The North Carolina Tar Heels football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the North Carolina Tar Heels football program in various categories. These categories include passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, all-purpose yardage, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Tar Heels represent University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the NCAA's Atlantic Coast Conference.
Although North Carolina began competing in intercollegiate football in 1888, the school's official record generally does not include statistics from before the 1940s, as records from earlier years are often incomplete and inconsistent.
These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons: Since 1940s, 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.
These lists are updated through the 2025 season. Note that the NCAA does not officially recognize statistics for Hakeem Nicks and Deunta Williams, who were implicated in the scandal that caused the Tar Heels to retroactively forfeit all wins in the 2008 and 2009 seasons. However, the full stats of these players are listed in the school's media guide, and also here. The NCAA continues to recognize statistics from those seasons amassed by players who were not implicated in the scandal.
Passing
Passing yards
+ Career1Sam Howell10,2832019 2020 20212T. J. Yates9,3772007 2008 2009 20103Darian Durant8,7552001 2002 2003 20044Bryn Renner8,2212010 2011 2012 20135Drake Maye8,0182021 2022 20236Marquise Williams7,9652012 2013 2014 20157Ronald Curry4,9871998 1999 2000 20018Mitch Trubisky4,7522014 2015 20169Jason Stanicek4,6831991 1992 1993 199410Mike Thomas4,3681991 1992 1993 1994 1995
+ Single season1 Drake Maye 4,321 20222Mitch Trubisky3,74820163 Sam Howell 3,641 20194 Drake Maye 3,608 20235 Sam Howell 3,586 20206T. J. Yates3,41820107Bryn Renner3,3562012 8 Bryn Renner 3,086 2011 9 Marquise Williams 3,072 2015 10 Marquise Williams 3,068 2014
+ Single game1Sam Howell5502020 Wake Forest2Marquise Williams4942015 Duke3Jacolby Criswell4752024 James Madison4Mitch Trubisky4532016Pittsburgh5Drake Maye4482022 Wake Forest6Sam Howell4432020 Virginia7Drake Maye4422023 Syracuse8T. J. Yates4392010 Florida State9Mitch Trubisky4322016James Madison10Darian Durant4172002 Arizona State
Passing touchdowns
+ Career1 Sam Howell 92 2019 2020 20212Darian Durant682001 2002 2003 20043Bryn Renner642010 2011 2012 20134Drake Maye632021 2022 20235Marquise Williams612012 2013 2014 20156T. J. Yates582007 2008 2009 20107Mitch Trubisky41 2014 2015 20168Chris Keldorf351996 19979Matt Kupec331976 1977 1978 197910Scott Stankavage301980 1981 1982 1983
+ Single season 1 Sam Howell 38 2019 Drake Maye 38 2022 3 Sam Howell 30 2020 Mitch Trubisky 30 2016 5 Bryn Renner 28 2012 6 Bryn Renner 26 2011 7 Marquise Williams 24 2015 Sam Howell 24 2021 Drake Maye 24 2023 10 Chris Keldorf 23 1996
+ Single game1Sam Howell62020 Wake Forest2Kevin Anthony51985 Wake ForestDarian Durant52002 Arizona StateBryn Renner52012 LouisvilleBryn Renner52012 MarylandMarquise Williams52013 Old DominionMitch Trubisky52016 Pittsburgh Sam Howell 5 2019 Virginia Tech Sam Howell 5 2021 Virginia Drake Maye 5 2022 FAMU Drake Maye5 2022 Notre Dame Drake Maye5 2022 Pittsburgh
Rushing
Rushing yards
+ Career1Amos Lawrence4,3911977 1978 1979 19802Mike Voight3,9711973 1974 1975 19763Leon Johnson3,6931993 1994 1995 19964Omarion Hampton3,565 2022 2023 20245Michael Carter3,4032017 2018 2019 20206Kelvin Bryant3,2671979 1980 1981 19827Don McCauley3,1721968 1969 19708Ethan Horton3,0741981 1982 1983 1984Natrone Means3,0741990 1991 199210Charlie Justice2,6341946 1947 1948 1949
+ Single season1Don McCauley1,72019702Omarion Hampton1,66020243Omarion Hampton1,50420234Elijah Hood1,46320155Mike Voight1,40719766Giovani Bernard1,25320117Mike Voight1,2501975Derrick Fenner1,25019869Ethan Horton1,247198410Michael Carter1,2452020
+ Single game1Derrick Fenner3281986 Virginia2Michael Carter3082020 Miami3Kennard Martin2911988 Duke4Amos Lawrence2861977 Virginia5Don McCauley2791970 Duke6Giovani Bernard2622012 Virginia Tech7Mike Voight2611976 Duke8Natrone Means2561990 Duke9Natrone Means2491992 Maryland10Kelvin Bryant2471981 Duke
Rushing touchdowns
+ Career1Leon Johnson431993 1994 1995 19962Mike Voight421973 1974 1975 19763Omarion Hampton362022 2023 20244Marquise Williams352012 2013 2014 20155Natrone Means341990 1991 19926Kelvin Bryant321979 1980 1981 19827Javonte Williams292018 2019 2020Don McCauley291968 1969 1970Elijah Hood292014 2015 201610Charlie Justice281946 1947 1948 1949Amos Lawrence281977 1978 1979 1980
+ Single season1Don McCauley1919702Javonte Williams19 20203Mike Voight1819764Kelvin Bryant1719815Elijah Hood1720156 Omarion Hampton 15 2023Omarion Hampton15 20248Leon Johnson1419939 Ty Chandler 13 2021Natrone Means131992Giovani Bernard132011Marquise Williams132014 Marquise Williams 132015
+ Single game1Kelvin Bryant61981 East Carolina
Receiving
Receptions
+ Career1Ryan Switzer2442013 2014 2015 20162Quinshad Davis2052012 2013 2014 20153Josh Downs2022020 2021 20224Dazz Newsome1882017 2018 2019 20205Hakeem Nicks1812006 2007 20086Jarwarski Pollock1772002 2003 2004 20057Erik Highsmith1662009 2010 2011 20128Na Brown1651995 1996 1997 19989Corey Holliday1551990 1991 1992 199310Dwight Jones1522008 2009 2010 2011
+ Single season1Josh Downs10120212Ryan Switzer9620163Josh Downs9420224Dwight Jones8520115Hakeem Nicks7420076Dazz Newsome7220197Jarwarski Pollock7120038Sam Aiken682002Hakeem Nicks68200810Greg Little622009Dwight Jones622010Eric Ebron622013
+ Single game1Charlie Carr161966 Air ForceQuinshad Davis162012 VirginiaRyan Switzer162016 Pittsburgh4Josh Downs152022 VirginiaNate McCollum152023 Minnesota6Ryan Switzer142016 Florida State7Ryan Switzer132016 NC State8Bud Phillips121966 Virginia9Earl Winfield111985 LSULeon Johnson111995 DukeJarwarski Pollock112003 NC StateBrooks Foster112006 RutgersDwight Jones112010 DukeDyami Brown112020 VirginiaJosh Downs112021 Miami (FL)Josh Downs112022 PittsburghJosh Downs112022 Wake ForestJosh Downs112022 ClemsonDevontez Walker112023 Virginia
Receiving yards
+ Career1Ryan Switzer2,9072013 2014 2015 20162Hakeem Nicks2,8402006 2007 20083Quinshad Davis2,6142012 2013 2014 20154Josh Downs2,4832020 2021 20225Corey Holliday2,4471990 1991 1992 19936Dazz Newsome2,4352017 2018 2019 20207Octavus Barnes2,3981994 1995 1996 19978Dyami Brown2,3062018 2019 20209Sam Aiken2,2051999 2000 2001 200210Dwight Jones2,1632008 2009 2010 2011
+ Single season1Josh Downs1,33520212Hakeem Nicks1,22220083Dwight Jones1,19620114Ryan Switzer1,11220165Dyami Brown 1,099 20206 Dyami Brown 1,034 20197 Josh Downs 1,029 20228Dazz Newsome1,01820199Sam Aiken990200210Eric Ebron9732013
+ Single game1Randy Marriott2471987 Georgia Tech2Dyami Brown2402020 Virginia3Dwight Jones2332010 Florida State4Jheranie Boyd2212010 LSU5Hakeem Nicks2172008 West Virginia6Octavus Barnes2111995 Ohio7Ryan Switzer2082016 Pittsburgh8Josh Downs2032021 Virginia9Dyami Brown2022019 Virginia10Eric Ebron1992013 Miami (FL)
Receiving touchdowns
+ Career1Quinshad Davis252012 2013 2014 20152 Josh Downs 222020 2021 20223Hakeem Nicks212006 2007 2008Dyami Brown212018 2019 20205Mack Hollins202013 2014 2015 20166Octavus Barnes191994 1995 1996 1997Ryan Switzer19 2013 2014 2015 20168Art Weiner181946 1947 1948 1949Bug Howard18 2013 2014 2015 2016Dazz Newsome182017 2018 2019 2020
+ Single season1Hakeem Nicks122008Dwight Jones122011 Dyami Brown 12 20194 Josh Downs 11 20225Quinshad Davis102013Dazz Newsome1020197Marcus Wall919948Mike Chatham81979Mark Smith81983Earl Winfield81985Sam Aiken82001Mack Hollins82014Mack Hollins82015 Bug Howard 8 2016 Dyami Brown 8 2020 Josh Downs 8 2021
+ Single game1Chesley Borders42002 Arizona State
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.
Total offense yards
+ Career1Sam Howell11,2922019 2020 20212Marquise Williams10,423 2012 2013 2014 20153Darian Durant9,630 2001 2002 2003 20044Drake Maye9,227 2021 2022 20235T. J. Yates9,044 2007 2008 2009 20106Bryn Renner8,128 2010 2011 2012 20137Ronald Curry6,236 1998 1999 2000 20018Jason Stanicek5,497 1991 1992 1993 19949Mitch Trubisky5,1912014 2015 201610Mike Thomas4,653 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
+ Single season1Drake Maye5,019 20222Drake Maye4,057 20233Mitch Trubisky4,05620164Marquise Williams4,020 20155Sam Howell3,884 20216Marquise Williams3,856 20147Sam Howell3,732 20208Sam Howell3,676 20199Bryn Renner3,394 201210T. J. Yates3,341 2010
+ Single game1Sam Howell5712020 Wake Forest2Marquise Williams5242015 Duke3Drake Maye5192022 Wake Forest4Drake Maye4972023 Syracuse5Jacolby Criswell4802024 James Madison6Marquise Williams4692013 Old Dominion7Marquise Williams4632014 Georgia Tech8Mitch Trubisky4582016 James Madison9Sam Howell4562021 Georgia State10Drake Maye4502022 Duke
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.
+ Career1Sam Howell109 2019 2020 20212Marquise Williams96 2012 2013 2014 20153 Darian Durant 79 2001 2002 2003 2004 Drake Maye79 2021 2022 20235Bryn Renner68 2010 2011 2012 20136T. J. Yates65 2007 2008 2009 20107Charlie Justice53 1946 1947 1948 19498Mitch Trubisky492014 2015 20169Leon Johnson44 1993 1994 1995 199610Mike Voight42 1973 1974 1975 1976
+ Single season1Drake Maye45 20222 Sam Howell 39 20193Marquise Williams37 20154 Sam Howell 35 2020 Mitch Trubisky352016 Sam Howell 35 20217Marquise Williams34 20148 Drake Maye 33 20239Bryn Renner29 201210 Bryn Renner 27 2011
+ Single game1Sam Howell72020 Wake Forest2Kelvin Bryant61981 East Carolina
All-purpose yardage All-purpose yardage is the sum of all yards credited to a player who is in possession of the ball. It includes rushing, receiving, and returns, but does not include passing.
North Carolina's media guide fully lists career and single-season leaders in all-purpose yards, but does not break down their performances by type of play. It only lists the single-game leader, but does fully break down his performance.
+ Career 1 Leon Johnson 5,828 1993 1994 1995 1996 2 Don McCauley 5,014 1968 1969 1970 3 Amos Lawrence 4,928 1977 1978 1979 1980 4 T. J. Logan 4,926 2013 2014 2015 2016 5 Brandon Tate 4,744 2005 2006 2007 2008 6 Michael Carter 4,710 2017 2018 2019 2020 7 Charlie Justice 4,670 1946 1947 1948 1949 8 Mike Voight 4,472 1973 1974 1975 1976 9 Eric Blount 4,391 1988 1989 1990 1991 10 Omarion Hampton4,3512022 2023 2024
+ Single season 1 Omarion Hampton2,033 2024 2 Don McCauley 2,021 1970 3 Giovani Bernard 1,981 2012 4 Leon Johnson 1,832 1996 5 Don McCauley 1,770 1969 6 Brandon Tate 1,765 2007 7 Omarion Hampton1,7262023 8 James Betterson 1,647 1974 9 Giovani Bernard 1,615 2011 10 T. J. Logan 1,584 2016
+ Single game 1 Brandon Tate 397 2009 McNeese State
Defense
Interceptions
+ Career1Dré Bly201996 1997 19982Lou Angelo161970 1971 19723Tre Boston132010 2011 2012 20134Buddy Curry121976 1977 1978 1979Bobby Cale121975 1976 1977 1978Trimane Goddard122004 2005 2007 2008Deunta Williams122007 2008 2009 20108Steve Streater111978 1979 1980
+ Single season1Dré Bly1119962Lou Angelo819723Junior Edge71961Trimane Goddard720085Don Jackson61935Dick Bunting61949Walter Black61981Larry Griffin61985Derrick Donald61986Deunta Williams62009
+ Single game1Don Jackson41935 Tennessee
Tackles
+ Career1not listed in media guide
+ Single season1Buddy Curry17119792Dexter Reid16620023Troy Simmons1621984Carl Carr1621985Brett Rudolph16219856Dwight Hollier15919897Buddy Curry1551978Dwight Hollier15519909Micah Moon153198410Darrell Nicholson1471979
Sacks