The Southern Miss Golden Eagles football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles football program in various categories, 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, 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. 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 2025 season.
Passing
Passing yards
+ Career1Nick Mullens11,9942013 2014 2015 20162Austin Davis10,8922008 2009 2010 20113Brett Favre7,6951987 1988 1989 19904Dustin Almond7,3422002 2003 2004 20055Jeff Kelly7,0951998 1999 2000 20016Jack Abraham7,0672018 2019 20207Lee Roberts6,2891995 1996 1997 19988Heath Graham4,0531994 1995 19969Rick Donegan3,7531969 1970 197110Tommy Waters3,6811991 1992 1993 1994
+ Single season1Nick Mullens4,47620152Austin Davis3,4962011Jack Abraham3,49620194Nick Mullens3,27220165Austin Davis3,12820086Austin Davis3,10320107Braylon Braxton3,05420258Dustin Almond2,86020059Lee Roberts2,680199810Jeff Kelly2,6132001
+ Single game1Nick Mullens5912016 Rice2Jack Abraham4632019 Troy3Austin Davis4612008 Rice4Nick Mullens4472015 Nebraska5Nick Mullens4262014 Middle Tennessee6Jack Abraham4212019 North Texas7Jeff Kelly4002001 Tulane Braylon Braxton4002025 South Alabama9Lee Roberts3981996 Houston10Braylon Braxton3922025 Louisiana Tech
Passing touchdowns
+ Career1Nick Mullens872013 2014 2015 20162Austin Davis832008 2009 2010 20113Brett Favre521987 1988 1989 1990Lee Roberts521995 1996 1997 19985Jeff Kelly511998 1999 2000 2001Dustin Almond512002 2003 2004 20057Jack Abraham412018 2019 20208Braylon Braxton2420259Heath Graham231994 1995 1996Jeremy Young232004 2005 2006 2007
+ Single season1Nick Mullens3820152Austin Davis3020113Lee Roberts241998Nick Mullens242016Braylon Braxton2420256Dustin Almond232005Austin Davis2320088Jeff Kelly2119999Austin Davis20201010Jack Abraham192019
+ Single game1Lee Roberts51998 Louisiana-LafayetteDustin Almond52005 UCFNick Mullens52013 UABNick Mullens52015 Rice
Rushing
Rushing yards
+ Career1Damion Fletcher5,3022006 2007 2008 20092Ito Smith4,5362014 2015 2016 2017 3Frank Gore Jr.4,0222020 2021 2022 20234Ben Garry3,5951974 1975 1976 19775Derrick Nix3,5841998 1999 2000 20026Sammy Winder3,1141978 1979 1980 19817Sam Dejarnette2,9081982 1983 19848Vincent Alexander2,6481983 1984 1985 19869Shelton Gandy2,5041984 1985 1986 1987 198810Reggie Collier2,3041979 1980 1981 1982
+ Single season1Damion Fletcher1,58620072Sam Dejarnette1,54519823Ito Smith1,45920164Ito Smith1,41320175Damion Fletcher1,38820066Frank Gore Jr.1,382 20227Damion Fletcher1,31320088Ben Garry1,23619769Hugh Laurin Pepper1,227195210Derrick Nix1,1942002
+ Single game1Frank Gore Jr.3292022 Rice2Sam Dejarnette3041982 Florida State3Damion Fletcher2602008 UTEP4Frank Gore Jr.2472023 Appalachian State5Vic Purvis2381965 Memphis6Jalen Richard2302015 Texas State7Damion Fletcher2222008 Louisiana-Lafayette8Derrick Nix2191998 Nevada9Damion Fletcher2112007 UTEP10Ben Garry2061976 Louisiana Tech
Rushing touchdowns
+ Career1Damion Fletcher442006 2007 2008 20092Ito Smith422014 2015 2016 2017 3Sammy Winder391978 1979 1980 19814Harold Shaw321994 1995 1996 19975Ben Garry301998 1999 2000 2002Derrick Nix301974 1975 1976 19777Doyle Orange261971 1972 1973Reggie Collier261979 1980 1981 1982Shelton Gandy261984 1985 1986 1987 1988Frank Gore Jr.262020 2021 2022 2023
+ Single season1Sammy Winder2019802Ito Smith1720163Harold Shaw1619974Sam Dejarnette141982Damion Fletcher142007Jalen Richard1420157Ito Smith1320178Doyle Orange121971Ricky Floyd121979Reggie Collier121981Sammy Winder121981Reggie Collier121982
+ Single game1Austin Davis52008 UAB2Doyle Orange41972 Texas-ArlingtonShelton Gandy41986 Mississippi StateChris Windsor41996 Louisiana-LafayetteAustin Davis42010 HoustonJalen Richard42015 Texas StateJalen Richard42015 Old DominionTate Whatley42020 Liberty
Receiving
Receptions
+ Career1Sherrod Gideon1931996 1997 1998 19992Quez Watkins1592017 2018 20193Shawn Nelson1572005 2006 2007 20084Tim Jones1502017 2018 2019 20205Todd Pinkston1491996 1997 1998 19996LeRoy Handy1381999 2000 2001 20027Casey Martin1352014 2015 Jason Brownlee1352020 2021 20229DeAndre Brown1342008 2009 201010D. J. Thompson1312012 2014 2015 2016
+ Single season1Casey Martin8020152Tim Jones7320193Quez Watkins7220184Michael Thomas7120155DeAndre Brown6720086Sherrod Gideon6619987Quez Watkins6420198Allenzae Staggers6320169LeRoy Handy59200110Kelvin Bolden582011
+ Single game1Sherrod Gideon131998 Penn State2Todd Pinkston121998 NevadaShawn Nelson122008 AuburnDeAndre Brown122008 RiceTyre'oune Holmes122013 Texas StateD. J. Thompson122016 Louisiana TechJason Brownlee122022 Troy
Receiving yards
+ Career1Sherrod Gideon3,2141996 1997 1998 19992Quez Watkins2,4042017 2018 20193Todd Pinkston2,3661996 1997 1998 19994DeAndre Brown2,2072008 2009 20105Jason Brownlee2,1442020 2021 20226Shawn Nelson2,0542005 2006 2007 20087Tim Jones2,0112017 2018 2019 20208LeRoy Handy1,8901999 2000 2001 20029Michael Thomas1,7932014 201510Marvin Young1,7172001 2002 2003 2004
+ Single season1Michael Thomas1,39120152Sherrod Gideon1,18619983Quez Watkins1,17820194Allenzae Staggers1,16520165DeAndre Brown1,11720086Cliff Coggin1,08719497Sherrod Gideon1,00819978Todd Pinkston97719999Casey Martin925201510Tim Jones9022019
+ Single game1Allenzae Staggers2922016 Rice2Kendrick Lee2601996 Houston3Allenzae Staggers2302016 Louisiana-Lafayette4DeAndre Brown2212008 Rice5Quez Watkins2092019 Troy6Todd Pinkston2031998 Nevada7Quez Watkins1982019North Texas8Rickey Bradley, Jr.1932013 Texas State9Sherrod Gideon1921998 Alabama10Michael Thomas1902015 WashingtonHeart of Dallas Bowl
Receiving touchdowns
+ Career1Sherrod Gideon301996 1997 1998 19992DeAndre Brown242008 2009 20103Todd Pinkston221996 1997 1998 19994Jason Brownlee212020 2021 20225Michael Thomas192014 20156Marvin Young172001 2002 2003 2004Quez Watkins172017 2018 20198Shawn Nelson162005 2006 2007 20089Martin Harvey141977 1978 1979 198010Chris McGee131984 1985 1986 1987Antwon Courington132002 2003 2004 2005Kelvin Bolden132010 2011
+ Single season1Michael Thomas1420152Sherrod Gideon1319983DeAndre Brown1220084Todd Pinkston1119995Cliff Coggin91949Billy Mikel91969Sherrod Gideon91997DeAndre Brown92009Quez Watkins9201810Jason Brownlee8 2021 Jason Brownlee8 2022
+ Single game1DeAndre Brown42008 RiceKendrick Lee31996 HoustonSherrod Gideon31997 MemphisSherrod Gideon31998 Louisiana-LafayetteTodd Pinkston31999 Louisiana-LafayetteGerald Baptiste32009 HoustonMichael Thomas32015 North TexasAllenzae Staggers32016 RiceQuez Watkins32018 Jackson State
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.
Total offense yards
+ Career1Austin Davis12,267 2008 2009 2010 20112Nick Mullens11,779 2013 2014 2015 20163Brett Favre7,606 1987 1988 1989 19904Dustin Almond7,602 2002 2003 2004 20055Jeff Kelly7,113 1998 1999 2000 20016Jack Abraham7,0922018 2019 20207Lee Roberts5,777 1995 1996 1997 19988Reggie Collier5,966 1979 1980 1981 19829Damion Fletcher5,305 2006 2007 2008 200910Frank Gore Jr.4,4022020 2021 2022 2023
+ Single season1Nick Mullens4,384 20152Austin Davis3,848 20113Austin Davis3,636 20084Jack Abraham3,573 20195Austin Davis3,555 20106Braylon Braxton3,26920257Nick Mullens3,213 20168Dustin Almond2,763 20059Jeff Kelly2,645 200110Brett Favre2,563 1989
+ Single game1Nick Mullens5992016 Rice2Jack Abraham4892019 Troy3Austin Davis4452008 Rice4Nick Mullens4392014 Middle Tennessee5Nick Mullens4222015 Nebraska6Arsenio Favor4162012 UTEP7Jeff Kelly4152001 TulaneBraylon Braxton4152025 Louisiana Tech9Jack Abraham4112019 North Texas10Martevious Young4042009 HoustonAustin Davis4042010 Houston
Total touchdowns
+ Career1Austin Davis108 2008 2009 2010 20112Nick Mullens96 2013 2014 2015 20163Dustin Almond64 2002 2003 2004 20054Jeff Kelly59 1998 1999 2000 20015Brett Favre53 1987 1988 1989 19906Lee Roberts52 1995 1996 1997 19987Jack Abraham482018 2019 20208Damion Fletcher45 2006 2007 2008 20099Reggie Collier42 1979 1980 1981 198210Sammy Winder39 1978 1979 1980 1981
+ Single season1Nick Mullens41 20152Austin Davis34 20113Austin Davis32 20084Austin Davis30 20105Nick Mullens28 20166Dustin Almond25 2005 Jack Abraham25 2019 Braylon Braxton2520259Lee Roberts24 199810Jeff Kelly22 1999
+ Single game1Dustin Almond62005 UCFAustin Davis62008 UABAustin Davis62010 HoustonNick Mullens62013 UAB
Defense Note: The 2014 Southern Miss Football Media Guide does not give a full top 10 for defensive statistics.
Interceptions
+ Career1Bubba Phillips251947 1948 1949 19502Ray Guy181970 1971 19723Patrick Surtain161994 1995 1996 19974Billy Devrow151964 1965 19665Kerry Valrie141987 1988 1989 1990
+ Single season1Bubba Phillips81949Billy Devrow81965Ray Guy819724Frank Spruiell71948Bubba Phillips71948Steve Fore71967
+ Single game1Larry Ussery41967 Louisiana Tech2George Sekul31957 HoustonDavid Odom31979 LouisvilleLabarion Rankins31992 East CarolinaEtric Pruitt32002 ArmyJosh Moten32025 Arkansas StateKobi Albert32026 Alcorn State
Tackles
+ Career1Rod Davis5262000 2001 2002 20032Clump Taylor5101976 1977 1978 19793Onesimus Henry4381984 1985 1986 1987Sidney Coleman4381984 1985 1986 19875Mike Dennery4311971 1972 1973
+ Single season1Mike Dennery18519722Ron Cheatham17719743Rod Davis16820024Rod Davis16420035Michael Boley1512003
+ Single game1T.J. Slaughter261999 Texas A&M2Rod Davis222003 Cincinnati3Thad McDowell211989 Louisiana-LafayetteWilliam Kirksey211989 Louisiana-LafayetteLeo Barnes211999 Texas A&MGerald McRath212007 UCF
Sacks
+ Career1Adalius Thomas34.51996 1997 1998 19992Michael Boley28.02001 2002 2003 2004Cordarro Law28.02008 2009 2010 20114Cedric Scott26.01997 1998 1999 20005Jamie Collins21.02009 2010 2011 2012
+ Single season1Adalius Thomas12.519982Cedric Scott12.020003Michael Boley11.020034Rod Davis10.520025Chris Jackson10.02012 Jamie Collins10.01983 Dominic Quewon10.02022
+ Single game1Chris Jackson4.01983 Louisiana TechCedric Scott4.02000 Houston3Chris Jackson3.01983 Ole MissRod Reed3.01988 TulaneMichael Tobias3.01993 PittsburghJeffrey Posey3.01996 TulaneRoy Magee3.02000 HoustonMichael Boley3.02003 East CarolinaTom Johnson3.02005 UCFJamie Collins3.02012 UABDaylen Gill3.02022 RiceJ'Mond Tapp3.02025 App State
Kicking
Field goals made
+ Career1Darren McCaleb692003 2004 2005 20062Danny Hrapmann532009 2010 2011 20123Parker Shaunfield472015 2016 2017 20184Corey Acosta432011 2012 2013 20145Steve Clark411981 1982 19836Briggs Bourgeois402017 2018 2020 2021 20227Rex Banks371983 1984 1985 19868Andrew Stein352019 2022 2023 20249Brant Hanna331998 1999 2000 200110Justin Estes292007 2008 2009 2010
+ Single season1Danny Hrapmann2620102Darren McCaleb232005Danny Hrapmann2320114Corey Acosta1920145Andrew Stein182019 Briggs Bourgeois18 20227Steve Clark171982Parker Shaunfield172017Andrew Stein17202310Steve Clark161983Rex Banks161984Darren McCaleb162004Darren McCaleb162006Parker Shaunfield162018