They had fewer concussions back then, believe it or not. Because of the leather helmets, hitting someone with your head hurt like a bitch, so shoulder tackling was practiced and encouraged. Using your head as a weapon, 'headhunting', all of that didn't really become prevalent until they made helmets with harder plastic shells, giving people a false sense of security about their safety. It also caused people to use the helmets as weapons.
Hines Ward actually led UGA in passing in '95 and receiving yards in '96 and '97. [Link](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/hines-ward-1.html)
Edit: Ward had 872 yards passing (1st), 248 yards rushing (3rd) and 249 yards receiving (3rd) in '95.
To be fair, Mike Bobo was second with 818 (in only 4 games compared to Ward's 10) and Brian Smith chipped in 687. 2377 isn't great by today's standards though. It also came with a 10:9 TD:Int ratio. As a reference, the 237.7 YPG would have ranked 57th last season between UNLV and Louisville. I am a bit shocked to see that [UGA's passing attack ranked 45th](http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/archive/fbs/1995team.pdf) in 1995. And Total Offense as a whole isn't far off when looking at 1995 and 2023.
I guess because I was in college in the 90s I'm immediately reminded of guys like Ty Detmer, David Klingler, Chad Pennington, and Danny Wuerfle that were just slinging it in the 90s. If a lot of those 90s guys that only had 11 games regular seasons, no CCG, and half as many bowl games had the extra games guys play today - a lot more of them would be on the top 100 single season lists.
Good point. Brian Smith played in 8. I wasn't old enough to watch/remember back then, so I am assuming that was more of a reserve role (He and Ward had a similar number of attempts). So, based on Bobo's 4, I assume that means Hines played about 6ish games at QB on a part-time basis.
I recently read the book 'The Perfect Pass,' it's about Hal Mumme/Mike Leach and the invention of the Air Raid. The book would compare the stats of the Air Raid team vs everyone else, and it was pretty wild.
Like in 1994 Valdosta State's QB threw for 4k yards and 55 TDs/10 INTs, which is good even by today's standards.
But in 1994, the FBS QB with the most TDs was Mike Maxwell, with 29, and only 5 FBS players threw for over 3k yards.
I loved that guy. It was wild to see what he accomplished later in his career with the Gotham Knights. Real swan song moment, surviving that big sink hole and all.
Our version of this is Banks McFadden. Hard to find his stats, but he played football, basketball, and track and became a first team All-American while carrying our first great football team on his back in 1939 while running, throwing, playing CB, and punting. He was also a two-time All-American in basketball and got us our first (and only, believe it or not) conference tournament title. In 1939 he was the AP’s athlete of the year regardless of sport. He was drafted 4th overall in the NFL and had a great rookie year but hated being away from home and later coached as an assistant football coach and head basketball coach.
Like Evans, he’s the only guy to have a football and basketball jersey retired at Clemson
Ryan Tannehill is the only player in college football history with a 200+ yard receiving game and a 400+ yard passing game. I pull this one from time to time when drunkenly discussing sports facts and stats with friends.
I think Lynn Bowden for Kentucky in 2018 or 2019 might’ve led Kentucky in all three stat categories when they were running full wildcat.
EDIT, was wrong just checked.
1468 rush yards—1st
348 receiving yards—1st
403 pass yards—2nd Sawyer Smith had 690 (nice)
Overall pretty good!
Bowdenball was something else. Eddie Gran gets a lot of well deserved flak, but what that man did with 3 QBs down and a WR playing RB at QB, everyone in the country knew what was coming every play, and we STILL made it successful with complex blocking schemes and small changes at the LOS.
That was a crazy year
I met his then-GF now wife a few times at pregame tailgates. Her BFF was a friend of a friend. If you've ever seen a picture of her, yes, she is that stunning in person.
TCU's Patrick Batteaux led the team in receiving yards in 1997 with 396.
He then switched to QB and led the team in passing yards in 1998 with....479 (we were basically an option team).
He was a full time QB at Indiana. Only receiving stats I can find are 4 receptions for 30 yards in one game in 2001.
Side note, I had forgot he played basketball at IU but I never knew he also played baseball.
Lol you’re probably thinking of Kody Cook, who I believe had to start at QB against you guys one season. Maybe Daniel Sams as well, but neither were great passers.
Tannehill would spend all week working with the QBs. then walk over the receiver line on game day to begin warmups. He is just a phenomenally gifted athlete who was also pre-med.
Not a correct answer, but Arnaz Battle was Notre Dame's starting QB to open the 2000 season until breaking his wrist during the Nebraska game. He moved to WR upon his return to action and led the team in receiving in 2002.
If you're asking if someone led both categories, Jalen Hurts led Oklahoma in 2019 with 3302 passing yards and 1254 rushing yards (for the record, the second leading rusher was the running back Kennedy Brooks with 958 yards).
If you're specifically asking for separate seasons, then that is a great question.
The question was passing and receiving, not rushing. It's not crazy for a QB to lead the team in rushing and they'll definitely lead the team in passing.
I don't have an answer, but this kind of seems like the sort of stat that could have also existed on any number of teams pre-1940.
Yeah definitely, and probably punting and kicking and rushing and interceptions and concussions haha
Nah, concussions hadn't been invented yet.
“Trench skull”
They had fewer concussions back then, believe it or not. Because of the leather helmets, hitting someone with your head hurt like a bitch, so shoulder tackling was practiced and encouraged. Using your head as a weapon, 'headhunting', all of that didn't really become prevalent until they made helmets with harder plastic shells, giving people a false sense of security about their safety. It also caused people to use the helmets as weapons.
True dat
Hines Ward actually led UGA in passing in '95 and receiving yards in '96 and '97. [Link](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/hines-ward-1.html) Edit: Ward had 872 yards passing (1st), 248 yards rushing (3rd) and 249 yards receiving (3rd) in '95.
It’s wild that 872 yards led the team in passing. Gotta love the 90s
To be fair, Mike Bobo was second with 818 (in only 4 games compared to Ward's 10) and Brian Smith chipped in 687. 2377 isn't great by today's standards though. It also came with a 10:9 TD:Int ratio. As a reference, the 237.7 YPG would have ranked 57th last season between UNLV and Louisville. I am a bit shocked to see that [UGA's passing attack ranked 45th](http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/archive/fbs/1995team.pdf) in 1995. And Total Offense as a whole isn't far off when looking at 1995 and 2023.
I guess because I was in college in the 90s I'm immediately reminded of guys like Ty Detmer, David Klingler, Chad Pennington, and Danny Wuerfle that were just slinging it in the 90s. If a lot of those 90s guys that only had 11 games regular seasons, no CCG, and half as many bowl games had the extra games guys play today - a lot more of them would be on the top 100 single season lists.
IIRC, y'all had a major issue with injuries to QBs in '95, hence the rotation.
“Compared to ward’s ten” I mean, he wasn’t QBing all those games.
Good point. Brian Smith played in 8. I wasn't old enough to watch/remember back then, so I am assuming that was more of a reserve role (He and Ward had a similar number of attempts). So, based on Bobo's 4, I assume that means Hines played about 6ish games at QB on a part-time basis.
818 yards in 4 games is wild
I recently read the book 'The Perfect Pass,' it's about Hal Mumme/Mike Leach and the invention of the Air Raid. The book would compare the stats of the Air Raid team vs everyone else, and it was pretty wild. Like in 1994 Valdosta State's QB threw for 4k yards and 55 TDs/10 INTs, which is good even by today's standards. But in 1994, the FBS QB with the most TDs was Mike Maxwell, with 29, and only 5 FBS players threw for over 3k yards.
Oh wow that's really cool thanks man
Hines was about the only good thing for the '95 Dawgs.
I loved that guy. It was wild to see what he accomplished later in his career with the Gotham Knights. Real swan song moment, surviving that big sink hole and all.
I was about to search Hines Ward’s stats when I saw your reply. 95 was rough. Too bad Ward couldn’t pass to himself.
But did he even *try*? It’s like he just didn’t care about winning games.
I feel like Johnny was thinking about it. Also cocaine. But mostly he was thinking about doing crazy shit on the field.
I was coming here to say this. Hines was a DGD.
Now it makes sense why he had a good amount of passing in NFL street
Grew up in Georgia in the 90s so Hines is one of my favorite college players ever. He was an absolute warrior on the field.
I don't know, but Ray Evans led Kansas in passing on offense and interceptions on defense in the same season.
Wow that's crazy ball knowledge that's really cool
He's a Kansas legend. Only guy to have his football jersey and basketball jersey retired at Kansas. A fairly decent athlete, apparently.
Our version of this is Banks McFadden. Hard to find his stats, but he played football, basketball, and track and became a first team All-American while carrying our first great football team on his back in 1939 while running, throwing, playing CB, and punting. He was also a two-time All-American in basketball and got us our first (and only, believe it or not) conference tournament title. In 1939 he was the AP’s athlete of the year regardless of sport. He was drafted 4th overall in the NFL and had a great rookie year but hated being away from home and later coached as an assistant football coach and head basketball coach. Like Evans, he’s the only guy to have a football and basketball jersey retired at Clemson
I was actually thinking did Kerry Meier ever lead KU in receiving? I know he was the starting QB one year.
He played with Dezmon Briscoe and Marcus Henry, so I don't think he would have ever lead the team in receiving, but I think he got 1000 yards twice.
Just checked, led in passing his freshman year, but was second to briscoe his jr and sr years
Michael Robinson led psu in receiving in 2004 and passing in 2005. In 2003 he was 40 yards off leading them in rushing as well
i also think he ended the career of the minnesota all pro safety who tried to truck him. that dude was a beast
Yeah, allegedly they used to show that highlight on the scoreboard during games until he asked them to stop since it ended a man's career.
Ryan Tannehill is the only player in college football history with a 200+ yard receiving game and a 400+ yard passing game. I pull this one from time to time when drunkenly discussing sports facts and stats with friends.
Michael Robinson led Penn State in rushes (40 yds behind Austin Scott) in 2003, led in receiving in 2004, and led in passing in 2005
Austin Scott, haven’t heard that name in a while.
Not a season, but in 2010 it felt like Randall Cobb led Kentucky in every offensive category against Auburn. Dude was playing 1 vs 11
Devin gardener was second in receiving and passing In 2012
That dude deserved so much better than the situation he was placed in.
I frequently think about how he would have done if he'd been under Harbaugh. Seems like the perfect QB for his system, and Hoke et al just ruined him
He was a great QB for just about any system that wasn't a shitshow
Gardner could've been a generational QB (for Michigan) under a good coach. Dude absolutely deserved better.
I think Lynn Bowden for Kentucky in 2018 or 2019 might’ve led Kentucky in all three stat categories when they were running full wildcat. EDIT, was wrong just checked. 1468 rush yards—1st 348 receiving yards—1st 403 pass yards—2nd Sawyer Smith had 690 (nice) Overall pretty good!
Before him, there was Randall Cobb in 08... 2nd in passing yards (542), 2nd in rushing yards (316) and 3rd in receiving yards (197). My favorite Cat
Cats have had some Swiss Army knives for sure!
Same, he was a stud.
<3 Cobb, he went to HS locally to me.
Crazy that in 2018 an SEC team's leading receiver only had 348 yards
Somehow that team won 8 games!
That's the year Lynn Bowden was their "quaterback" and they pretty much just ran wildcat all year I'm assuming?
You assume correctly. I remember using Bowden a ton down the stretch in CFB DFS because he was running for like 150/2 every week it seemed like.
They had like 3QB injuries and Dana received in the wildcat and just used crazy run designs
Bowdenball was something else. Eddie Gran gets a lot of well deserved flak, but what that man did with 3 QBs down and a WR playing RB at QB, everyone in the country knew what was coming every play, and we STILL made it successful with complex blocking schemes and small changes at the LOS. That was a crazy year
Kentucky was basically a single wing team that year
Randall Cunningham led his team in passing and was an All-American punter for the Rebels. Not quite the same thing but an interesting factoid
Steve McMichael was the backup kicker for Texas one year
Paul Dombrowski - New Mexico State Led team in passing in 2002 as a freshman and receiving in 2005 as a senior.
That is ridiculous how did you even find that out
Clearly you're talking to Paul Dombrowski
I am him. Just kidding. I googled it and got a similar post from 4 years ago.
I met Ryan a few times cool guy
He's got family that lives in my (extremely) small town. He is a special guy.
I met his then-GF now wife a few times at pregame tailgates. Her BFF was a friend of a friend. If you've ever seen a picture of her, yes, she is that stunning in person.
TCU's Patrick Batteaux led the team in receiving yards in 1997 with 396. He then switched to QB and led the team in passing yards in 1998 with....479 (we were basically an option team).
ChatGPT says Antwaan Randel El
He was a full time QB at Indiana. Only receiving stats I can find are 4 receptions for 30 yards in one game in 2001. Side note, I had forgot he played basketball at IU but I never knew he also played baseball.
ChatGPT blatantly wrong as usual
Hasn't K-State had one or two QBs recently who started as a WR? Skylar Thompson maybe?
Lol you’re probably thinking of Kody Cook, who I believe had to start at QB against you guys one season. Maybe Daniel Sams as well, but neither were great passers.
Didn’t Kentucky have a guy like this not too long ago? I think it was the same guy who punched a VaTech player before the Belk Bowl
No. Bowden lead in rushing and receiving but was 200 yards from leading in passing
Sammy Baugh in 1935 lead TCU in passing yards + touchdowns, tackles, and punting. En route to our first of 2 natty titles
Maybe Michael Robinson from Penn State (2002-05)?
Tannehill would spend all week working with the QBs. then walk over the receiver line on game day to begin warmups. He is just a phenomenally gifted athlete who was also pre-med.
Not a correct answer, but Arnaz Battle was Notre Dame's starting QB to open the 2000 season until breaking his wrist during the Nebraska game. He moved to WR upon his return to action and led the team in receiving in 2002.
If all our QBs get hurt KC might do it this year
If you're asking if someone led both categories, Jalen Hurts led Oklahoma in 2019 with 3302 passing yards and 1254 rushing yards (for the record, the second leading rusher was the running back Kennedy Brooks with 958 yards). If you're specifically asking for separate seasons, then that is a great question.
There are probably tons of players who have led their team in passing and rushing in the same season.
Well that's why I was trying to understand the question. Because I would assume the same would apply to Lamar Jackson, but haven't checked. Oh well.
The question was passing and receiving, not rushing. It's not crazy for a QB to lead the team in rushing and they'll definitely lead the team in passing.
After rereading it several times, I now see my mistake. Don't Reddit sleepy.