The all-time Heisman reception chart
Only five players in college football history have made their marks primarily as pass catchers on their way to winning the Heisman Trophy.
Johnny Rodgers, Tim Brown and Desmond Howard did so as wide receivers, while Leon Hart and Larry Kelley were essentially tight ends who played on both side of the ball.
Receiving has often played a key part of the repertoire of Heisman-contending running backs as well (the 2015 Heisman runner up, Christian McCaffrey, caught 40 passes, for instance). Even quarterbacks have fallen into the habit of catching passes on their way to winning the Heisman.
With that in mind, here’s a list of the top receiving seasons in Heisman history, by category:
SEASON RECEPTIONS
| Name | Year | Receptions |
| Desmond Howard | 1991 | 61 |
| Johnny Rodgers | 1972 | 54 |
| Eddie George | 1995 | 44 |
| Tim Brown | 1987 | 39 |
| Mark Ingram | 2009 | 30 |
| Marcus Allen | 1981 | 29 |
| Ricky Williams | 1998 | 24 |
| Rashaan Salaam | 1994 | 24 |
| Glenn Davis | 1946 | 20 |
| Leon Hart | 1949 | 19 |
| Barry Sanders | 1988 | 19 |
| OJ Simpson | 1968 | 18 |
| Larry Kelley | 1936 | 17 |
| Joe Bellino | 1960 | 17 |
| Ernie Davis | 1961 | 16 |
| Pete Dawkins | 1958 | 16 |
| Charles White | 1979 | 16 |
SEASON YARDS
| Name | Year | Yards |
| Desmond Howard | 1991 | 950 |
| Johnny Rodgers | 1972 | 919 |
| Tim Brown | 1987 | 846 |
| Pete Dawkins | 1958 | 494 |
| Eddie George | 1995 | 389 |
| Larry Kelley | 1936 | 372 |
| Glenn Davis | 1946 | 348 |
| Mark Ingram | 2009 | 322 |
| Rashaan Salaam | 1994 | 294 |
| Joe Bellino | 1960 | 280 |
| Doak Walker | 1948 | 278 |
| Ricky Williams | 1998 | 262 |
| Leon Hart | 1949 | 257 |
| Charles Woodson | 1997 | 231 |
| Marcus Allen | 1981 | 217 |
| John Lattner | 1953 | 204 |
SEASON TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
| Name | Year | TDs |
| Desmond Howard | 1991 | 19 |
| Johnny Rodgers | 1972 | 8 |
| Pete Dawkins | 1958 | 6 |
| Glenn Davis | 1946 | 6 |
| Leon Hart | 1949 | 5 |
| Larry Kelley | 1936 | 4 |
| Tim Brown | 1987 | 3 |
| Joe Bellino | 1960 | 3 |
| Mark Ingram | 2009 | 3 |
| Felix “Doc” Blanchard | 1945 | 3 |
| Charles Woodson | 1997 | 2 |
| Ernie Davis | 1961 | 2 |
OTHER RECEIVING SUPERLATIVES
Highest Yards per Catch, Season: 41.50, Felix “Doc” Blanchard, 1945.
Most Catches in One Game: 8, Desmond Howard, 1991; Johnny Rodgers, 1972; Eddie George, 1995.
Most TD receptions in One Game: 3, Desmond Howard (at Boston College; vs. Indiana), 1991.
Most Receiving Yards in One Game: 155, Desmond Howard at Minnesota, 1991.
Highest Yards per Catch, Game: 64.0, Herschel Walker at Kentucky, 1982.
Most 100-yard receiving Games, Season: 4, Desmond Howard, 1991
