The Southern Miss Golden Eagles football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles 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 Golden Eagles represent the University of Southern Mississippi in the NCAA Division I FBS Sun Belt Conference.
Although Southern Miss began competing in intercollegiate football in 1912,[1] the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in 1947. 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 1947, 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 Golden Eagles have played in 12 bowl games since then, giving players in recent seasons an extra game to accumulate statistics.
These lists are updated through the end of the 2016 season.
Passing
Passing yards
Career
| Rank
|
Player
|
Yards
|
Years
|
| 1 |
Nick Mullens |
11,994[3] |
2013 2014 2015 2016
|
| 2 |
Austin Davis |
10,892 |
2008 2009 2010 2011
|
| 3 |
Brett Favre |
7,695 |
1987 1988 1989 1990
|
| 4 |
Dustin Almond |
7,342 |
2002 2003 2004 2005
|
| 5 |
Jeff Kelly |
7,095 |
1998 1999 2000 2001
|
| 6 |
Jack Abraham |
7,067[4] |
2018 2019 2020
|
| 7 |
Lee Roberts |
6,289 |
1995 1996 1997 1998
|
| 8 |
Heath Graham |
4,053 |
1994 1995 1996
|
| 9 |
Rick Donegan |
3,753 |
1969 1970 1971
|
| 10 |
Tommy Waters |
3,681 |
1991 1992 1993 1994
|
|
Single season
| Rank
|
Player
|
Yards
|
Year
|
| 1 |
Nick Mullens |
4,476[3] |
2015
|
| 2 |
Austin Davis |
3,496 |
2011
|
|
Jack Abraham |
3,496[4] |
2019
|
| 4 |
Nick Mullens |
3,272[3] |
2016
|
| 5 |
Austin Davis |
3,128 |
2008
|
| 6 |
Austin Davis |
3,103 |
2010
|
| 7 |
Braylon Braxton |
3,054[5] |
2025
|
| 8 |
Dustin Almond |
2,860 |
2005
|
| 9 |
Lee Roberts |
2,680 |
1998
|
| 10 |
Jeff Kelly |
2,613 |
2001
|
|
|
Passing touchdowns
Rushing
Rushing yards
Career
| Rank
|
Player
|
Yards
|
Years
|
| 1 |
Damion Fletcher |
5,302 |
2006 2007 2008 2009
|
| 2 |
Ito Smith |
4,536[17] |
2014 2015 2016 2017
|
| 3 |
Frank Gore Jr. |
4,022[18] |
2020 2021 2022 2023
|
| 4 |
Ben Garry |
3,595 |
1974 1975 1976 1977
|
| 5 |
Derrick Nix |
3,584 |
1998 1999 2000 2002
|
| 6 |
Sammy Winder |
3,114 |
1978 1979 1980 1981
|
| 7 |
Sam Dejarnette |
2,908 |
1982 1983 1984
|
| 8 |
Vincent Alexander |
2,648 |
1983 1984 1985 1986
|
| 9 |
Shelton Gandy |
2,504 |
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
|
| 10 |
Reggie Collier |
2,304 |
1979 1980 1981 1982
|
|
Single season
| Rank
|
Player
|
Yards
|
Year
|
| 1 |
Damion Fletcher |
1,586 |
2007
|
| 2 |
Sam Dejarnette |
1,545 |
1982
|
| 3 |
Ito Smith |
1,459[17] |
2016
|
| 4 |
Ito Smith |
1,413[17] |
2017
|
| 5 |
Damion Fletcher |
1,388 |
2006
|
| 6 |
Frank Gore Jr. |
1,382[18] |
2022
|
| 7 |
Damion Fletcher |
1,313 |
2008
|
| 8 |
Ben Garry |
1,236 |
1976
|
| 9 |
Hugh Laurin Pepper |
1,227 |
1952
|
| 10 |
Derrick Nix |
1,194 |
2002
|
|
|
Rushing touchdowns
Receiving
Receptions
Receiving yards
Career
| Rank
|
Player
|
Yards
|
Years
|
| 1 |
Sherrod Gideon |
3,214 |
1996 1997 1998 1999
|
| 2 |
Quez Watkins |
2,404[29] |
2017 2018 2019
|
| 3 |
Todd Pinkston |
2,366 |
1996 1997 1998 1999
|
| 4 |
DeAndre Brown |
2,207 |
2008 2009 2010
|
| 5 |
Jason Brownlee |
2,144[32] |
2020 2021 2022
|
| 6 |
Shawn Nelson |
2,054 |
2005 2006 2007 2008
|
| 7 |
Tim Jones |
2,011[30] |
2017 2018 2019 2020
|
| 8 |
LeRoy Handy |
1,890 |
1999 2000 2001 2002
|
| 9 |
Michael Thomas |
1,793 |
2014 2015
|
| 10 |
Marvin Young |
1,717 |
2001 2002 2003 2004
|
|
|
|
Receiving touchdowns
Total offense
Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[46]
Total offense yards
Career
| Rank
|
Player
|
Yards
|
Years
|
| 1 |
Austin Davis |
12,267 |
2008 2009 2010 2011
|
| 2 |
Nick Mullens |
11,779[3] |
2013 2014 2015 2016
|
| 3 |
Brett Favre |
7,606 |
1987 1988 1989 1990
|
| 4 |
Dustin Almond |
7,602 |
2002 2003 2004 2005
|
| 5 |
Jeff Kelly |
7,113 |
1998 1999 2000 2001
|
| 6 |
Jack Abraham |
7,092[4] |
2018 2019 2020
|
| 7 |
Lee Roberts |
5,777 |
1995 1996 1997 1998
|
| 8 |
Reggie Collier |
5,966 |
1979 1980 1981 1982
|
| 9 |
Damion Fletcher |
5,305 |
2006 2007 2008 2009
|
| 10 |
Frank Gore Jr. |
4,402[18] |
2020 2021 2022 2023
|
|
Single season
| Rank
|
Player
|
Yards
|
Year
|
| 1 |
Nick Mullens |
4,384[3] |
2015
|
| 2 |
Austin Davis |
3,848 |
2011
|
| 3 |
Austin Davis |
3,636 |
2008
|
| 4 |
Jack Abraham |
3,573[4] |
2019
|
| 5 |
Austin Davis |
3,555 |
2010
|
| 6 |
Braylon Braxton |
3,269[5] |
2025
|
| 7 |
Nick Mullens |
3,213[3] |
2016
|
| 8 |
Dustin Almond |
2,763 |
2005
|
| 9 |
Jeff Kelly |
2,645 |
2001
|
| 10 |
Brett Favre |
2,563 |
1989
|
|
|
Total touchdowns
Defense
Note: The 2014 Southern Miss Football Media Guide does not give a full top 10 for defensive statistics.[1]
Interceptions
|
|
|
Single game
| Rank
|
Player
|
Ints
|
Year
|
Opponent
|
| 1 |
Larry Ussery |
4 |
1967 |
Louisiana Tech
|
| 2 |
George Sekul |
3 |
1957 |
Houston
|
|
David Odom |
3 |
1979 |
Louisville
|
|
Labarion Rankins |
3 |
1992 |
East Carolina
|
|
Etric Pruitt |
3 |
2002 |
Army
|
|
Josh Moten |
3[48] |
2025 |
Arkansas State
|
|
Tackles
Sacks
Kicking
Field goals made
Field goal percentage
References
- ^ a b c "2016 Southern Miss Golden Eagles Football Almanac" (PDF). SouthernMiss.com. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- ^ "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. AP. August 28, 2002. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Nick Mullens". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Jack Abraham". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Braylon Braxton". ESPN.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Mullens, Southern Miss shatter records and Rice in 44-28 win". ESPN.com. October 1, 2016.
- ^ a b "Southern Mississippi vs. Troy Box Score". ESPN.com. September 14, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Rice 45, Southern Miss. 40". ESPN.com. October 18, 2008. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014.
- ^ a b "Nebraska holds off Southern Miss in 4th quarter to win 36-28". ESPN.com. September 27, 2015.
- ^ a b "Middle Tennessee beats Southern Miss 37-31". ESPN.com. October 4, 2014.
- ^ a b "North Texas vs. Southern Mississippi Box Score". ESPN. October 12, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
- ^ "Southern Miss vs. South Alabama Box Score". ESPN.com. November 22, 2025. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
- ^ a b "Southern Miss vs. Louisiana Tech Box Score". ESPN.com. September 20, 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Southern Miss 52, Central Florida 31". ESPN.com. October 15, 2005. Archived from the original on February 7, 2015.
- ^ a b "Southern Miss wins to avoid second straight 0-12 year". ESPN.com. November 30, 2013.
- ^ "Mullens' 5 TD passes lead Southern Miss over Rice 65-10". ESPN.com. November 14, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f "Ito Smith". ESPN.com.
- ^ a b c d "Frank Gore Jr". ESPN.com.
- ^ a b "Rice vs. Southern Miss Box Score". ESPN.com. December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
- ^ "UTEP 40, Southern Miss. 37, OT". ESPN.com. October 4, 2008. Archived from the original on February 7, 2015.
- ^ a b "Richard runs Southern Miss to 56-50 win over Texas State". ESPN.com. September 19, 2015.
- ^ "Southern Miss. 51, Louisiana-Lafayette 21". ESPN.com. August 30, 2008. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014.
- ^ "Southern Miss. 56, UTEP 30". ESPN.com. November 17, 2007. Archived from the original on February 7, 2015.
- ^ "Jalen Richard". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
- ^ a b "Southern Miss. 70, UAB 14". ESPN.com. November 1, 2008. Archived from the original on February 7, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Southern Miss. 59, Houston 41". ESPN.com. November 20, 2010. Archived from the original on February 7, 2015.
- ^ "Southern Mississippi rallies to beat Old Dominion 56-31". ESPN.com. November 21, 2015.
- ^ "Southern Mississippi vs. Liberty Box Score". ESPN.com. October 24, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Quez Watkins". ESPN.com.
- ^ a b c d "Tim Jones". ESPN.com.
- ^ a b c "Casey Martin". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Jason Brownlee". ESPN.com.
- ^ "D. J. Thompson". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Michael Thomas". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
- ^ a b "Allenzae Staggers". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
- ^ "Todd gives Auburn much needed lift against Southern Miss". ESPN.com. September 6, 2008. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013.
- ^ a b "Texas State tops Southern Mississippi 22-15". ESPN.com. August 31, 2013.
- ^ "Mullens throws for 3 TDs; Southern Miss beats LaTech 39-24". ESPN.com. November 25, 2016.
- ^ "Southern Miss vs. Troy Box Score". ESPN.com. October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ "Southern Miss top UL Lafayette 28-21 in New Orleans Bowl". ESPN.com. December 17, 2016.
- ^ "Southern Mississippi vs. Troy". ESPN.com. September 14, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- ^ "Gaskin leads Washington past Southern Miss in Dallas". ESPN.com. December 26, 2015.
- ^ Heart of Dallas Bowl
- ^ a b "Keenum's last-minute TD helps Houston escape with win". ESPN.com. October 31, 2009. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013.
- ^ "Southern Miss trounces North Texas 49-14". ESPN.com. October 3, 2015.
- ^ "Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Record Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 1, 2007. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
- ^ "UTEP 34, Southern Miss. 33". ESPN.com. November 17, 2012.
- ^ "Southern Miss vs. Arkansas State Box Score". ESPN.com. November 8, 2025. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
- ^ "Smith, nation's No. 2 rusher, becomes UCF's career rushing leader". ESPN.com. October 28, 2007. Archived from the original on February 7, 2015.
- ^ "Dominic Quewon". ESPN.com.
- ^ "UAB 27, Southern Miss. 19". ESPN.com. November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Southern Miss vs. App State Box Score". ESPN.com. September 13, 2025. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Parker Shaunfield". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Stephen Brauchle". ESPN.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Andrew Stein". ESPN.com.
- ^ "Offensive quartet leads Southern Miss over UTSA 32-10". ESPN.com. October 17, 2015.
- ^ "Alcorn State vs. Southern Miss Box Score". ESPN.com. September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
- ^ "Stephen Brauchle". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
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National championship seasons in bold |