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] | Jim Benton | 814[2] | Walter Nelson (Michigan State) | 21.6 | |||
| 1938 | Sam Boyd (Baylor) | 32 | Sam Boyd | 537[3] | Elmer Tarbox (Texas Tech) | 21.4 | |||
| 1939 | Ken Kavanaugh (LSU) | 30 | Ken Kavanaugh | 467 | Earle Clark (Texas Tech) | 17.3 | |||
| 1940 | Eddie Bryant (Virginia) | 30 | Don Vosberg (Marquette) | 526[4] | Don Vosberg | 21.9 | |||
| 1941 | Hank Stanton (Arizona) | 50 | Hank Stanton | 820 | Lenny Krouse (Penn State) | 16.8 | |||
| 1942 | Bill Rogers (Texas A&M) | 39 | Harding Miller (SMU) | 531[5] | George Poschner (Georgia) | 20.5 | |||
| 1943 | Neill Armstrong (Oklahoma A&M) | 39 | Marion Flanagan (Texas A&M) | 403[6] | Marion Flanagan Billy Collins (VMI) | 17.5 | |||
| 1944 | Reid Moseley (Georgia) | 32 | Reid Moseley | 506[7] | Cecil Hankins (Oklahoma State) | 24.9 | |||
| 1945 | Reid Moseley (Georgia) Gene Wilson (SMU) Steve Contos (Michigan State) | 31 | Reid Moseley | 662[8] | Reid Moseley | 21.4 | |||
| 1946 | Neill Armstrong (Oklahoma State) James Montgomery (Arizona State) | 32 | Broughton Williams (Florida) | 490[9] | Broughton Williams | 16.9 | |||
| 1947 | Barney Poole (Ole Miss) | 52 | John Smith (Arizona) | 568[10] | John Smith | 18.3 | |||
| 1948 | Red O'Quinn (Wake Forest) | 39 | Red O'Quinn | 605[11] | Dick Wilkins (Oregon) | 19.3 | |||
| 1949 | Art Weiner (North Carolina) | 52 | Vito Ragazzo (William & Mary) | 793[12] | Vito Ragazzo | 18.0 | |||
| 1950 | Gordon Cooper (Denver) | 46[13] | Bucky Curtis (Vanderbilt) | 791[14] | Bucky Curtis | 29.3[15] | |||
| 1951 | Dewey McConnell (Wyoming) | 47 | Ed Barker (Washington State) | 864[16] | Ed Barker | 18.8 | |||
| 1952 | Ed Brown (Fordham) | 57 | Ed Brown | 774[17] | Jimmy Byron (VMI) | 18.9 | |||
| 1953 | Johnny Carson (Georgia) Ken Buck (Pacific) Sam Morley (Stanford) | 45 | Johnny Carson | 663[18] | Dave McLaughlin (Dartmouth) | 19.1 | |||
| 1954 | Jim Hanifan (California) | 45 | John Stewart (Stanford) | 577[19] | Andrew Nacrelli (Fordham) | 19.7 | |||
| 1955 | Hank Burnine (Missouri) | 44[20] | Hank Burnine | 594[21] | Jimmy Orr (Georgia) | 18.5 | |||
| 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 (Wyoming) | 1650 | Marcus Robinson (South Carolina) | 24.0 | Reidel Anthony (Florida) | 18 | |
| 1997[65] | Eugene Baker (Kent State) | 103 | Randy Moss (Marshall) | 1820 | Corey Alston (Washington State) | 23.8 | Randy Moss | 26 | |
| 1998[66] | Troy Edwards (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 (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 (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 (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 (Texas Tech) | 134 | Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech) | 1962 | Brennan Marion (Tulsa) | 31.9 | Michael Crabtree (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 (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 (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 (Oregon State) | 1730 | Devon Cajuste (Stanford) | 22.9 | Davante Adams (Fresno State) | 24 | |
| 2014[82] | Amari Cooper (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) &<br>Carlos Henderson (Louisiana Tech) | 19 | |
| 2017[85] | Trey Quinn (SMU) | 114 | James Washington (Oklahoma State) | 1549 | Aaron Cephus (Rice) | 24.9 | Anthony Miller (Memphis) &<br>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 (Notre Dame) | 7 | |||||||
| 1919 | Bernard Kirk (Notre Dame) | 21 | Bernard Kirk | 372 | |||||
| 1920 | Eddie Anderson[88] (Notre Dame) | 17 | Eddie Anderson | 293 | |||||
| 1921 | Eddie Anderson (Notre Dame) | 26 | Eddie Anderson | 394 | |||||
| 1922 | |||||||||
| 1923 | |||||||||
| 1924 | |||||||||
| 1925 | Myles Lane[89] (Dartmouth) | 7 | |||||||
| 1926 | |||||||||
| 1927 | |||||||||
| 1928 | |||||||||
| 1929 | Wear Schoonover (Arkansas) | 33 | |||||||
| 1930 | |||||||||
| 1931 | |||||||||
| 1932 | |||||||||
| 1933 | |||||||||
| 1934 | Don Hutson (Alabama) | 19 | |||||||
| 1935 | |||||||||
| 1936 | Jim Benton[90] (Arkansas) | 35 |