Tuesday, November 27, 2012

NFL Touchdown Streaks By College (Updated)

Last week, no former University of Miami player scored an NFL touchdown, marking the first time in 150 weeks that this had happened. Articles on the end of the streak, however, failed to give much detail on the streak. Was it a record? If so, whose record did it break?

(Update 11/27/2012: Pittsburgh's 30-week streak came to an end when Dion Lewis did not score Monday night.  Pitt's best chance at a touchdown this week failed when Eli Manning overthrew a wide-open Henry Hynoski at the 1.)

Most consecutive weeks with an NFL touchdown by alumni*, 1970**-2012:
WeeksCollegeFirst WeekLast WeekScorersLeading Scorer, TD (Weeks)OthersNotes
149Miami (FL)2002 - W152011 - W1034Clinton Portis, 70 (45)Reggie Wayne, 68 (59)
Willis McGahee, 63 (47)
Santana Moss, 53 (42)
Andre Johnson, 52 (44)
Edgerrin James, 50 (39)
Frank Gore, 49 (39)
Jeremy Shockey, 33 (31)
Devin Hester, 31 (25)
Greg Olsen, 24 (22)
Kellen Winslow Jr., 23 (20)
Bubba Franks, 16 (15)
Najeh Davenport, 15 (12)
Roscoe Parrish, 11 (11)
Ed Reed, 11 (11)
Jimmy Graham, 11 (9)
Phillip Buchanon, 6 (6)
Javarris James, 6 (4)
Antrel Rolle, 5 (4)
Ray Lewis, 3 (3)
Vinny Testaverde, 3 (3)
James Jackson, 3 (2)
Sinorice Moss, 3 (2)
Kenny Holmes, 2 (2)
Jarrett Payton, 2 (2)
Warren Sapp, 2 (2)
Jonathan Vilma, 2 (2)
Nate Webster, 2 (2)
Nick Luchey, 2 (1)
Bruce Johnson, 1 (1)
Andre King, 1 (1)
Brandon Meriweather, 1 (1)
Duane Starks, 1 (1)
Sean Taylor, 1 (1)
Miami went only 13 weeks without at least 2 TD.

The only Miami TD during the 100th week of the streak was
an Ed Reed 107-yard interception return.

Twice, Miami reached the 4th quarter of
Monday Night Football before scoring:
Week 4 of 2003, when Franks scored with 4:21 left,
& Week 2 of 2005, when Santana Moss scored with 3:46 to play.
(Moss would score the winning touchdown a minute later.)

A record-tying eight different Hurricanes scored Week 2 of 2007:
Franks, Gore (twice), Hester, Edgerrin James,
Andre Johnson (twice), McGahee, Portis, and Winslow Jr.

When the streak was snapped during Week 11 of 2011:
Winslow Jr. had a TD nullified by offensive pass interference;
Santana Moss, Andre Johnson, Shockey, & Lewis
were injured and inactive;
& Wayne, Gore, and Graham had byes.

Graham and Wayne each scored the next week.
82Ohio St.1996 - 102001 - 622Cris Carter, 57 (47)Eddie George, 48 (36)
Joey Galloway, 31 (24)
Robert Smith, 27 (23)
Rickey Dudley, 25 (19)
Terry Glenn, 20 (20)
Jeff Graham, 17 (11)
Raymont Harris, 15 (14)
David Boston, 10 (8)
Keith Byars, 8 (8)
Chris Sanders, 7 (6)
Kent Graham, 5 (4)
Joe Montgomery, 4 (4)
Shawn Springs, 4 (4)
Brian Stablein, 2 (2)
Michael Wiley, 2 (2)
Nate Clements, 1 (1)
Andy Katzenmoyer, 1 (1)
Rob Kelly, 1 (1)
Damon Moore, 1 (1)
William White, 1 (1)
Dan Wilkinson, 1 (1)
Carter extended the streak by himself 8 times,
most notably with a 4th quarter score on MNF Week 9 of 1999.

Eight Buckeyes combined for a
record-setting 11 TDs in Week 1 of 1997:
Byars, Carter (twice), George, Glenn,
Graham (twice), Harris (twice), Sanders, and Smith.

When the streak was snapped Week 7 of 2001:
On MNF, Eddie George ran for 13 yards on 10 carries.
George did have a 6-yard run on 1st-and-goal from the 8, but
was then replaced by Mike Green (no career TD at that point).
Green lost 2 yards on the next play.
73Michigan1996 - 142001 - 124Derrick Alexander, 27 (23)Leroy Hoard, 27 (21)
Tyrone Wheatley, 25 (18)
Amani Toomer, 23 (19)
Jay Riemersma, 17 (15)
Tim Biakabutuka, 16 (10)
Chris Calloway, 15 (14)
Tony McGee, 13 (12)
Damon Jones, 11 (11)
Desmond Howard, 6 (6)
Elvis Grbac, 3 (3)
Brian Griese, 3 (3)
Ty Law, 3 (3)
Jon Ritchie, 2 (2)
Aaron Shea, 2 (2)
Derrick Walker, 2 (2)
Charles Woodson, 2 (2)
Corwin Brown, 1 (1)
Mark Campbell, 1 (1)
Jumbo Elliott, 1 (1)
Ian Gold, 1 (1)
Chris Howard, 1 (1)
Trevor Pryce, 1 (1)
Andre Weathers, 1 (1)
Jumbo Elliott's TD was not needed to continue the
streak as Alexander, Biakabatuka, and Wheatley
had all scored the previous day.
66USC1978 - 21982 - 327Lynn Swann, 29 (24)Lynn Cain, 19 (14)
Bob Chandler, 19 (14)
Ricky Bell, 18 (16)
Sam Cunningham, 17 (17)
Vince Evans, 12 (11)
Ray Butler, 12 (9)
Charle Young, 9 (9)
Charles White, 9 (7)
Bob Klein, 7 (7)
O.J. Simpson, 6 (6)
Mosi Tatupu, 6 (5)
Jim Obradovich, 5 (5)
Marcus Allen, 5 (3)
Ronnie Lott, 3 (3)
Charlie Phillips, 3 (3)
Larry Braziel, 2 (2)
Jeff Fisher, 1 (1)
William Gay, 1 (1)
Dave R. Lewis, 1 (1)
Karl Lorch, 1 (1)
Rod Martin, 1 (1)
John McKay, 1 (1)
Joe Shipp, 1 (1)
Calvin Sweeney, 1 (1)
Dennis Thurman, 1 (1)
Richard Wood, 1 (1)
53Miami (FL)1987 - 141991 - 217Ottis Anderson, 34 (27)Eddie Brown, 25 (18)
Brian Blades, 18 (15)
Albert Bentley, 16 (15)
Cleveland Gary, 16 (10)
Michael Irvin, 14 (11)
Alonzo Highsmith, 10 (8)
Mel Bratton, 8 (7)
Warren Williams, 7 (7)
Andre Brown, 5 (5)
Brett Perriman, 4 (4)
Jim Kelly, 2 (2)
Bernie Kosar, 2 (2)
Vinny Testaverde, 2 (2)
Jim Burt, 1 (1)
Keith Griffin, 1 (1)
Alfredo Roberts, 1 (1)
50LSU1986 - 141989 - 1613Dalton Hilliard, 32 (26)Eric Martin, 23 (18)
Garry James, 12 (10)
Carlos Carson, 11 (9)
Gene Lang, 7 (7)
Herman Fontenot, 7 (6)
Wendell Davis, 3 (2)
Karl Bernard, 2 (2)
Eugene Daniel, 2 (2)
Liffort Hobley, 2 (2)
Henry Thomas, 2 (2)
Sammy Martin, 1 (1)
Alan Risher, 1 (1)
Martin crossed the picket lines and scored in
all three early-1987 replacement-player games.
40Notre Dame1994 - 141997 - 219Ricky Watters, 31 (22)Tim Brown, 23 (17)
Dorsey Levens, 18 (16)
Jerome Bettis, 16 (13)
Lake Dawson, 7 (7)
Anthony Johnson, 7 (7)
Ray Zellars, 6 (6)
Rocket Ismail, 6 (4)
Reggie Brooks, 3 (3)
Rodney Culver, 3 (3)
Jim Flanigan, 3 (3)
Rick Mirer, 3 (3)
Irv Smith, 3 (2)
Todd Lyght, 2 (2)
Derrick Mayes, 2 (2)
Oscar McBride, 2 (2)
Mark Bavaro, 1 (1)
Tom Carter, 1 (1)
Willie Clark, 1 (1)
36Tennessee1994 - 21996 - 312Carl Pickens, 29 (21)Anthony Miller, 22 (18)
Alvin Harper, 11 (11)
Charlie Garner, 10 (7)
Anthony Morgan, 8 (7)
James Stewart, 5 (5)
Reggie Cobb, 4 (4)
Terry McDaniel, 4 (4)
Aaron Hayden, 3 (2)
Dale Carter, 1 (1)
Tim McGee, 1 (1)
Chuck Smith, 1 (1)
34Florida1999 - 42001 - 316Fred Taylor, 20 (13)Emmitt Smith, 19 (17)
Ike Hilliard, 10 (9)
Willie Jackson, 8 (7)
Darrell Jackson, 6 (6)
Errict Rhett, 6 (5)
Reidel Anthony, 5 (5)
Jacquez Green, 4 (4)
Travis Taylor, 4 (3)
Terry Jackson, 3 (3)
Erron Kinney, 2 (2)
Jimmy Spencer, 2 (2)
Jevon Kearse, 1 (1)
Travis McGriff, 1 (1)
Fred Weary, 1 (1)
Danny Wuerffel, 1 (1)
34UCLA1980 - 151983 - 710Wendell Tyler, 34 (23)Theotis Brown, 14 (12)
Freeman McNeil, 12 (7)
James Owens, 9 (9)
Rick Walker, 4 (4)
Wally Henry, 2 (2)
Jewerl Thomas, 2 (2)
Kenny Easley, 1 (1)
Fulton Kuykendall, 1 (1)
Dokie Williams, 1 (1)
33Texas2009 - 32011 - 112Jamaal Charles, 18 (15)Ricky Williams, 15 (11)
Cedric Benson, 14 (12)
Roy E. Williams, 11 (8)
Jermichael Finley, 6 (5)
Bo Scaife, 5 (4)
Jordan Shipley, 3 (3)
David Thomas, 3 (3)
Derrick O. Johnson, 3 (2)
Vince Young, 2 (2)
Tarell Brown, 1 (1)
Colt McCoy, 1 (1)
31Florida1995 - 11996 - 147Emmitt Smith, 40 (24)Ernie Mills, 9 (8)
Willie Jackson, 8 (6)
Cedric Smith, 2 (2)
Jimmy Spencer, 1 (1)
John L. Williams, 1 (1)
Spencer's fumble return kept the streak alive for a 23rd week.
31Notre Dame1998 - 132000 - 918Tim Brown, 18 (13)Ricky Watters, 15 (11)
Jerome Bettis, 14 (11)
Dorsey Levens, 13 (9)
Rocket Ismail, 10 (10)
Derrick Mayes, 10 (9)
Marc Edwards, 4 (4)
Irv Smith, 3 (3)
Steve Beuerlein, 2 (2)
Kent Graham, 2 (2)
Anthony Johnson, 2 (2)
Junior Bryant, 1 (1)
Jeff Burris, 1 (1)
Travis Davis, 1 (1)
Todd Lyght, 1 (1)
Rick Mirer, 1 (1)
Allen Rossum, 1 (1)
Bobby Taylor, 1 (1)
30Pittsburgh2010 - 162012 -1110LeSean McCoy, 25 (17)Larry Fitzgerald, 13 (12)
LaRod Stephens-Howling, 6 (6)
Joe Flacco, 3 (3)
Tommie Campbell, 2 (2)
Jonathan Baldwin, 1 (1)
Nate Byham, 1 (1)
Dion Lewis, 1 (1)
Lousaka Polite, 1 (1)
Darrelle Revis, 1 (1)
You can read about Pitt's streak here.
28Notre Dame1987 - 101989 - 610Greg Bell, 23 (17)Allen Pinkett, 13 (8)
Mark Bavaro, 12 (11)
Tim Brown, 7 (7)
Joe Montana, 5 (5)
Pete Holohan, 4 (4)
Mike Gann, 1 (1)
Mark Green, 1 (1)
Stacey Toran, 1 (1)
Dave Waymer, 1 (1)
26Auburn2004 - 152006 - 610Rudi Johnson, 21 (14)Stephen Davis, 12 (7)
Ronnie Brown, 9 (8)
Cadillac Williams, 7 (6)
Tim Carter, 2 (2)
Karlos Dansby, 2 (2)
Mark Brown, 1 (1)
Heath Evans, 1 (1)
Tony Richardson, 1 (1)
Takeo Spikes, 1 (1)
26Oklahoma1979 - 131981 - 613Billy Sims, 24 (16)Joe Washington, 9 (9)
Elvis Peacock, 9 (7)
Greg Pruitt, 6 (5)
Dexter Bussey, 4 (4)
Horace Ivory, 4 (4)
Kenny King, 4 (3)
Victor Hicks, 3 (3)
Darrol Ray, 3 (3)
Jimmy Rogers, 3 (3)
Mike Thomas, 3 (2)
Tinker Owens, 1 (1)
Rod Shoate, 1 (1)
26UCLA1996 - 71997 - 1511Karim Abdul-Jabbar, 22 (15)Bert Emanuel, 13 (12)
J.J. Stokes, 4 (4)
Sean LaChapelle, 2 (2)
Carnell Lake, 2 (2)
Troy Aikman, 1 (1)
Tommy Bennett, 1 (1)
Jamir Miller, 1 (1)
Jonathan Ogden, 1 (1)
Mike Sherrard, 1 (1)
Eric Turner, 1 (1)
25Arizona St.1971 - 101973 - 610Art Malone, 19 (14)Charley Taylor, 13 (10)
Larry Walton, 8 (7)
Jerry Smith, 7 (6)
J.D. Hill, 7 (5)
Fair Hooker, 4 (4)
Bob L. Thomas, 4 (3)
Ben Hawkins, 3 (3)
Bob Lee, 1 (1)
Travis Williams, 1 (1)
25Jackson St.1975 - 51977 - 17Walter Payton, 22 (16)Harold Jackson, 12 (10)
Rickey Young, 11 (10)
Jerome Barkum, 4 (3)
Lem Barney, 1 (1)
Rich Caster, 1 (1)
Rod Phillips, 1 (1)
24Georgia1997 - 131999 - 29Terrell Davis, 30 (18)Robert Edwards, 12 (10)
Garrison Hearst, 9 (8)
Larry Bowie, 4 (4)
Andre Hastings, 4 (4)
Mack Strong, 2 (2)
Rodney Hampton, 1 (1)
Brice Hunter, 1 (1)
Hines Ward, 1 (1)
24Notre Dame1997 - 41998 - 1016Dorsey Levens, 12 (7)Ricky Watters, 11 (9)
Jerome Bettis, 10 (8)
Rocket Ismail, 8 (7)
Tim Brown, 5 (5)
Ray Zellars, 5 (4)
Irv Smith, 4 (4)
Pete Chryplewicz, 3 (3)
Marc Edwards, 3 (3)
Kent Graham, 3 (2)
Derrick Mayes, 3 (1)
Lake Dawson, 2 (2)
Derek V. Brown, 1 (1)
Willie Clark, 1 (1)
Anthony Johnson, 1 (1)
Rick Mirer, 1 (1)
24Ohio St.2005 - 132007 - 212Joey Galloway, 12 (9)Terry Glenn, 10 (7)
Michael Jenkins, 8 (8)
Drew Carter, 6 (5)
Mike Furrey, 6 (5)
Santonio Holmes, 4 (4)
Antoine Winfield, 2 (2)
Mike Vrabel, 2 (1)
Jonathan Wells, 2 (1)
Nate Clements, 1 (1)
Chris Gamble, 1 (1)
Nick Goings, 1 (1)
24Florida2011 - 42012 - 1014Cam Newton, 16 (12)Percy Harvin, 13 (11)
Aaron Hernandez, 7 (7)
Tim Tebow, 6 (5)
Jabar Gaffney, 4 (4)
David Nelson, 4 (4)
Andre Caldwell, 2 (2)
Riley Cooper, 2 (2)
Louis Murphy, 2 (2)
Major Wright, 2 (2)
Carlos Dunlap, 1 (1)
Rex Grossman, 1 (1)
Reggie Nelson, 1 (1)
Chris Rainey, 1 (1)
This streak lasts only 11 games without including Newton, 
who transferred from Florida after his sophomore year.
23Tennessee2003 - 122004 - 1715Jamal Lewis, 14 (10)Jason Witten, 7 (6)
Onterrio Smith, 7 (5)
Donte Stallworth, 6 (6)
Kelley Washington, 6 (6)
Peerless Price, 5 (4)
Cedrick Wilson, 5 (4)
Eric Parker, 4 (4)
Shawn Bryson, 2 (2)
Troy Fleming, 2 (2)
Travis Henry, 2 (2)
Leonard Little, 2 (2)
Charlie Garner, 1 (1)
David Martin, 1 (1)
Al Wilson, 1 (1)
23USC1983 - 61984 - 1214Marcus Allen, 24 (17)Ray Butler, 8 (7)
Mosi Tatupu, 8 (4)
Hoby Brenner, 6 (5)
Rod Martin, 4 (4)
Calvin Sweeney, 4 (3)
Lynn Cain, 4 (2)
Charle Young, 2 (2)
Chip Banks, 1 (1)
Joey Browner, 1 (1)
Fred Cornwell, 1 (1)
James McDonald, 1 (1)
Jim Obradovich, 1 (1)
Dennis Smith, 1 (1)
22Tennessee2002 - 12003 - 512Travis Henry, 21 (12)Charlie Garner, 13 (11)
Jamal Lewis, 12 (8)
Peerless Price, 10 (8)
Donte Stallworth, 9 (9)
James Stewart, 6 (5)
Eric Parker, 4 (4)
Peyton Manning, 2 (2)
David Martin, 2 (2)
Shawn Bryson, 1 (1)
Onterrio Smith, 1 (1)
Cedrick Wilson, 1 (1)
22USC1974 - 81976 - 115O.J. Simpson, 25 (16)Lynn Swann, 13 (10)
Sam Cunningham, 11 (8)
Bob Chandler, 8 (6)
Charle Young, 6 (6)
Clarence Davis, 5 (3)
Bob Klein, 4 (4)
Rod McNeill, 4 (4)
Charlie Evans, 2 (2)
Gerry Mullins, 2 (2)
Allen Carter, 1 (1)
Marvin Cobb, 1 (1)
Manfred Moore, 1 (1)
Jim Obradovich, 1 (1)
Skip Thomas, 1 (1)
21Florida1984 - 101985 - 147James R. Jones, 14 (12)Wes Chandler, 12 (9)
Nat Moore, 9 (8)
Cris Collinsworth, 8 (6)
Lorenzo Hampton, 3 (2)
Mike Mularkey, 1 (1)
Tyrone Young, 1 (1)
20California1980 - 141982 - 16Chuck Muncie, 23 (13)Wesley Walker, 11 (8)
Isaac Curtis, 4 (4)
Joe Rose, 2 (2)
Steve Bartkowski, 1 (1)
Tom Newton, 1 (1)
20Colorado1976 - 21977 - 711Cliff Branch, 14 (11)J.V. Cain, 7 (7)
Jon Keyworth, 5 (5)
Don Hasselbeck, 4 (3)
Bo Matthews, 4 (3)
Cullen Bryant, 3 (3)
Tony Reed, 2 (2)
Pete Brock, 1 (1)
Larry Brunson, 1 (1)
Charlie Davis, 1 (1)
Dave Logan, 1 (1)
20Oklahoma St.1990 - 111991 - 132Barry Sanders, 21 (12)Thurman Thomas, 20 (15)No other OSU alum scored between Week 5 of 1990
(Hart Lee Dykes) and Week 14 of 1993 (Lamar McGriggs).
In between, Sanders and Thomas combined for 79 TD.
20Penn St.1975 - 21976 - 76Franco Harris, 20 (13)Lydell Mitchell, 18 (13)
John Cappelletti, 8 (6)
Ed O'Neil, 2 (2)
Mike Hartenstine, 1 (1)
Bob Parsons, 1 (1)

*The basic criteria for "alumni" used here is "Did the player in question appear in any games for the specific school?" Pitt doesn't list Joe Flacco as a letterwinner and pro-football-reference only lists him under Delaware, but we know through official NCAA statistics, play-by-play, and contemporary media accounts that Flacco played in games that counted at Pitt. 

Players who never appeared in a game like Randy Moss, redshirted for his freshman season at Florida State then kicked off the team, or Lee Smith, dismissed from Tennessee for a DUI before his freshman year, are not counted towards those schools' streaks as long as they played elsewhere. Nor are players like Whizzer White (law degree from Yale) or Shaquille O'Neal (doctorate from Barry University) who attended other schools for post-eligibility education counted towards those schools' streaks. 


Players like Antonio Gates who didn't play football in college are counted for the schools that they attended while undergraduates. 
 
**The AFL typically started a week earlier than the NFL, complicating the definition of "week" for 1960-1969.

Comments on "NFL Touchdown Streaks By College (Updated)"

 

Blogger 5556777 said ... (10:37 AM, November 30, 2011) : 

Awesome work. Posts like this are the reason this is the best football site on the internet.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (12:43 AM, December 02, 2011) : 

Reggie Wayne scored last week.

 

Blogger Travis said ... (7:59 AM, December 02, 2011) : 

Wayne's TD in Week 11 is mentioned in the Notes for Miami's streak.

 

Anonymous Seth Marshall said ... (10:26 AM, September 07, 2023) : 

Nice post thankks for sharing

 

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