Eric Kresser4491996 Delaware
Passing touchdowns
+ Career1Rakeem Cato1312011 2012 2013 2014 2Chad Pennington1151995 1997 1998 1999 3Byron Leftwich891998 1999 2000 2001 2002 4Chase Litton722015 2016 20175Michael Payton691989 1990 1991 1992 6Todd Donnan611991 1992 1993 1994 7John Gregory511986 1987 1988 1989 8Tony Petersen431986 1987 9Carl Fodor391982 1983 1984 1985 10Stan Hill382001 2002 2003 2004
+ Single season1Rakeem Cato402014 2Chad Pennington391997 Rakeem Cato392013 4Byron Leftwich382001 5Chad Pennington371999 Rakeem Cato372012 7Tony Petersen351987 Eric Kresser351996 9Todd Donnan331994 10Michael Payton311992
+ Single game1Rakeem Cato72014 Western Kentucky2Byron Leftwich62001 OhioChase Litton62016 Morgan State
Rushing Complete yardage totals for Jackie Hunt and John Zontini are not available because such specific statistics were not always kept back then. However, the Marshall record book estimates career totals for them and includes them in the official career rushing yards list.
Rushing yards
+ Career1Chris Parker5,9241992 1993 1994 1995 2Doug Chapman4,0161996 1997 1998 1999 3Ron Darby3,9031986 1987 1988 1989 4Jackie Hunt3,9001939 1940 1941 5Ahmad Bradshaw2,9822004 2005 2006 6John Zontini2,9001931 1932 1933 1934 7Darius Marshall2,8572007 2008 2009 8Brenden Knox2,8522018 2019 20209Rasheen Ali2,8312020 2021 2022 202310Glenn Pedro2,7241990 1991 1992 1993
+ Single season1Chris Parker1,8331995 2Devon Johnson1,7672014 3Chris Parker1,7501993 4Chris Parker1,7281994 5Ahmad Bradshaw1,5232006 6Khalan Laborn1,51320227Ron Darby1,5061987 8Rasheen Ali1,40120219Brenden Knox1,387201910Erik Thomas1,2961996
+ Single game1Devon Johnson2722014 Florida Atlantic2Ron Darby2621988 Western Carolina3Ahmad Bradshaw2612006 UTEP4Larry Fourqurean2451981 Appalachian State5Ahmad Bradshaw2422006 UAB6Steward Butler2332014 Western Kentucky7Jack Mahone2241963 Ken State8Brenden Knox2202019 Florida Atlantic9Ron Lear2181979 Furman10Chris Parker2091993 Chattanooga
Rushing touchdowns
+ Career1Chris Parker681992 1993 1994 1995 2Doug Chapman521996 1997 1998 1999 3Jackie Hunt431939 1940 1941 4Tom Stark411927 1928 1929 1930 5Rasheen Ali392020 2021 2022 20236Ron Darby381986 1987 1988 1989 7Glenn Pedro311990 1991 1992 1993 Ahmad Bradshaw312004 2005 2006 9Franklin Wallace292000 2001 2002 2003 10John Zontini271931 1932 1933 1934
+ Single season1Jackie Hunt271940 2Chris Parker231993 Chris Parker231994 Rasheen Ali2320215Ahmad Bradshaw192006 6Chris Parker181995 7Devon Johnson172014 8Mickey Jackson161965 Ron Darby161987 Ron Darby161988 Khalan Laborn162022
+ Single game1Jackie Hunt51940 Detroit TechAhmad Bradshaw52006 UTEP
Receiving
Receptions
+ Career1Tommy Shuler3222011 2012 2013 2014 2Josh Davis3062001 2002 2003 2004 3Darius Watts2722000 2001 2002 20034Mike Barber2491985 1986 1987 1988 5Tim Martin2211993 1994 1995 1996 6Nate Poole2121997 1998 1999 2000 7Cody Slate1992006 2007 2008 2009 8Corey Gammage178 2019 2020 2021 20229Ricky Carter1761992 1993 1994 1995 10John "Fuzzy" Filliez1681973 1974 1975 1976 Randy Moss1681996 1997
+ Single season1Tommy Shuler1102012 2Mike Barber1061987 Tommy Shuler1062013 4Troy Brown1011992 5Sean Doctor961987 6Tommy Shuler922014 7Darius Watts912001 8Randy Moss901997 9Denero Marriott862002 Josh Davis862004
+ Single game1Tommy Shuler192012 Purdue2Tommy Shuler182014 Northern IllinoisBoca Raton Bowl3David Foye152000 Kent StateDenero Marriott152001 East CarolinaJosh Davis152001 Akron6Mike Barber141987 Western CarolinaTommy Shuler142012 East Carolina8Randy Clarkson131985 OhioRandy Moss131997 Ball StateAntavious Wilson132009 Southern Miss
Receiving yards
+ Career1Mike Barber4,2621985 1986 1987 1988 2Darius Watts4,0312000 2001 2002 2003 3Josh Davis3,8892001 2002 2003 2004 4Tommy Shuler3,5632011 2012 2013 2014 5Randy Moss3,4671996 1997 6Tim Martin2,8861993 1994 1995 1996 7Nate Poole2,7751997 1998 1999 8Troy Brown2,7461991 1992 9Cody Slate2,6192006 2007 2008 2009 10Aaron Dobson2,3982009 2010 2011 2012
+ Single season1Mike Barber1,7571987 2Randy Moss1,7091996 3Troy Brown1,6541992 4Randy Moss1,6471997 5Darius Watts1,4172001 6Sean Doctor1,3721987 7Mike Barber1,3251988 8Brian Dowler1,1971991 9Josh Davis1,1912002 10Mike Barber1,1801986
+ Single game1Randy Moss2881996 DelawareI-AA Playoff game2Josh Davis2642002 Appalachian State3Andre Motley2621990 Chattanooga4Troy Brown2481991 VMITyre Brady2482017 NC State6Denero Marriott2342001 East Carolina7Davonte Allen2322015 Charlotte8Mike Barber2221988 East Tennessee State9Randy Moss2201996 Montana10Randy Moss2161997 Kent State
Receiving touchdowns
+ Career1Randy Moss531996 1997 2Darius Watts472000 2001 2002 2003 3Gator Hoskins282010 2011 2012 2013 4Mike Barber261985 1986 1987 1988 5Tommy Shuler252011 2012 2013 2014 6Troy Brown241991 1992Aaron Dobson242009 2010 2011 2012 8Tim Martin231993 1994 1995 Josh Davis232001 2002 2003 2004 Cody Slate232006 2007 2008 2009
+ Single season1Randy Moss281996 2Randy Moss251997 3Darius Watts182001 4Troy Brown161992 5Gator Hoskins152013 6Brian Dowler131991 James Williams131999 8Keith Baxter121987 Darius Watts122002 Aaron Dobson122011
+ Single game1Randy Moss51997 Ball State2Randy Moss41996 MontanaDenero Marriott42001 ToledoMAC Championship Game
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.
Total offense yards
+ Career1Rakeem Cato14,918 2011 2012 2013 2014 2Chad Pennington13,048 1995 1997 1998 1999 3Byron Leftwich12,084 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 4Michael Payton9,704 1989 1990 1991 1992 5Todd Donnan7,057 1991 1992 1993 1994 6John Gregory6,720 1986 1987 1988 1989 7Bernard Morris6,705 2004 2005 2006 2007 8Carl Fodor6,377 1982 1983 1984 1985 9Tony Petersen6,268 1986 1987 10Chris Parker5,924 1992 1993 1994 1995
+ Single season1Tony Petersen4,737 1987 2Rakeem Cato4,385 2014 3Byron Leftwich4,267 2002 4Rakeem Cato4,232 2012 5Byron Leftwich4,224 2001 6Rakeem Cato4,210 2013 7Chad Pennington3,902 1999 8Michael Payton3,744 1992 9Bernard Morris3,637 200710Grant Wells3,5882021
+ Single game1Byron Leftwich5662001 East Carolina2Chase Litton4972015 Charlotte3Byron Leftwich4952001 Central Michigan
Touchdowns responsible for "Touchdowns responsible for" is the official NCAA term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
+ Career1Rakeem Cato146 2011 2012 2013 2014 2Chad Pennington104 1995 1997 1998 19993Byron Leftwich95 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
+ Single season1Rakeem Cato48 2014 2Rakeem Cato45 2013 3Byron Leftwich40 2001 4Rakeem Cato38 2012 5Tony Petersen36 1987 Eric Kresser36 1996 7Michael Payton35 1992 8Todd Donnan34 1994 9Byron Leftwich33 2002 10Michael Payton28 1991
+ Single game1Rakeem Cato72014 Western Kentucky
Defense
Interceptions
+ Career1Reggie Giles191985 1986 1987 1988 2Larry Coyer131962 1963 1964 Joe Chirico131990 1991 1992 Danny Derricott131997 1998 1999 2000 5Melvin Cunningham121993 1994 1995 1996 Micah Abraham122019 2020 2021 2022 20237Shannon Morrison111991 1992 1993 1994 Rogers Beckett111996 1997 1998 1999 9Glenn Bates101982 1983 Von Woodson101986 1987 1988 1989 Mark Snyder101987 Jayson Grayson101993 1994 1995
+ Single season1Mark Snyder101987 2Reggie Giles81986 3Reggie Giles71987 4Von Woodson61988 Shannon Morrison61994 Danny Derricott61998 Chris Royal62004Micah Abraham62022
+ Single game1Jackie Hunt31941 Wake ForestGeorge Barlow31989 East Tennessee StateJoe Chirico31990 Appalachian State
Tackles
+ Career1Roger Johnson5481991 1992 1993 1994 2Bill Yanossy4711973 1974 1975 1976 3Larry McCloud4511994 1995 1996 1997 4William King4431990 1991 1992 1993 5Mario Harvey4202007 2008 2009 2010 6Donahue Stephenson4201990 1991 1992 1993 7John Grace4141996 1997 1998 1999 8Shannon King4091990 1991 1992 1993 9John Spellacy3921985 1986 1987 1988 10Max Yates3821998 1999 2000 2001
+ Single season1John Spellacy1891987 2William King1781993 3Duran Smith1602002 4Max Yates1592001 5Bill Yanossy1571974
+ Single game1Charles Henry301972 Miami (Ohio)
Sacks
+ Career1B. J. Cohen51.01994 1995 1996 1997 2Billy Lyon30.01993 1994 1995 1996 3Johnathan Goddard27.52001 2002 2003 2004 4Vinny Curry26.52008 2009 2010 2011 5Cecil Fletcher23.01985 1986 1987 John Duncan23.01993 1994 1995 1996 7Mike Green21.52023 20248Albert McClellan20.02005 2006 2007 2008 2009 9Jamus Martin19.52001 2002 2003 2004 10Gary Thompson19.02013 2014 2015 2016 Koby Cumberlander19.0 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Owen Porter19.0 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
+ Single season1Cecil Fletcher17.01987 Mike Green17.02024 3B. J. Cohen16.01995 Johnathan Goddard16.02004 5Tony Bolland14.01987 6B. J. Cohen13.01997
+ Single game1Johnathan Goddard4.02004 Miami (Ohio)
Kicking
Field goals made
+ Career1Dewey Klein541988 1989 1990 1991
+ Single season1Lorcan Quinn2120252Dewey Klein191988 David Merrick191993 Tim Openlander191995 5Nick Smith182015 Justin Rohrwasser182019 7Justin Haig172014