The list of college football yearly receiving leaders identifies the major college receiving leaders for each season from 1937 to the present. It includes yearly leaders in three statistical categories: (1) receptions, (2) receiving yardage; (3) yards per reception; and (4) receiving touchdowns.
Eleven players have led the NCAA in one or more of these categories in multiple seasons. They are: Reid Moseley of Georgia (1944–1945); Hugh Campbell of Washington State (1960–1961); Vern Burke of Oregon State (1962–1963); Howard Twilley of Tulsa (1964–1965); Ron Sellers of Florida State (1967–1968); Jerry Hendren of Idaho (1968–1969); Mike Siani of Villanova (1970–1971); Steve Largent of Tulsa (1974–1975); Jason Phillips of Houston (1987–1988); Alex Van Dyke of Nevada (1994–1995); and Brennan Marion of Tulsa (2007–2008).
Since 1937, the NCAA record for receiving yards in a single season has been set or broken nine times as follows: Jim Benton of Arkansas in 1937 (814 yards); Hank Stanton of Arizona in 1941 (820 yards); Ed Barker of Washington State 1951 (864 yards); Hugh Campbell of Washington State in 1960 (881 yards); Vern Burke of Oregon State in 1962 (1,007 yards); Fred Biletnikoff of Florida State in 1964 (1,179 yards); Howard Twilley of Tulsa in 1965 (1,779 yards); Alex Van Dyke of Nevada in 1995 (1,854 yards); and Trevor Insley of Nevada in 1999 (2,060 yards).
During that same time, the record for receptions in a single season has been set or broken 13 times as follows: Jim Benton of Arkansas in 1937 (48); Hank Stanton of Arizona in 1941 (50); Barney Poole of Ole Miss in 1947 (52); Ed Brown of Fordham in 1952 (57); Dave Hibbert of Arizona in 1958 (61); Hugh Campbell of Washington State in 1962 (69); Larry Elkins of Baylor in 1963 (70); Howard Twilley of Tulsa in 1964 (95) and 1965 (134); Manny Hazard of Houston in 1989 (142); Freddie Barnes of Bowling Green in 2009 (155); and Zay Jones of East Carolina in 2016 (158).
Programs with multiple receiving leaders (at least three different individuals, in any of the four categories) include:
| Year | Name | Rec | Name | Rec Yds | Name | Yds/Rec | Name | Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Jim Benton (Arkansas) |
48[1][2] | Jim Benton | 814[2] | Walter Nelson (Michigan State) |
21.6 | ||
| 1938 | Sam Boyd (Baylor) |
32[3] | Sam Boyd | 537[3] | Elmer Tarbox (Texas Tech) |
21.4[3] | ||
| 1939 | Ken Kavanaugh (LSU) |
30[3] | Ken Kavanaugh | 467[3] | Earle Clark (Texas Tech) |
17.3[3] | ||
| 1940 | Eddie Bryant (Virginia) |
30[4] | Don Vosberg (Marquette) |
526[4] | Don Vosberg | 21.9[4] | ||
| 1941 | Hank Stanton (Arizona) |
50[4] | Hank Stanton | 820[4] | Lenny Krouse (Penn State) |
16.8[4] | ||
| 1942 | Bill Rogers (Texas A&M) |
39[5] | Harding Miller (SMU) |
531[5] | George Poschner (Georgia) |
20.5[5] | ||
| 1943 | Neill Armstrong (Oklahoma A&M) |
39[6] | Marion Flanagan (Texas A&M) |
403[6] | Marion Flanagan Billy Collins (VMI) |
17.5[6] | ||
| 1944 | Reid Moseley (Georgia) |
32[7] | Reid Moseley | 506[7] | Cecil Hankins (Oklahoma State) |
24.9[7] | ||
| 1945 | Reid Moseley (Georgia) Gene Wilson (SMU) Steve Contos (Michigan State) |
31[8] | Reid Moseley | 662[8] | Reid Moseley | 21.4[8] | ||
| 1946 | Neill Armstrong (Oklahoma State) James Montgomery (Arizona State) |
32[9] | Broughton Williams (Florida) |
490[9] | Broughton Williams | 16.9[9] | ||
| 1947 | Barney Poole (Ole Miss) |
52[10] | John Smith (Arizona) |
568[10] | John Smith | 18.3[10] | ||
| 1948 | Red O'Quinn (Wake Forest) |
39[11] | Red O'Quinn | 605[11] | Dick Wilkins (Oregon) |
19.3[11] | ||
| 1949 | Art Weiner (North Carolina) |
52[12] | Vito Ragazzo (William & Mary) |
793[12] | Vito Ragazzo | 18.0[12] | ||
| 1950 | Gordon Cooper (Denver) |
46[13] | Bucky Curtis (Vanderbilt) |
791[14] | Bucky Curtis | 29.3[15] | ||
| 1951 | Dewey McConnell (Wyoming) |
47[16] | Ed Barker (Washington State) |
864[16] | Ed Barker | 18.8[16] | ||
| 1952 | Ed Brown (Fordham) |
57[17] | Ed Brown | 774[17] | Jimmy Byron (VMI) |
18.9[17] | ||
| 1953 | Johnny Carson (Georgia) Ken Buck (Pacific) Sam Morley (Stanford) |
45[18] | Johnny Carson | 663[18] | Dave McLaughlin (Dartmouth) |
19.1[18] | ||
| 1954 | Jim Hanifan (California) |
45[19] | John Stewart (Stanford) |
577[19] | Andrew Nacrelli (Fordham) |
19.7[19] | ||
| 1955 | Hank Burnine (Missouri) |
44[20][21] | Hank Burnine | 594[21] | Jimmy Orr (Georgia) |
18.5[21] | ||
| 1956[22] | Art Powell (San Jose State) |
40 | Bill Steiger (Washington State) |
607 | Jim Morse (Notre Dame) |
22.1 | 3-way tie | 6 |
| 1957[23] | Stuart Vaughan (Utah) |
53 | Stuart Vaughan | 756 | Buddy Dial (Rice) |
24.2 | Jack Fanning (Washington State) |
9 |
| 1958[24] | Dave Hibbert (Arizona) |
61 | Rich Kreitling (Illinois) |
688 | Rich Kreitling | 29.9 | Bob Simms (Rutgers) |
9 |
| 1959[25] | Chris Burford (Stanford) |
61 | Chris Burford (Pacific) |
757 | Bake Turner (Texas Tech) |
20.2 | Paul Maguire (The Citadel) |
10 |
| 1960[26] | Hugh Campbell (Washington State) |
66 | Hugh Campbell | 881[27] | Chuck Bryant Ohio State |
19.8 | Hugh Campbell | 10 |
| 1961[28] | Hugh Campbell (Washington State) |
53 | Pat Richter (Wisconsin) |
817 | Jim Stewart Navy |
21.7 | Larry Vargo (Detroit) Pat Richter |
8 |
| 1962[29] | Vern Burke (Oregon State) |
69 | Vern Burke | 1007 | Hal Bedsole (USC) |
25.1 | Hal Bedsole | 11 |
| 1963[30] | Larry Elkins (Baylor) |
70 | Larry Elkins | 873 | Paul Krause (Iowa) |
23.3 | Vern Burke (Oregon State) Bob Long (Wichita State) |
9 |
| 1964[31] | Howard Twilley (Tulsa) |
95 | Fred Biletnikoff (Florida State) |
1179 | Joe Chapman (Idaho) |
25.4 | Fred Biletnikoff | 15 |
| 1965[32] | Howard Twilley (Tulsa) |
134 | Howard Twilley | 1779 | Larry Seiple (Kentucky) |
23.5 | Howard Twilley | 16 |
| 1966[33] | Glenn Meltzer (Wichita State) |
91 | John Love (North Texas) |
1130 | Gene Washington (Michigan State) |
25.1 | Ken Hebert (Houston) |
11 |
| 1967[34] | Bob Goodridge (Vanderbilt) |
79 | Ron Sellers (Florida State) |
1228 | Mike Carroll (New Mexico State) |
24.1 | Ronnie Shanklin (North Texas) |
13 |
| 1968[35] | Ron Sellers (Florida State) Jerry Hendren (Idaho) |
86 | Ron Sellers (Florida State) |
1496 | Elmo Wright (Houston) |
27.9 | Jerry Hendren (Idaho) |
14 |
| 1969[36] | Jerry Hendren (Idaho) |
95 | Jerry Hendren | 1452 | Mel Gray (Missouri) |
27.1 | Tom Reynolds (San Diego State) |
18 |
| 1970[37] | Mike Mikolayunas (Davidson) |
87 | Mike Siani (Villanova) |
1328 | Larry Hart (Louisville) |
24.1 | Ernie Jennings (Air Force) |
17 |
| 1971[38] | Tom Reynolds (San Diego State) |
67 | Brian Baima (The Citadel) |
1230 | Tom Scott (Washington) |
23.4 | Mike Siani (Villanova) |
14 |
| 1972[39] | Tom Forzani (Utah State) |
85 | Barry Smith (Florida State) |
1243 | Richard Agle (Appalachian State) |
25.2 | Barry Smith Steve Sweeney (California) |
13 |
| 1973[40] | Jay Miller (BYU) |
100 | Jay Miller | 1181 | Larry Stokes (Chattanooga) |
27.9 | Keith Denson (San Diego State) |
11 |
| 1974[41] | Dwight McDonald (San Diego State) |
86 | Willie Miller (Colorado State) |
1193 | Tracy Dickson (West Texas A&M) |
26.8 | Steve Largent (Tulsa) |
14 |
| 1975[42] | Dave Quehl (Holy Cross) |
63 | Steve Largent (Tulsa) |
1000 | Kelvin Kirk (Dayton) |
24.5 | Steve Largent | 14 |
| 1976[43] | Billy Ryckman (Louisiana Tech) |
77 | Billy Ryckman | 1382 | Jim Smith (Michigan) |
27.5 | 4-way tie | 10 |
| 1977[44] | Wayne Tolleson (Western Carolina) |
73 | Rod Foppe (Louisiana Tech) |
1274 | Ernest Gray (Memphis) |
29.5 | 3-way tie | 12 |
| 1978[45] | Rick Beasley (Appalachian State) |
74 | Rick Beasley | 1205 | Mark Nichols (San Jose State) |
26.7 | 3-way tie | 11 |
| 1979[46] | Dave Petzke (Northern Illinois) |
91 | Dave Petzke | 1215 | Joe Burke (Chattanooga) |
28.1 | Gerald Lucear (Temple) |
13 |
| 1980[47] | Dave Young (Purdue) |
70 | Rainey Meszaros (Pacific) |
1062 | Dwight Collins (Pittsburgh) |
27.6 | Clay Brown (BYU) |
15 |
| 1981[48] | Tim Kearse (San Jose State) |
71 | Jim Sandusky (UNLV) |
1346 | Mike Whitwell (Texas A&M) |
27.1 | Julius Dawkins (Pittsburgh) |
16 |
| 1982[49] | Mike Martin (Illinois) |
69 | Henry Ellard (Fresno State) |
1510 | Herkie Walls (Texas) |
28.1 | Henry Ellard | 15 |
| 1983[50] | Keith Edwards (Vanderbilt) |
97 | Jim Sandusky (San Diego State) |
1171 | Reggie Bynum (Oregon State) |
24.2 | Kirk Pendleton (BYU) |
11 |
| 1984[51] | David Williams (Illinois) |
101 | David Williams | 1278 | Ronnie Kelley (Tulsa) |
25.0 | Doug Allen (Arizona State) |
14 |
| 1985[52] | Rodney Carter (Purdue) |
98 | Marc Zeno (Tulane) |
1137 | Stephen Baker (Fresno State) |
29.1 | Mark Bellini (BYU) |
14 |
| 1986[53] | Mark Templeton (Long Beach State) |
99 | Wendell Davis (LSU) |
1244 | Keith Gloster (Temple) |
24.7 | Andy Schillinger (Miami [OH]) |
12 |
| 1987[54] | Jason Phillips (Houston) |
99 | Ernie Jones (Indiana) |
1265 | Willie Vaughn (Kansas) |
26.9 | Tommy Kane (Syracuse) |
14 |
| 1988[55] | Jason Phillips (Houston) |
108 | Jason Phillips | 1444 | Calvin Phillips (West Virginia) |
25.5 | Jason Phillips | 15 |
| 1989[56] | Manny Hazard (Houston) |
142 | Manny Hazard | 1689 | Randy Jackson (Rutgers) |
28.5 | Manny Hazard | 22 |
| 1990[57] | Eric Morgan (New Mexico) |
80 | Patrick Rowe (San Diego State) |
1392 | Bryan Rowley (Utah) |
27.2 | Tracey Jenkins (Utah State) Daryl Hobbs (Pacific) |
14 |
| 1991[58] | Fred Gilbert (Houston) |
106 | Aaron Turner (Pacific) |
1604 | Melvin Bonner (Baylor) |
24.6 | Desmond Howard (Michigan) |
19 |
| 1992[59] | Sherman Smith (Houston) |
103 | Ryan Yarborough (Wyoming) |
1351 | Ron Peters (Houston) |
26.2 | Sean Dawkins (California) |
14 |
| 1993[60] | Chris Penn (Tulsa) |
105 | Chris Penn | 1578 | Jay Kearney (West Virginia) |
25.9 | Bryan Reeves (Nevada) J. J. Stokes (UCLA) |
17 |
| 1994[61] | Alex Van Dyke (Nevada) |
98 | Marcus Harris (Wyoming) |
1431 | Jimmy Oliver (TCU) |
23.8 | Jack Jackson (Florida) |
15 |
| 1995[62] | Alex Van Dyke (Nevada) |
129 | Alex Van Dyke | 1854 | Terry Glenn[63] (Ohio State) |
22.0 | Terry Glenn Chris Doering (Florida) |
17 |
| 1996[64] | Damond Wilkins (Nevada) |
114 | Marcus Harris[63] (Wyoming) |
1650 | Marcus Robinson (South Carolina) |
24.0 | Reidel Anthony (Florida) |
18 |
| 1997[65] | Eugene Baker (Kent State) |
103 | Randy Moss[63] (Marshall) |
1820 | Corey Alston (Washington State) |
23.8 | Randy Moss | 26 |
| 1998[66] | Troy Edwards[63] (Louisiana Tech) |
140 | Troy Edwards | 1996 | Kevin Coffey (Virginia) |
25.3 | Troy Edwards | 27 |
| 1999[67] | Trevor Insley (Nevada) |
134 | Trevor Insley | 2060 | André Davis (Virginia Tech) |
25.5 | Trevor Insley James Williams (Marshall) |
13 |
| 2000[68] | James Jordan (Louisiana Tech) |
109 | Snoop Minnis (Florida State) |
1340 | Derrick Lewis (San Diego State) |
25.2 | Lee Mays (UTEP) |
15 |
| 2001[69] | Rodney Wright (Fresno State) |
104 | Josh Reed[63] (LSU) |
1740 | Doug Gabriel (UCF) |
28.7 | Ashley Lelie (Hawaii) |
19 |
| 2002[70] | Nate Burleson (Nevada) |
138 | J. R. Tolver (San Diego State) |
1785 | Brandon Middleton (Houston) |
24.1 | Rashaun Woods (Oklahoma State) |
17 |
| 2003[71] | Lance Moore (Toledo) |
103 | Larry Fitzgerald[63] (Pittsburgh) |
1672 | Dwight Counter (New Mexico) Lawrence Brady (Boise State) |
25.0 | Larry Fitzgerald | 22 |
| 2004[72] | Dante Ridgeway (Ball State) |
105 | Roddy White (UAB) |
1452 | Dan Sheldon (Northern Illinois) |
23.4 | Chad Owens (Hawaii) |
17 |
| 2005[73] | Greg Jennings (Western Michigan) |
98 | Mike Hass[63] (Oregon State) |
1532 | Matt Miller (Arizona State) |
23.5 | Dwayne Jarrett (USC) |
16 |
| 2006[74] | Davone Bess (Hawaii) |
96 | Chris Williams (New Mexico State) |
1425 | Terry Moss (Ball State) |
25.4 | Jarett Dillard (Rice) |
21 |
| 2007[75] | Michael Crabtree[63] (Texas Tech) |
134 | Michael Crabtree[63] (Texas Tech) |
1962 | Brennan Marion (Tulsa) |
31.9 | Michael Crabtree[63] (Texas Tech) |
22 |
| 2008[76] | Casey Fitzgerald (North Texas) |
113 | Austin Collie (BYU) |
1538 | Brennan Marion (Tulsa) |
25.9 | Jarett Dillard (Rice) |
20 |
| 2009[77] | Freddie Barnes (Bowling Green) |
155 | Danario Alexander (Missouri) |
1781 | Owen Spencer (NC State) |
25.5 | Freddie Barnes (Bowling Green) |
19 |
| 2010[78] | Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma) |
131 | Greg Salas (Hawaii) |
1889 | Kris Adams (UTEP) |
22.8 | Justin Blackmon[63] (Oklahoma State) |
20 |
| 2011[79] | Jordan White (Western Michigan) |
140 | Jordan White (Western Michigan) |
1911 | Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech) |
29.3 | Patrick Edwards (Houston) |
20 |
| 2012[80] | Marqise Lee[63] (USC) |
118 | Terrance Williams (Baylor) |
1832 | Willis Wright (FIU) |
25.3 | Stedman Bailey (West Virginia) |
25 |
| 2013[81] | Davante Adams (Fresno State) |
131 | Brandin Cooks[63] (Oregon State) |
1730 | Devon Cajuste (Stanford) |
22.9 | Davante Adams (Fresno State) |
24 |
| 2014[82] | Amari Cooper[63] (Alabama) |
124 | Rashard Higgins (Colorado State) |
1750 | Devin Smith (Ohio State) |
28.2 | Rashard Higgins (Colorado State) |
18 |
| 2015[83] | Tajae Sharpe (UMass) |
111 | Keyarris Garrett (Tulsa) |
1588 | Mack Hollins (North Carolina) |
24.8 | Corey Coleman (Baylor) |
20 |
| 2016[84] | Zay Jones (East Carolina) |
158 | Trent Taylor (Louisiana Tech) |
1803 | Jalen Robinette (Air Force) |
27.4 | Corey Davis (Western Michigan) & Carlos Henderson (Louisiana Tech) |
19 |
| 2017[85] | Trey Quinn (SMU) |
114 | James Washington (Oklahoma State) |
1549 | Aaron Cephus (Rice) |
24.9 | Anthony Miller (Memphis) & David Sills V (West Virginia) |
18 |
| 2018[86] | Rondale Moore (Purdue) |
114 | Andy Isabella (UMass) |
1698 | Xavier Ubosi (UAB) |
23.9 | John Ursua (Hawaii) |
16 |
| 2019[87] | Justin Jefferson (LSU) |
111 | Ja'Marr Chase (LSU) |
1780 | Geraud Sanders (Air Force) |
24.87 | Ja'Marr Chase (LSU) |
20 |
| 2020 | DeVonta Smith (Alabama) |
117 | DeVonta Smith (Alabama) |
1,856 | D'Wayne Eskridge (Western Michigan) |
23.1 | DeVonta Smith (Alabama) |
23 |
Before 1937 the NCAA did not compile official statistics. This chart reflects unofficial receiving statistics compiled by historians mostly from newspapers accounts.
| Year | Name | Rec | Name | Rec Yds | Name | Yds/Rec | Name | Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1915 | Bert Baston (Minnesota) |
|||||||
| 1916 | Bert Baston (Minnesota) |
|||||||
| 1917 | ||||||||
| 1918 | Bernard Kirk[88] (Notre Dame) |
7 | ||||||
| 1919 | Bernard Kirk[88] (Notre Dame) |
21 | Bernard Kirk | 372 | ||||
| 1920 | Eddie Anderson[89] (Notre Dame) |
17 | Eddie Anderson | 293 | ||||
| 1921 | Eddie Anderson[88] (Notre Dame) |
26 | Eddie Anderson | 394 | ||||
| 1922 | ||||||||
| 1923 | ||||||||
| 1924 | ||||||||
| 1925 | Myles Lane[90] (Dartmouth) |
7 | ||||||
| 1926 | ||||||||
| 1927 | ||||||||
| 1928 | ||||||||
| 1929 | Wear Schoonover[88] (Arkansas) |
33 | ||||||
| 1930 | ||||||||
| 1931 | ||||||||
| 1932 | ||||||||
| 1933 | ||||||||
| 1934 | Don Hutson (Alabama) |
19 | ||||||
| 1935 | ||||||||
| 1936 | Jim Benton[88] (Arkansas) |
35 |