You Are Here > SR/CFB > Years > 1979 > Leaders

News: s-r blog:Follow us on Twitter to Win a Free Baseball-Reference.com Play Index Subscription

1979 Leaders

Previous Year ▪ Next Year

National Champion: Alabama (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)

Heisman Memorial Trophy: Charles White (Southern California)
FWAA Coach of the Year Award: Earle Bruce (Ohio State)

AP Preseason #1: Southern California ▪ AP Final #1: Alabama

Year Leaders

Read more about our data coverage. ▪ An asterisk (*) after a player's name indicates bowl stats are included.

Pass Completions

1.	Marc Wilson* (BYU)	278
2.	Rich Campbell* (CA)	241
	Ed Luther (SJST)	241
4.	Larry Haynes (LAMAR)	233
5.	Roch Hontas (TLN)	215
6.	Mark Herrmann* (PUR)	203
7.	Jay Venuto (WAKE)	198
8.	Mark Hutsell (ETNST)	186
	Sander Markel (PAC)	186
10.	Mark Carlson (MN)	177
11.	Paul McDonald* (SCA)	164
12.	Tim Clifford* (IN)	160
13.	Mike Kelley (GATECH)	149
14.	Mark Malone (AZST)	148
	Turk Schonert (STAN)	148
16.	Randy Hertel (RICE)	147
	Steve Brown (APPST)	147
18.	Scott Richardson (ORST)	145
19.	Eric Hipple (UTST)	144
	Paul McGaffigan (LBS)	144

Pass Attempts

1.	Marc Wilson* (BYU)	470
2.	Ed Luther (SJST)	415
3.	Larry Haynes (LAMAR)	402
4.	Sander Markel (PAC)	368
5.	Roch Hontas (TLN)	367
	Jay Venuto (WAKE)	367
7.	Rich Campbell* (CA)	360
8.	Mark Herrmann* (PUR)	348
9.	Mark Hutsell (ETNST)	302
10.	Mark Carlson (MN)	300
	Mike Kelley (GATECH)	300
12.	Randy Hertel (RICE)	294
13.	Scott Richardson (ORST)	291
14.	Mark Malone (AZST)	289
15.	Tim Clifford* (IN)	288
16.	Steve Brown (APPST)	287
17.	Mike Pusey (WCAR)	276
18.	Paul McGaffigan (LBS)	264
	Paul McDonald* (SCA)	264
20.	Scott Davis (EMI)	254

Pass Completion Percentage

1.	Turk Schonert (STAN)	67.0
2.	Rich Campbell* (CA)	66.9
3.	Paul McDonald* (SCA)	62.1
4.	Jordan Case (NTX)	61.7
5.	Mark Hutsell (ETNST)	61.6
6.	Sammy Shon (OH)	60.5
7.	Eric Hipple (UTST)	60.3
8.	Marc Wilson* (BYU)	59.1
9.	Mark Carlson (MN)	59.0
10.	Ed McMichael (RUT)	58.8
11.	John Fourcade (MS)	58.7
12.	Roch Hontas (TLN)	58.6
13.	Dan Marino* (PITT)	58.6
14.	Mark Herrmann* (PUR)	58.3
15.	Ed Luther (SJST)	58.1
16.	Larry Haynes (LAMAR)	58.0
17.	Lawrence McCullough (IL)	57.0
18.	Brian Broomell (TEMP)	56.1
19.	Tim Clifford* (IN)	55.6
20.	Phil Suess (IA)	55.3

Passing Yards

1.	Marc Wilson* (BYU)	4100
2.	Ed Luther (SJST)	3049
3.	Rich Campbell* (CA)	2859
4.	Larry Haynes (LAMAR)	2641
5.	Jay Venuto (WAKE)	2432
6.	Mark Herrmann* (PUR)	2377
7.	Roch Hontas (TLN)	2345
8.	Steve Brown (APPST)	2307
9.	Mark Hutsell (ETNST)	2276
10.	Paul McDonald* (SCA)	2223
11.	Mark Carlson (MN)	2188
12.	Mike Pusey (WCAR)	2175
13.	Brian Broomell (TEMP)	2103
14.	Tim Clifford* (IN)	2078
15.	Mike Kelley (GATECH)	2051
16.	Turk Schonert (STAN)	1927
17.	Eric Hipple (UTST)	1924
18.	Sander Markel (PAC)	1921
19.	Mark Malone (AZST)	1886
20.	Art Schlichter* (OHST)	1816

Passing Yards Per Attempt

1.	Brian Broomell (TEMP)	9.8
2.	Art Schlichter* (OHST)	9.1
3.	Dave Wilson (BALLST)	9.1
4.	Marc Wilson* (BYU)	8.7
5.	Turk Schonert (STAN)	8.7
6.	Rusty Lisch (NDAME)	8.6
7.	Sam King (NVLV)	8.5
8.	Paul McDonald* (SCA)	8.4
9.	Eric Hipple (UTST)	8.1
10.	Steve Brown (APPST)	8.0
11.	Rich Campbell* (CA)	7.9
12.	Mike Pusey (WCAR)	7.9
13.	Jimmy Streater (TN)	7.8
14.	John Fourcade (MS)	7.8
15.	Dan Marino* (PITT)	7.6
16.	Mark Hutsell (ETNST)	7.5
17.	Reggie Allen (INST)	7.5
18.	Steve Casey (VATECH)	7.5
19.	Ed Luther (SJST)	7.3
20.	Phil Suess (IA)	7.3

Adjusted Passing Yards Per Attempt

1.	Brian Broomell (TEMP)	9.6
2.	Turk Schonert (STAN)	9.2
3.	Art Schlichter* (OHST)	9.1
4.	Paul McDonald* (SCA)	8.8
5.	Marc Wilson* (BYU)	8.3
6.	Eric Hipple (UTST)	8.0
7.	Dave Wilson (BALLST)	7.7
8.	Sam King (NVLV)	7.4
9.	Rich Campbell* (CA)	7.3
10.	Tim Russell (CIT)	6.8
11.	Matt Kupec (NC)	6.8
12.	Ed Luther (SJST)	6.8
13.	Rusty Lisch (NDAME)	6.8
14.	Dan Marino* (PITT)	6.6
15.	Mark Hutsell (ETNST)	6.6
16.	Steve Brown (APPST)	6.6
17.	Tim Clifford* (IN)	6.6
18.	Mark Carlson (MN)	6.5
19.	Ed McMichael (RUT)	6.4
20.	John Fourcade (MS)	6.4

Passing Touchdowns

1.	Marc Wilson* (BYU)	31
2.	Brian Broomell (TEMP)	22
3.	Roch Hontas (TLN)	21
	Larry Haynes (LAMAR)	21
5.	Ed Luther (SJST)	20
6.	Turk Schonert (STAN)	19
7.	Matt Kupec (NC)	18
	Paul McDonald* (SCA)	18
9.	Mark Hutsell (ETNST)	17
10.	Jay Venuto (WAKE)	16
	Mark Herrmann* (PUR)	16
	Mike Pusey (WCAR)	16
13.	Rich Campbell* (CA)	15
	Steve Brown (APPST)	15
15.	Art Schlichter* (OHST)	14
16.	Tim Clifford* (IN)	13
	Jimmy Jordan (FLST)	13
	Larry Gentry (NVLV)	13
	Eric Hipple (UTST)	13
20.	Sam King (NVLV)	12
	Sander Markel (PAC)	12

Passing Interceptions

1.	Randy Hertel (RICE)	24
2.	Dave Ziebart (AF)	21
	Mike Pusey (WCAR)	21
4.	Sander Markel (PAC)	19
	Mike Kelley (GATECH)	19
	Mark Herrmann* (PUR)	19
7.	Bob Conroy (COLMB)	18
	Marc Wilson* (BYU)	18
	Larry Haynes (LAMAR)	18
	Phil Davis (WY)	18
11.	Scott Richardson (ORST)	17
	Jay Venuto (WAKE)	17
	Mike Kerrigan (NWEST)	17
	Jeff Morrow (KENT)	17
	Mark Halda (SDGST)	17
	Gene Bradley (ARST)	17
17.	Paul McGaffigan (LBS)	16
	Scott Davis (EMI)	16
	Mike Rodrigue (MIAFL)	16
	Jimmy Streater (TN)	16
	Doug Marzonie (PA)	16
	Steve Brown (APPST)	16

Passing Efficiency Rating

1.	Turk Schonert (STAN)	163.2
2.	Brian Broomell (TEMP)	162.3
3.	Paul McDonald* (SCA)	150.8
4.	Marc Wilson* (BYU)	146.5
5.	Art Schlichter* (OHST)	145.9
6.	Eric Hipple (UTST)	140.8
7.	Rich Campbell* (CA)	140.7
8.	Dave Wilson (BALLST)	137.9
9.	Sam King (NVLV)	136.4
10.	Mark Hutsell (ETNST)	134.2
11.	Matt Kupec (NC)	131.1
12.	Ed Luther (SJST)	128.9
13.	Dan Marino* (PITT)	128.9
14.	John Fourcade (MS)	126.5
15.	Mark Carlson (MN)	125.7
16.	Steve Brown (APPST)	124.8
17.	Tim Clifford* (IN)	124.1
18.	Ed McMichael (RUT)	124.0
19.	Roch Hontas (TLN)	123.5
20.	Steve Casey (VATECH)	121.7

Rush Attempts

1.	Charles White* (SCA)	332
2.	George Rogers* (SC)	311
3.	Vagas Ferguson (NDAME)	301
4.	Bill Fenn (ILST)	280
5.	James Hadnot (TXTECH)	273
6.	Freeman McNeil (UCLA)	271
7.	Dennis Mosley (IA)	270
8.	Floyd Allen (VAMI)	265
9.	James McDougald (WAKE)	260
10.	Rick Parros (UTST)	259
11.	Billy Sims* (OK)	248
12.	Charlie Wysocki (MD)	247
13.	Ron Lear (MARSH)	241
14.	Phil Davis (WY)	240
15.	Joe Morris* (SYR)	238
16.	Willie Todd (CMI)	234
17.	Paul Jones* (CA)	230
18.	Tony Allen (SDGST)	226
19.	Amos Lawrence (NC)	225
	Mark Lyles (FLST)	225

Rushing Yards

1.	Charles White* (SCA)	2050
2.	George Rogers* (SC)	1681
3.	Billy Sims* (OK)	1670
4.	Vagas Ferguson (NDAME)	1437
5.	Freeman McNeil (UCLA)	1396
6.	Joe Morris* (SYR)	1372
7.	James Hadnot (TXTECH)	1371
8.	Dennis Mosley (IA)	1267
9.	Floyd Allen (VAMI)	1249
10.	Rick Parros (UTST)	1236
11.	James Brooks (AUB)	1208
12.	James McDougald (WAKE)	1177
13.	Ron Lear (MARSH)	1162
14.	Charlie Wysocki (MD)	1140
15.	Tony Collins (ECAR)	1130
16.	Joe Cribbs (AUB)	1120
17.	Bill Fenn (ILST)	1106
18.	Jarvis Redwine* (NE)	1100
19.	Tony Allen (SDGST)	1094
20.	Terald Clark (HOU)	1063

Rushing Yards Per Attempt

1.	Gwain Durden (CHAT)	7.8
2.	Lewis Walker (UT)	7.7
3.	Brothel Cole (FURM)	7.5
4.	James Brooks (AUB)	7.4
5.	Sam Harrell (ECAR)	7.4
6.	Tony Collins (ECAR)	7.3
7.	Homer Jones* (BYU)	7.2
8.	Theodore Sutton (ECAR)	6.8
9.	Billy Sims* (OK)	6.7
10.	Jarvis Redwine* (NE)	6.7
11.	Gary Allen (HI)	6.4
12.	Garry White (MN)	6.4
13.	Stanley Wilson* (OK)	6.3
14.	Ray Butler (CASTFU)	6.3
15.	Tony Lindsay (UT)	6.2
16.	Charles White* (SCA)	6.2
17.	Michael Morton (NVLV)	6.2
18.	Mike Sherlock (NAVY)	6.1
19.	Eddie Meyers (NAVY)	6.1
20.	Don Jacobs (AL)	6.1

Rushing Touchdowns

1.	Billy Sims* (OK)	23
2.	Mark Bornholdt (BALLST)	19
	Charles White* (SCA)	19
4.	Vagas Ferguson (NDAME)	17
5.	Rick Parros (UTST)	15
6.	Tony Collins (ECAR)	14
	Joe Cribbs (AUB)	14
	Wardell Wright (DRAKE)	14
9.	Butch Woolfolk* (MI)	13
	Scott Smith (NCST)	13
11.	Dennis Mosley (IA)	12
	Willie Todd (CMI)	12
	Leander Green (ECAR)	12
	Marion Barber (MN)	12
	Ricky Floyd (SMS)	12
	Bill Hurley* (SYR)	12
	Eric Lane* (BYU)	12
	Mark Malone (AZST)	12
19.	Danny Clark (WTXAM)	11
	Leonard Williams (WCAR)	11
	Tony Kapetanis (CIN)	11
	James McDougald (WAKE)	11
	Joe Steele (WA)	11
	J.C. Watts* (OK)	11
	Steadman Shealy (AL)	11
	Del Rodgers (UT)	11

Receptions

1.	Rick Beasley (APPST)	74
2.	Steve Coury (ORST)	66
3.	James Murphy (UTST)	63
4.	Matt Bouza* (CA)	59
	Howard Robinson (LAMAR)	59
6.	Gerald Harp (WCAR)	57
7.	Dave Young* (PUR)	55
	Wayne Baumgardner (WAKE)	55
9.	Mike House (PAC)	52
	Preston Brown (VAND)	52
11.	Homer Jones* (BYU)	50
12.	Paul Jones* (CA)	49
	Joe Rose* (CA)	49
	Bob Stephenson* (IN)	49
15.	Albert Kirby (WAKE)	48
	Ken Thompson (UTST)	48
	Eric Lane* (BYU)	48
18.	Earl Cooper (RICE)	47
	Alton Alexis (TLN)	47
	Rodney Holman (TLN)	47

Receiving Yards

1.	Rick Beasley (APPST)	1205
2.	James Murphy (UTST)	1067
3.	Gerald Harp (WCAR)	1009
4.	Wayne Baumgardner (WAKE)	1000
5.	Gerald Lucear (TEMP)	964
6.	Ken Thompson (UTST)	918
7.	Steve Coury (ORST)	842
8.	Howard Robinson (LAMAR)	840
9.	Matt Bouza* (CA)	831
10.	Sam Greene (NVLV)	821
11.	Doug Donley* (OHST)	800
12.	Stephen Stapler (SDGST)	794
13.	Preston Brown (VAND)	786
14.	Lloyd Jones* (BYU)	774
15.	Mark Nichols (SJST)	773
16.	Arnold Thomas (ETNST)	737
17.	Dan Pittman (WY)	733
	Ken Margerum (STAN)	733
19.	Art Monk* (SYR)	716
20.	Rich Horner (HARV)	712

Receiving Yards Per Reception

1.	Mark Nichols (SJST)	26.7
2.	Pat Walker (MIAFL)	26.0
3.	Tony Hunter (NDAME)	25.6
4.	Rob Rikard (BC)	25.1
5.	Kevin House (SIL)	24.2
6.	Gary Lewis (TXARL)	23.2
7.	Lloyd Jones* (BYU)	22.8
8.	Joe Burke (CHAT)	22.3
9.	David Verser (KS)	22.0
10.	Kirk Wilson (INST)	22.0
11.	Mike Ball (CMI)	21.8
12.	Doug Donley* (OHST)	21.6
13.	Stephen Stapler (SDGST)	21.5
14.	Gerald Lucear (TEMP)	21.4
15.	Darrel Griffin (TLN)	21.3
16.	Kris Kentera (GATECH)	21.0
17.	Sam Greene (NVLV)	20.5
18.	Mark Slawson (CIT)	20.4
19.	Anthony Hancock (TN)	20.2
20.	Nelson Johnson (PA)	20.2

Receiving Touchdowns

1.	Gerald Lucear (TEMP)	13
2.	Rick Beasley (APPST)	12
	Howard Robinson (LAMAR)	12
4.	Mark Nichols (SJST)	11
	Ken Thompson (UTST)	11
6.	Ken Margerum (STAN)	10
	Dave Young* (PUR)	10
	Gerald Harp (WCAR)	10
9.	Sam Greene (NVLV)	9
10.	Kevin Williams* (SCA)	8
	Mike Chatham (NC)	8
	Wayne Baumgardner (WAKE)	8
13.	Matt Braga* (BYU)	7
	Ralph Still* (PITT)	7
	Junior Miller* (NE)	7
	Anthony Carter* (MI)	7
	Jackie Flowers (FLST)	7
	Elmer Bailey (MN)	7
	Rich Horner (HARV)	7
	Bill Davis* (BYU)	7
	Sidney Snell (VATECH)	7

Plays From Scrimmage

1.	Charles White* (SCA)	354
2.	George Rogers* (SC)	325
3.	Vagas Ferguson (NDAME)	315
4.	Dennis Mosley (IA)	291
5.	James McDougald (WAKE)	287
6.	Freeman McNeil (UCLA)	286
7.	Bill Fenn (ILST)	284
8.	James Hadnot (TXTECH)	283
9.	Floyd Allen (VAMI)	281
	Rick Parros (UTST)	281
11.	Paul Jones* (CA)	279
12.	Tony Allen (SDGST)	251
	Charlie Wysocki (MD)	251
14.	Mark Lyles (FLST)	250
15.	Billy Sims* (OK)	249
16.	Ron Lear (MARSH)	247
17.	Joe Morris* (SYR)	242
18.	Phil Davis (WY)	240
19.	Willie Todd (CMI)	238
20.	Amos Lawrence (NC)	237

Yards From Scrimmage

1.	Charles White* (SCA)	2195
2.	George Rogers* (SC)	1821
3.	Billy Sims* (OK)	1712
4.	Freeman McNeil (UCLA)	1536
5.	Vagas Ferguson (NDAME)	1509
6.	Dennis Mosley (IA)	1502
7.	James Hadnot (TXTECH)	1464
8.	Floyd Allen (VAMI)	1418
9.	Joe Morris* (SYR)	1410
10.	Rick Parros (UTST)	1369
11.	James McDougald (WAKE)	1353
12.	Paul Jones* (CA)	1267
13.	Tony Allen (SDGST)	1264
14.	Gary Allen (HI)	1260
15.	Joe Cribbs (AUB)	1248
16.	Mark Bright (TEMP)	1232
17.	James Brooks (AUB)	1223
18.	Tony Collins (ECAR)	1222
	Mark Lyles (FLST)	1222
20.	Amos Lawrence (NC)	1207

Touchdowns From Scrimmage

1.	Billy Sims* (OK)	23
2.	Mark Bornholdt (BALLST)	19
	Charles White* (SCA)	19
4.	Vagas Ferguson (NDAME)	17
5.	Dennis Mosley (IA)	16
6.	Rick Parros (UTST)	15
	Joe Cribbs (AUB)	15
8.	Eric Lane* (BYU)	14
	Tony Collins (ECAR)	14
	Wardell Wright (DRAKE)	14
	Johnny McFall (ETNST)	14
12.	James McDougald (WAKE)	13
	Butch Woolfolk* (MI)	13
	Scott Smith (NCST)	13
	Leonard Williams (WCAR)	13
	Gerald Lucear (TEMP)	13
17.	Bill Hurley* (SYR)	12
	Ricky Floyd (SMS)	12
	Homer Jones* (BYU)	12
	Joe Steele (WA)	12
	Marion Barber (MN)	12
	David Dorn (RUT)	12
	Howard Robinson (LAMAR)	12
	Willie Todd (CMI)	12
	Leander Green (ECAR)	12
	Mark Malone (AZST)	12
	James Brooks (AUB)	12
	Rick Beasley (APPST)	12

Total Plays

1.	Marc Wilson* (BYU)	540
2.	Phil Davis (WY)	481
3.	Ed Luther (SJST)	459
4.	Roch Hontas (TLN)	458
5.	Larry Haynes (LAMAR)	451
6.	Sander Markel (PAC)	445
7.	Jay Venuto (WAKE)	443
8.	Rich Campbell* (CA)	435
	Oliver Luck (WV)	435
10.	Mark Malone (AZST)	421
11.	Steve Brown (APPST)	416
12.	Mark Hutsell (ETNST)	405
13.	Mike Kelley (GATECH)	399
14.	Mark Herrmann* (PUR)	396
15.	Randy Hertel (RICE)	372
16.	Mark Carlson (MN)	371
17.	Scott Richardson (ORST)	370
18.	Steve Grant (WAST)	369
19.	Phil Bradley (MO)	367
20.	Mike Wright (BGSU)	364

Total Yards

1.	Marc Wilson* (BYU)	3988
2.	Ed Luther (SJST)	2997
3.	Rich Campbell* (CA)	2635
4.	Steve Brown (APPST)	2557
5.	Jay Venuto (WAKE)	2485
6.	Roch Hontas (TLN)	2442
7.	Larry Haynes (LAMAR)	2428
8.	Mark Malone (AZST)	2357
9.	Brian Broomell (TEMP)	2352
10.	Phil Davis (WY)	2316
11.	Art Schlichter* (OHST)	2246
12.	Mark Hutsell (ETNST)	2160
13.	Tim Clifford* (IN)	2158
14.	Mark Carlson (MN)	2149
	Paul McDonald* (SCA)	2149
16.	Mike Kelley (GATECH)	2107
17.	Mark Herrmann* (PUR)	2094
18.	Bill Hurley* (SYR)	2089
19.	Charles White* (SCA)	2050
20.	Mike Pusey (WCAR)	2045

Total Yards Per Play

Marc Wilson* (BYU)

7.4

Total Touchdowns

1.	Marc Wilson* (BYU)	35
2.	Brian Broomell (TEMP)	26
3.	Larry Haynes (LAMAR)	25
4.	Billy Sims* (OK)	23
	Art Schlichter* (OHST)	23
	Ed Luther (SJST)	23
7.	Mark Malone (AZST)	22
	Roch Hontas (TLN)	22
9.	Turk Schonert (STAN)	21
	Tim Clifford* (IN)	21
11.	Larry Gentry (NVLV)	20
	Matt Kupec (NC)	20
13.	Mark Bornholdt (BALLST)	19
	Charles White* (SCA)	19
	Mark Hutsell (ETNST)	19
16.	Scott Smith (NCST)	18
	Mike Wright (BGSU)	18
	Phil Davis (WY)	18
	Rich Campbell* (CA)	18
	Gary Hogeboom (CMI)	18
	Bill Hurley* (SYR)	18
	Paul McDonald* (SCA)	18

Question, Comment, Feedback or Correction?

A Sports Reference Site: About SR/CFB | Privacy Statement | Conditions & Terms of Service | Use of Data

Some school's results have been altered by retroactive NCAA penalties. As a matter of policy, Sports Reference only reports the results of games as played on the field. See our list of forfeits and vacated games for more details.

Partner of USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties.