UTEP Miners football statistical leaders

The UTEP Miners football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the UTEP Miners football program in various categories,[1] including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Miners represent the University of Texas at El Paso in the NCAA's Conference USA.

Although UTEP began competing in intercollegiate football in 1914,[1] 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.[2] 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 2016 season.

Passing

Passing yards

Career
Rk Player Yards Years
1 Trevor Vittatoe 12,439 2007 2008 2009 2010
2 Jordan Palmer 11,084 2003 2004 2005 2006
3 Gavin Hardison 7,963[3] 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
4 Billy Stevens 6,485 1965 1966 1967
5 Sammy Garza 6,130 1983 1984 1985 1986
6 Rocky Perez 5,108 1997 1998 1999 2000
7 Pat Hegarty 4,593 1987 1988
8 John Rayborn 4,194 1995 1997 1998
9 Mike Perez 4,144 1990 1991 1992 1993
10 Bill Craigo 3,807 1969 1970 1971
Single season
Rk Player Yards Year
1 Jordan Palmer 3,595 2006
2 Jordan Palmer 3,503 2005
3 Trevor Vittatoe 3,308 2009
4 Trevor Vittatoe 3,274 2008
5 Gavin Hardison 3,218[3] 2021
6 Sammy Garza 3,140 1986
7 Trevor Vittatoe 3,101 2007
8 Billy Stevens 3,032 1965
9 Jordan Palmer 2,818 2004
10 Trevor Vittatoe 2,756 2010
Single game
Rk Player Yards Year Opponent
1 Trevor Vittatoe 517 2009 Marshall
2 Bill Craigo 507 1970 Colorado State
3 Billy Stevens 500 1965 North Texas
4 Sammy Garza 458 1986 Northern Michigan
5 Jordan Palmer 455 2006 UAB
6 Jordan Palmer 431 2005 Memphis
7 Brooks Dawson 426 1967 New Mexico State
8 Trevor Vittatoe 419 2009 UAB
9 Jordan Palmer 414 2006 New Mexico State
10 Trevor Vittatoe 410 2008 SMU

Passing touchdowns

Career
Rk Player TDs Years
1 Trevor Vittatoe 97 2007 2008 2009 2010
2 Jordan Palmer 88 2003 2004 2005 2006
3 Billy Stevens 51 1965 1966 1967
4 Gavin Hardison 40[3] 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
5 Sammy Garza 35 1983 1984 1985 1986
6 Brooks Dawson 34 1966 1967 1968
7 Rocky Perez 33 1997 1998 1999 2000
8 John Rayborn 32 1995 1997 1998
9 Pat Hegarty 30 1987 1988
10 John Furman 24 1958 1959 1960 1961
Nick Lamaison 24 2011 2012
Single season
Rk Player TDs Year
1 Trevor Vittatoe 33 2008
2 Jordan Palmer 29 2005
3 Rocky Perez 26 2000
Jordan Palmer 26 2004
Jordan Palmer 26 2006
6 Trevor Vittatoe 25 2007
7 Trevor Vittatoe 22 2010
8 Billy Stevens 21 1965
Sammy Garza 21 1986
10 Billy Stevens 19 1966
Single game
Rk Player TDs Year Opponent
1 Sammy Garza 7 1986 Northern Michigan
2 Billy Stevens 6 1967 BYU
Brooks Dawson 6 1967 New Mexico
4 Bob Laraba 5 1957 Arizona
Billy Stevens 5 1965 New Mexico
Billy Stevens 5 1966 Texas-Arlington
Howard Gasser 5 1989 Utah
John Rayborn 5 1995 Air Force
Jordan Palmer 5 2006 UAB
Trevor Vittatoe 5 2007 Rice
Trevor Vittatoe 5 2008 Louisiana-Lafayette
Trevor Vittatoe 5 2009 Marshall
Trevor Vittatoe 5 2010 New Mexico State
Jameill Showers 5[4] 2013 Colorado State

Rushing

Rushing yards

Career
Rk Player Yards Years
1 Aaron Jones 4,114[5] 2013 2014 2015 2016
2 John Harvey 3,576 1985 1986 1987 1988
3 Howard Jackson 3,466 2001 2002 2003 2004
4 Robert Elliott 2,834 1974 1975 1976 1977
5 Toraino Singleton 2,635 1994 1995
6 Marcus Thomas 2,615 2004 2005 2006 2007
7 Deion Hankins 2,604[6] 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
8 Paul Smith 2,539 1996 1997 1998 1999
9 Donald Buckram 2,417 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
10 Pug Gabrel 2,321 1947 1948 1949 1950
Single season
Rk Player Yards Year
1 Aaron Jones 1,773[5] 2016
2 Donald Buckram 1,594 2009
3 Fred Wendt 1,546 1948
4 Toraino Singleton 1,358 1995
5 Aaron Jones 1,321 2014
6 Toraino Singleton 1,277 1994
7 Paul Smith 1,258 1999
8 Howard Jackson 1,187 2004
9 John Harvey 1,170 1987
10 Marcus Thomas 1,166 2007
Single game
Rk Player Yards Year Opponent
1 Fred Wendt 326 1948 New Mexico State
2 Aaron Jones 301[7] 2016 North Texas
3 Donald Buckram 262 2009 Houston
4 Aaron Jones 249[8] 2016 New Mexico State
5 Donald Buckram 241 2009 SMU
6 Joe Banyard 240[9] 2011 Houston
7 Toraino Singleton 237 1995 Valdosta State
8 Aaron Jones 237[10] 2014 New Mexico
9 Donald Buckram 234 2009 Tulane
10 John Harvey 232 1985 Colorado State

Rushing touchdowns

Career
Rk Player TDs Years
1 John Harvey 42 1985 1986 1987 1988
2 Aaron Jones 33[5] 2013 2014 2015 2016
3 Pug Gabrel 27 1947 1948 1949 1950
4 Marcus Thomas 26 2004 2005 2006 2007
5 Howard Jackson 25 2001 2002 2003 2004
6 Fred Wendt 23 1942 1946 1947 1948
Deion Hankins 23[6] 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
8 Owen Price 21 1938 1940 1941
Donald Buckram 21 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
10 Ken Heineman 19 1937 1938 1939 1940
Clovis Riley 19 1951 1952 1953
Toraino Singleton 19 1994 1995
Single season
Rk Player TDs Year
1 Fred Wendt 20 1948
2 Donald Buckram 18 2009
3 Aaron Jones 17[5] 2016
4 John Harvey 16 1987
Marcus Thomas 16 2007
6 Paul Smith 12 1999
Treyvon Hughes 12[11] 2019
8 Owen Price 11 1941
Pug Gabrel 11 1949
John Harvey 11 1986
Toraino Singleton 11 1994
Aaron Jones 11 2014
Single game
Rk Player TDs Year Opponent
1 Fred Wendt 6 1948 New Mexico State
2 Fred Wendt 4 1948 BYU
Jack Burris 4 1952 Hawaii
John Harvey 4 1988 Weber State
Howard Jackson 4 2002 Sacramento State
Donald Buckram 4 2009 Houston
Aaron Jones 4[7] 2016 North Texas

Receiving

Receptions

Career
Rk Player Rec Years
1 Lee Mays 200 1998 1999 2000 2001
2 Johnnie Lee Higgins 190 2003 2004 2005 2006
3 Brian Natkin 172 1997 1998 1999 2000
4 Jeff Moturi 170 2006 2007 2008 2009
5 Chuck Hughes 162 1964 1965 1966
6 Reggie Barrett 153 1987 1988 1989 1990
7 Kris Adams 144 2007 2008 2009 2010
8 Jacob Cowing 141[12] 2019 2020 2021
9 Ed Puishes 138 1969 1970 1971
10 Chris Francies 128 2002 2003 2004 2005
Justin Garrett 128[13] 2019 2020 2021
Single season
Rk Player Rec Year
1 Johnnie Lee Higgins 82 2006
2 Chuck Hughes 80 1965
3 Tyrin Smith 71[14] 2022
4 Lee Mays 70 2000
5 Jacob Cowing 69[12] 2021
6 Jeff Moturi 65 2007
7 Brian Natkin 64 2000
8 Lee Mays 60 1999
9 Brian Natkin 59 1999
10 Reggie Barrett 58 1989
Single game
Rk Player Rec Year Opponent
1 Chuck Hughes 17 1965 Arizona State
2 Johnnie Lee Higgins 13 2006 Texas Tech
3 Chuck Hughes 12 1965 Colorado State
Ed Puishes 12 1970 Trinity (Texas)
Greg Taylor 12 1972 Lamar
Harold Johnson 12 1978 San Diego State
Ricki Lopez 12 1990 Air Force
Jeff Moturi 12 2007 East Carolina

Receiving yards

Career
Rk Player Yards Years
1 Johnnie Lee Higgins 3,218 2003 2004 2005 2006
2 Lee Mays 2,908 1998 1999 2000 2001
3 Chuck Hughes 2,882 1964 1965 1966
4 Kris Adams 2,657 2007 2008 2009 2010
5 Jacob Cowing 2,595[12] 2019 2020 2021
6 Reggie Barrett 2,558 1987 1988 1989 1990
7 Jeff Moturi 2,527 2006 2007 2008 2009
8 Ed Puishes 2,234 1969 1970 1971
9 Bob Wallace 2,161 1965 1966 1967
10 Chris Francies 2,022 2002 2003 2004 2005
Single season
Rk Player Yards Year
1 Chuck Hughes 1,519 1965
2 Jacob Cowing 1,354[12] 2021
3 Johnnie Lee Higgins 1,319 2006
4 Lee Mays 1,098 2000
5 Kris Adams 1,070 2010
6 Reggie Barrett 1,042 1989
7 Tyrin Smith 1,039[14] 2022
8 Kelly Akharaiyi 1,033[15] 2023
9 Ed Puishes 1,000 1970
10 Jeff Moturi 974 2009
Single game
Rk Player Yards Year Opponent
1 Chuck Hughes 349 1965 North Texas
2 Chuck Hughes 254 1965 Arizona State
3 Volley Murphy 234 1967 New Mexico
4 Bob Wallace 233 1967 New Mexico State
5 Johnnie Lee Higgins 223 2006 New Mexico State
Kelly Akharaiyi 223[16] 2023 Florida International
7 Jordan Leslie 218[17] 2012 Tulsa
8 Arnie Adkison 200 1987 Utah
9 Ed Puishes 198 1970 Colorado State
10 Greg Taylor 197 1972 Lamar

Receiving touchdowns

Career
Rk Player TDs Years
1 Johnnie Lee Higgins 32 2003 2004 2005 2006
2 Kris Adams 30 2007 2008 2009 2010
3 Lee Mays 28 1998 1999 2000 2001
4 Jeff Moturi 26 2006 2007 2008 2009
5 Chuck Hughes 19 1964 1965 1966
Bob Wallace 19 1965 1966 1967
Volley Murphy 19 1967 1968
Reggie Barrett 19 1987 1988 1989 1990
9 Jordan Leslie 15 2011 2012 2013
10 David Karns 14 1966 1967 1968
Cedric Johnson 14 1993 1994 1995 1996
Single season
Rk Player TDs Year
1 Lee Mays 15 2000
2 Kris Adams 14 2008
Kris Adams 14 2010
4 Johnnie Lee Higgins 13 2006
Jeff Moturi 13 2007
6 Chuck Hughes 12 1965
Volley Murphy 12 1967
8 David Karns 10 1966
Reggie Barrett 10 1989
Johnnie Lee Higgins 10 2004
Single game
Rk Player TDs Year Opponent
1 Volley Murphy 4 1967 BYU

Total offense

Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[18]

Total offense yards

Career
Rk Player Yards Years
1 Trevor Vittatoe 12,291 2007 2008 2009 2010
2 Jordan Palmer 11,041 2003 2004 2005 2006
3 Gavin Hardison 7,948[3] 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
4 Sammy Garza 6,056 1983 1984 1985 1986
5 Billy Stevens 5,696 1965 1966 1967
6 Rocky Perez 5,394 1997 1998 1999 2000
7 Ken Heineman 4,874 1937 1938 1939 1940
8 Shawn Gray 4,822 1991 1992 1993 1994
9 Pat Hegarty 4,522 1987 1988
10 John Rayborn 4,494 1995 1997 1998
Single season
Rk Player Yards Year
1 Jordan Palmer 3,509 2006
2 Jordan Palmer 3,453 2005
3 Trevor Vittatoe 3,243 2008
4 Trevor Vittatoe 3,225 2009
5 Gavin Hardison 3,173[3] 2021
6 Sammy Garza 3,002 1986
7 Trevor Vittatoe 2,969 2007
8 Trevor Vittatoe 2,854 2010
9 Jordan Palmer 2,801 2004
10 Rocky Perez 2,743 2000
Single game
Rk Player Yards Year Opponent
1 Trevor Vittatoe 517 2009 Marshall
2 Bill Craigo 485 1970 Colorado State
3 Billy Stevens 483 1965 North Texas
4 Sammy Garza 474 1986 Northern Michigan
5 Kai Locksley 461 2019 New Mexico State
6 Jordan Palmer 425 2005 Memphis
7 Brooks Dawson 424 1967 New Mexico State
8 Sammy Garza 420 1986 Utah
9 Jordan Palmer 416 2006 New Mexico State
10 Trevor Vittatoe 412 2008 SMU

Total touchdowns

Career
Rk Player TDs Years
1 Trevor Vittatoe 98 2007 2008 2009 2010
2 Jordan Palmer 95 2003 2004 2005 2006
3 Billy Stevens 56 1965 1966 1967
4 Sammy Garza 47 1983 1984 1985 1986
5 Rocky Perez 46 1997 1998 1999 2000
6 Gavin Hardison 43[3] 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
7 John Harvey 42 1985 1986 1987 1988
8 John Rayborn 40 1995 1997 1998
9 Brooks Dawson 37 1966 1967 1968
10 Pat Hegarty 34 1987 1988
Aaron Jones 34[5] 2013 2014 2015 2016
Single season
Rk Player TDs Year
1 Trevor Vittatoe 34 2008
2 Rocky Perez 32 2000
3 Jordan Palmer 31 2005
4 Jordan Palmer 27 2004
5 Jordan Palmer 27 2006
6 Trevor Vittatoe 25 2007
7 Sammy Garza 24 1986
8 Billy Stevens 22 1965
9 Trevor Vittatoe 22 2010
10 Billy Stevens 21 1966

Defense

Interceptions

Career
Rk Player Ints Years
1 Charlie West 19 1965 1966 1967
2 Quintin Demps 17 2004 2005 2006 2007
3 D. J. Walker 16 1999 2000 2001 2002
4 Terry Walker 14 1985 1986 1987 1988
5 Ken Heineman 13 1937 1938 1939
Owen Price 13 1938 1940 1941
7 Ron Bostwick 13 1962 1963 1964 1965
8 Grady Cavness 11 1966 1967 1968
Single season
Rk Player Ints Year
1 Charlie West 11 1966
2 Ken Heineman 8 1939
Owen Price 8 1941
4 Ron Bostwick 7 1965
Eddie Forkerway 7 1978
Quintin Demps 7 2006
7 Del Williams 6 1960
Bernard Chapman 6 1971
Single game
Rk Player Ints Year Opponent
1 Charlie West 4 1966 West Texas State
2 Ken Heineman 3 1939 Arizona
Mike Maros 3 1939 Wichita State
Gerald Campbell 3 1950 New Mexico
Ron Bostwick 3 1965 West Texas State
Danny Taylor 3 1985 BYU
Ken Sale 3 1989 San Diego State

Tackles

Career
Rk Player Tackles Years
1 Barron Wortham 566 1990 1991 1992 1993
2 Doug Morgan 523 1986 1987 1988 1989
3 Tony Perea 459 1970 1971 1972
4 Raymond Morris 458 1980 1981 1982 1983
5 Robert Rodriguez 443 2001 2002 2003 2004
6 Micheal Comer 437 1993 1994 1995 1996
7 Fred Carr 410 1965 1966 1967
8 Hal Barnett 407 1974 1975 1976
9 Tyrice Knight 392[19] 2020 2021 2022 2023
10 Pete Shufelt 385 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
Single season
Rk Player Tackles Year
1 Tony Perea 192 1971
2 Hal Barnett 185 1975
3 Don Croft 156 1971
4 Micheal Comer 152 1995
5 Barron Wortham 151 1993
6 Ken Sale 150 1989
7 Seth Joyner 149 1985
8 Fred Carr 148 1967
Fred Williams 148 1986
Barron Wortham 148 1991

Sacks

Career
Rk Player Sacks Years
1 Praise Amaewhule 22.5[20] 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
2 Gonzalo Floyd 20.0 1990 1991 1993
3 Chris Mineo 16.5 2002 2003 2004 2005
4 Herman Whiting 16.0 1979 1980 1981 1982
Jadrian Taylor 16.0 2020 2021 2022
6 Melvin Besses 15.0 1979 1980 1981
7 Brian Young 14.5 1995 1997 1998 1999
8 Alex Obomese 14.0 2003 2004 2005 2006
9 Thomas Howard 13.0 2002 2003 2004 2005
Justin Hanel 13.0 2003 2004 2005 2006
Single season
Rk Player Sacks Year
1 Melvin Besses 11.0 1979
2 Menson Holloway 10.5 2000
3 Ricky Massey 10.0 1991
4 Jadrian Taylor 9.5 2022
5 Brian Young 8.0 1999
Thomas Howard 8.0 2004
Chris Mineo 8.0 2004
Cal Wallerstedt 8.0[21] 2022
9 Maurice Westmoreland 7.5[22] 2023
10 Elroy Stoglin 7.0 1976
Gonzalo Floyd 7.0 1990
Gonzalo Floyd 7.0 1991
Pat Cannon 7.0 1991
Praise Amaewhule 7.0[20] 2020

Kicking

Field goals made

Career
Rk Player FGs Years
1 Gavin Baechle 58[23] 2019 2020 2021 2022
2 Reagan Schneider 50 2003 2004 2005 2006
3 Ricky Bishop 42 1997 1998 1999 2000
4 Jay Mattox 40[24] 2013 2014 2015 2016
5 Hugo Castellanos 38 1984 1985 1986 1987
6 Jose Martinez 37 2007 2008
7 Scott Wedell 35 1980 1981 1982 1983
Marshall Young 35 1992 1993 1994 1995
9 Chris Jacke 30 1984 1985 1986 1988
10 Miguel Alvarez 28 1975 1976 1977
Single season
Rk Player FGs Year
1 Chris Jacke 25 1988
2 Gavin Baechle 22[23] 2022
3 Jose Martinez 20 2008
4 Reagan Schneider 18 2005
Gavin Baechle 18[23] 2021
5 Jose Martinez 17 2007
6 Reagan Schneider 16 2006
7 Scott Wedell 15 1983
Ricky Bishop 15 1998
Reagan Schneider 15 2004
Jay Mattox 15 2015
Single game
Rk Player FGs Year Opponent
1 Reagan Schneider 5 2005 Houston
Jose Martinez 5 2007 East Carolina
Jose Martinez 5 2008 SMU

Field goal percentage

Career
Rk Player FG% Years
1 Chris Jacke 85.7% 1984 1985 1986 1988
2 Gavin Baechle 79.5%[23] 2019 2020 2021 2022
3 Jose Martinez 78.7% 2007 2008
4 Reagan Schneider 74.6% 2003 2004 2005 2006
5 Hugo Castellanos 74.5% 1984 1985 1986 1987
6 Ricky Bishop 72.4% 1997 1998 1999 2000
7 Buzz Flabiano 71.4%[25] 2023
8 Jay Mattox 70.2%[24] 2013 2014 2015 2016
9 Marshall Young 68.6% 1992 1993 1994 1995
10 Scott Wedell 62.5% 1980 1981 1982 1983
Single season
Rk Player FG% Year
1 Chris Jacke 92.6% 1988
2 Gavin Baechle 91.7%[23] 2022
3 Jose Martinez 85.0% 2007
4 Marshall Young 84.6% 1993
5 Jay Mattox 81.3% 2014
Gavin Baechle 81.3%[23] 2019
7 Reagan Schneider 80.0% 2006
8 Jay Mattox 78.9% 2015
9 Hugo Castellanos 78.6% 1984
10 Reagan Schneider 78.3% 2005

References

  1. ^ a b "2016 UTEP Miners Media Guide" (PDF). UTEPAthletics.com. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  2. ^ "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. AP. 2002-08-28. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Gavin Hardison". ESPN.com.
  4. ^ "Colorado State pulls away from UTEP, 59-42". ESPN.com. 2013-09-28.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Aaron Jones". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  6. ^ a b "Deion Hankins". ESPN.com.
  7. ^ a b "Jones runs for 4 TDs in UTEP's 52-24 win over North Texas". ESPN.com. 2016-11-26.
  8. ^ "UTEP beats New Mexico State 38-22". ESPN.com. 2016-09-03.
  9. ^ "Houston 49, UTEP 42". ESPN.com. 2011-09-29.
  10. ^ "Jones scores 3 TDs; UTEP beats New Mexico 31-24". ESPN.com. 2014-08-30.
  11. ^ "Treyvon Hughes". ESPN.com.
  12. ^ a b c d "Jacob Cowing". ESPN.com.
  13. ^ "Justin Garrett". ESPN.com.
  14. ^ a b "Tyrin Smith". ESPN.com.
  15. ^ "Kelly Akharaiyi". ESPN.com.
  16. ^ "UTEP vs. FIU Box Score". ESPN.com. October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  17. ^ "Ja'Terian Douglas helps lead Tulsa to sixth straight win". ESPN.com. 2012-10-11.
  18. ^ "Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Record Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-12-01. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
  19. ^ "Tyrice Knight". ESPN.com.
  20. ^ a b "Praise Amaewhule". ESPN.com.
  21. ^ "Cal Wallerstedt". ESPN.com.
  22. ^ "Maurice Westmoreland". ESPN.com.
  23. ^ a b c d e f "Gavin Baechle". ESPN.com.
  24. ^ a b "Jay Mattox". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  25. ^ "Buzz Flabiano". ESPN.com.
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