Drew Brees  holds Purdue's career passing and total offense records.The Purdue Boilermakers football statistical leaders  are individual statistical leaders of the Purdue Boilermakers football  program in various categories,[ 1] [ 2] passing , rushing , receiving , total offense , defensive stats, and kicking . Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Boilermakers represent Purdue University  in the NCAA 's Big Ten Conference .
Although Purdue began competing in intercollegiate football in 1887,[ 1] 
These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
Since 1946, 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.[ 3] Due to COVID-19  disruptions, the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season  would not be counted against any football player's athletic eligibility, giving players active in that season five years of eligibility instead of the standard four. These lists are updated through Purdue's game against Michigan St on November 22, 2024 .
Passing 
Passing yards 
Career
 
Rank
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Years
  
1 
Drew Brees 11,792 
1997  1998  1999  2000 
 
2 
Curtis Painter 11,163 
2005  2006  2007  2008 
 
3 
Mark Herrmann 9,946 
1977  1978  1979  1980 
 
4 
David Blough 9,734 
2015  2016  2017  2018 
 
5 
Kyle Orton 9,337 
2001  2002  2003  2004 
 
6 
Aidan O'Connell 9,219[ 4]  
2019  2020  2021  2022 
 
7 
Scott Campbell 7,636 
1980  1981  1982  1983 
 
8 
Jim Everett 7,411 
1981  1982  1983  1984  1985 
 
9 
Eric Hunter 
5,598 
1989  1990  1991  1992 
 
10 
Mike Phipps 5,423 
1967  1968  1969 
 
 
Single season
 
Rank
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Year
  
1 
Curtis Painter 3,985 
2006 
 
2 
Drew Brees 3,983 
1998 
 
3 
Drew Brees 3,909 
1999 
 
4 
Curtis Painter 3,846 
2007 
 
5 
Aidan O'Connell 3,712[ 4]  
2021 
 
6 
David Blough 3,705 
2018 
 
7 
Drew Brees 3,668 
2000 
 
8 
Jim Everett 3,651 
1985 
 
9 
Aidan O'Connell 3,490 
2022 
 
10 
David Blough 3,352 
2016 
 
 
 
  
 
Passing touchdowns 
Rushing 
Rushing yards 
Career
 
Rank
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Years
  
1 
Mike Alstott 3,635 
1992  1993  1994  1995 
 
2 
Kory Sheets 3,341 
2005  2006  2007  2008 
 
3 
Otis Armstrong 3,315 
1970  1971  1972 
 
4 
Scott Dierking 2,863 
1973  1974  1975  1976 
 
5 
Montrell Lowe 
2,648 
1999  2000  2001  2002 
 
6 
Markell Jones 2,594 
2015  2016  2017  2018 
 
7 
Edwin Watson 
2,520 
1994  1995  1996  1997 
 
8 
Harry Szulborski 
2,478 
1946  1947  1948  1949 
 
9 
Devin Mockobee 2,466 
2022  2023  2024 
 
10 
Corey Rogers 
2,436 
1991  1993  1994  1995 
 
 
 
 
  
 
Rushing touchdowns 
Receiving 
Receptions 
Receiving yards 
Career
 
Rank
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Years
  
1 
John Standeford 3,788 
2000  2001  2002  2003 
 
2 
Taylor Stubblefield 3,629 
2001  2002  2003  2004 
 
3 
Dorien Bryant 3,548 
2004  2005  2006  2007 
 
4 
Brian Alford 3,029 
1994  1995  1996  1997 
 
5 
David Bell 2,946[ 17]  
2019  2020  2021 
 
6 
Vinny Sutherland 2,370 
1997  1998  1999  2000 
 
7 
Greg Orton 2,356 
2005  2006  2007  2008 
 
8 
DeAngelo Yancey 2,344 
2013  2014  2015  2016 
 
9 
Dave Young 2,316 
1977  1978  1979  1980 
 
10 
Steve Griffin 2,234 
1982  1983  1984  1985 
 
 
Single season
 
Rank
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Year
  
1 
Charlie Jones 1,361 
2022 
 
2 
John Standeford 1,307 
2002 
 
3 
David Bell 1,286[ 17]  
2021 
 
4 
Rondale Moore 1,258 
2018 
 
5 
Chris Daniels 
1,236 
1999 
 
6 
Brian Alford 1,228 
1997 
 
7 
John Standeford 1,150 
2003 
 
8 
Keith Smith 
1,100 
2009 
 
9 
Rodney Carter 1,099 
1985 
 
10 
Taylor Stubblefield 1,095 
2004 
 
 
 
  
 
Receiving touchdowns 
 
 
Single game
 
Rank
 
Player
 
TDs
 
Year
 
Opponent
  
1 
Reggie Arnold 
4 
1977 Iowa
  
2 
16 times by 14 players 
3 
Most recent: Charlie Jones , 2022  vs. Indiana State[ 25]  
 
  
 
Total offense 
Total offense  is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[ 26] 
Total offense yards 
Career
 
Rank
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Years
  
1 
Drew Brees 12,692 1997  1998  1999  2000 
 
2 
Curtis Painter 11,511 2005  2006  2007  2008 
 
3 
David Blough 9,996 2015  2016  2017  2018 
 
4 
Kyle Orton 9,653 2001  2002  2003  2004 
 
5 
Mark Herrmann 9,134 1977  1978  1979  1980 
 
6 
Aidan O'Connell 8,945 [ 4] 2019  2020  2021  2022 
 
7 
Scott Campbell 7,526 1980  1981  1982  1983 
 
8 
Jim Everett 7,284 1981  1982  1983  1984  1985 
 
9 
Eric Hunter 
5,984 1989  1990  1991  1992 
 
10 
Mike Phipps 5,883 1967  1968  1969 
 
 
Single season
 
Rank
 
Player
 
Yards
 
Year
  
1 
Drew Brees 4,189 2000 
 
2 
Drew Brees 4,176 1998 
 
3 
Curtis Painter 4,092 2006 
 
4 
Drew Brees 4,086 1999 
 
5 
Curtis Painter 3,826 2007 
 
6 
David Blough 3,757 2018 
 
7 
Aidan O'Connell 3,592 [ 4] 2021 
 
8 
Jim Everett 3,589 1985 
 
9 
Billy Dicken 3,487 1997 
 
10 
Aidan O'Connell 3,409 [ 4] 2022 
 
 
 
  
 
Touchdowns responsible for 
In official NCAA records, "touchdowns responsible for" includes rushing and passing touchdowns, but not receptions or returns—the same statistical categories used to measure total offense.
Defense 
Interceptions 
Tackles 
 
 
Single game
 
Rank
 
Player
 
Tackles
 
Year
 
Opponent
  
1 
Chuck Kyle 27 
1968 Indiana
  
2 
Darrin Trieb 
26 
1990 Michigan
  
3 
Rick Schavietello 
23 
1971 Washington
  
Fred Arrington 
23 
1977 Indiana
  
James Looney 
23 
1980 Michigan
  
 
  
 
Sacks 
Kicking 
Field goals made 
Field goal percentage 
References 
^ a b   "2019 Purdue Football Records Book"  (PDF) . Purdue Boilermakers. Retrieved September 7,  2019 .^ "2015 Purdue Boilermakers Media Guide"  (PDF) . PurdueSports.com . Retrieved November 7,  2015 .^ "NCAA changes policy on football stats" . ESPN.com . AP. August 28, 2002. Retrieved September 11,  2014 .^ a b c d e f g h   "Aidan O'Connell" . ESPN.com .^ a b   "McCann kicks FG as time expires; Missouri beats Purdue 40-37" . ESPN.com . September 16, 2018.^ a b   "Purdue 45, Cent. Michigan 22" . ESPN.com . September 15, 2007. Archived from the original  on December 12, 2024.^ a b c   "Michigan State vs. Purdue Box Score" . ESPN.com . November 6, 2021. Retrieved November 6,  2021 .^ a b c d e   "Tennessee vs. Purdue Box Score" . ESPN.com . December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 30,  2021 .^ a b c d e f   "Orton's 530 total yards a school record" . ESPN.com . November 20, 2004. Archived from the original  on December 12, 2024.^ a b c d e   "Box Score: Vanderbilt vs. Purdue" . ESPN.com . September 7, 2019. Retrieved September 7,  2019 .^ a b   "Purdue 31, E. Illinois 3" . ESPN.com . September 8, 2007.^ a b   "Orton tosses 5 TDs for dominating Boilermakers" . ESPN.com . September 11, 2004. Archived from the original  on December 12, 2024.^ "Purdue caps Tiller era with colossal rout of Indiana" . ESPN.com . November 22, 2008. Archived from the original  on August 15, 2021.^ "Hope's debut a success as Purdue tops Toledo" . ESPN.com . September 5, 2009. Archived from the original  on December 12, 2024.^ "Void rushes for 119 yards, 4 TDs" . ESPN.com . October 4, 2003. Archived from the original  on December 12, 2024.^ "Purdue 38, Miami OH 31 (OT)" . ESPN.com . September 9, 2006. Archived from the original  on December 15, 2024.^ a b c d e f   "David Bell" . ESPN.com . Retrieved November 6,  2021 .^ "Harris' 32-yard TD toss with 2:08 left the difference" . ESPN.com . September 6, 2003.^ a b   "Field goal with 3 seconds left wins game" . ESPN.com . October 18, 2003.^ "Northwestern hands Purdue fourth straight loss" . ESPN.com . October 15, 2005.^ "Purdue, WR David Bell continue dominance over No. 2 Iowa with stunning upset win" . ESPN.com . October 16, 2021.^ "Quinn, Irish offense come to life in victory over Purdue" . ESPN.com . September 30, 2006. Archived from the original  on December 12, 2024.^ "Purdue vs. Northwestern Box Score" . ESPN.com . November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 23,  2021 .^ "Payne Durham" . ESPN.com .^ "Indiana State vs. Purdue Box Score" . ESPN.com . September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 14,  2022 .^ "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 .^ "Purdue 41, Indiana 14" . ESPN.com . November 19, 2005. Archived from the original  on December 12, 2024.^ "Michigan handles Purdue despite 4 Denard Robinson turnovers" . ESPN.com . November 13, 2010. Archived from the original  on April 7, 2023.^ a b c d   "Mitchell Fineran" . ESPN.com .^ a b c d   "J.D. Dellinger" . ESPN.com . Retrieved September 7,  2019 .  
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