Football - Longest Plays - University of Illinois Athletics

Illini Football Longest Plays

Last updated following the 2024 season

Longest Scoring Plays
Kickoff Return: 100 V’Angelo Bentley vs. Southern Illinois, 8/31/2013; 100 Travis Williams on a lateral from Eugene Wilson vs. Purdue, 10/12/2002
Punt Return: 92 Dike Eddleman vs. Western Michigan, 11/8/47
Rush: 93 Buddy Young at Great Lakes, 9/20/44
Pass: 90 Mike Taliaferro to Mike Yavorski vs. Ohio State, 10/13/62
Field Goal: 57 Dan Beaver vs. Purdue, 10/18/75
Defensive PAT: 100 Quintin Parker vs. Wisconsin, 10/28/89
Interception Return: 98 Julius Rykovich vs. Ohio State, 11/16/46; 98 Bruce Sullivan at Michigan, 11/5/66; 98 Willie Osley vs. Washington, 10/2/71
Blocked FG Return: 66 Mel Agee (nine yards with the block), Mike Poloskey (12 yards), Quintin Parker (45 yards after lateral from Poloskey) at Ohio State, 10/6/1990
Fumble Return: 96 Jeff Arneson at Ohio State, 10/10/1992

Longest Runs
93 Buddy Young at Great Lakes, 9/30/1944
92 Buddy Young at Pittsburgh, 10/21/1944
89 Harry Jefferson vs. Syracuse, 10/23/1954
86 Rashard Mendenhall at Northwestern, 11/18/2006
84 Antoineo Harris vs. Purdue, 10/12/2002
84 Ray Nitschke vs. Northwestern, 11/23/1957
83 John Karras at Indiana, 10/27/1951
82 Buddy Young at Pittsburgh, 10/21/1944
82 Red Grange at Chicago, 11/8/1924
80 Chase Brown vs. Charlotte, 10/2/2021
80 Reggie Corbin at Wisconsin, 10/20/2018
80 Daniel Dufrene at Ohio State, 11/10/2007
80 Cyril Pinder vs. Duke, 10/23/1965
80 Edgar Nichol vs. Coe, 10/13/1928
79 Jason Ford vs. Michigan, 10/31/2009
79 Rashard Mendenhall vs.USC, 1/1/2008
79 Rashard Mendenhall at Penn State, 10/21/2006
78 Howard Griffith vs. Utah, 9/17/1988
78 Ke’Shawn Vaughn at Purdue, 11/7/2015
77 Reggie Corbin vs. Minnesota, 11/3/2018
76 Dick Raklovits at UCLA, 10/13/1950
76 Johnny Martin vs. Illinois-Normal, 9/16/1944
75 Josh Ferguson vs. Texas State, 9/20/2014
75 Mike Holmes at Michigan State, 9/8/1979
75 Don Johnson vs. Illinois-Normal, 9/16/1944
75 Gil Berry at Chicago, 10/29/1932
74 Buddy Young vs. Notre Dame, 10/28/1944
73 Reggie Corbin at Rutgers, 10/6/2018
73 John Wilson at Wisconsin, 11/13/1971
73 J.C. Caroline vs. Nebraska, 9/26/1953
72 Luke Altmyer at Kansas, 9/8/2023
72 Dre Brown vs. Minnesota, 11/3/2018
72 Reggie Corbin vs. Minnesota, 11/3/2018
71 Paul Patterson vs. Illinois-Normal, 9/16/1944
71 Don Johnson vs. Illinois-Normal, 9/16/1944
70* Mikel Leshoure at Northwestern, 11/20/2010
70 Mikel Leshoure vs. Michigan, 10/31/2009
70 Abe Woodson vs. Michigan State, 10/27/1956
70 Dick Raklovits vs. Missouri, 10/15/1949
70 Jack Pierce vs. Western Michigan, 11/8/1947
70 Eddie Bray at Purdue, 10/2/1943
70 Red Grange vs. Butler, 10/10/1925
69 Reggie Corbin at Maryland, 10/27/2018
69 Pierre Thomas vs. Michigan State, 10/9/2004
69 Morris Virgil vs. Arkansas State, 9/14/2002
69 Bill Brown at Wisconsin, 11/14/1959
69* Abe Woodson vs. Iowa State, 10/1/1955
69* Les Lindberg at Northwestern, 11/10/1934
68* Jason Ford vs. Illinois State, 9/12/2009
68 Thomas Rooks at Northwestern, 11/19/1983
68 Lonnie Perrin vs. Washington State, 10/4/1975
67 Robert Holcombe vs. Indiana, 10/5/1996
67 John Karras vs. Indiana, 10/28/1950
66 Reggie Corbin vs. Nebraska, 9/21/2019
66* Bill Huston at Michigan, 11/5/1966
66 Red Grange vs. Michigan, 10/18/1924
65 Ke’Shawn Vaughn vs. North Carolina, 9/10/2016
65* John Karras vs. Indiana, 11/5/1949
65 Red Grange vs. Nebraska, 10/6/1923
65 Ron Kraft vs. Minnesota, 11/24/1917
64 Aidan Laughery at Northwestern (Wrigley Field), 11/30/2024
64* Isaiah Williams at Penn State, 12/19/20
64 Kendrick Foster vs. Michigan State, 11/5/2016
64 Rashard Mendenhall at Minnesota, 11/3/2007
64 Keith Jones at Wisconsin, 10/15/1988
64 J.C. Caroline at Ohio State, 10/10/1953
64 Buddy Young vs. Iowa, 10/14/1944
64 Eddie McGovern vs. Pittsburgh, 10/16/1943
63* Mike Epstein vs. Minnesota, 11/7/2020
63 John Karras at Iowa, 10/8/1949
63 Eddie McGovern at Ohio State, 11/13/1943
62* Mikel Leshoure at Northwestern, 11/20/2010
62 Jason Ford at Michigan, 11/6/2010
62 Pierre Thomas vs. Purdue, 11/11/2006
62 Rocky Harvey vs. Middle Tennessee, 9/2/2000
62* Chubby Phillips vs. Iowa, 10/27/1973
62 Paul Patterson at Pittsburgh, 10/21/1944
61 Reggie Love III vs. Florida Atlantic, 9/23/2023
61 Troy Pollard vs. South Dakota State, 9/10/2011
61 Mikel Leshoure vs. Fresno State, 12/5/2009
61 Kurt Kittner vs. Louisville, 9/19/1998
61 Dick Raklovits at Iowa, 11/11/1950
60* Josh McCray vs. South Carolina (Citrus Bowl), 12/31/2024
60 Pierre Thomas vs. Florida A&M, 9/4/2004

* - indicates non-scoring play

Longest Pass Plays
90 Taliaferro to Yavorski vs. Ohio State, 10/13/1962
86 Eason to O. Williams vs. Wisconsin, 10/24/1981
84 Bush Jr. to Stampley at Maryland, 10/27/2018
83 Peters to Imatorbhebhe at Michigan State, 11/9/2019
83 Trudeau to Boso vs. USC, 9/7/1985
83 Easterbrook to Kreitling at Michigan, 11/8/1958
83 Hickey to Kreitling at Minnesota, 10/18/1958
82 Offenbecher to Woodson vs. Michigan State, 10/27/1956
80 Paddock to Washington vs. Northwestern, 11/25/2023
80 Eason to M. Martin at Minnesota, 10/2/1982
78 O’Connell to J. Ryan vs. Washington, 10/11/1952
77 George Jr. to Dorsey vs. Indiana, 11/11/2017
77 Scheelhaase to Jenkins at Indiana, 10/8/2011
77 Williams to Cumberland at Michigan, 10/4/2008
77 Trudeau to D. Williams at Minnesota, 11/5/1983
77 Wilson to M. Martin vs. Purdue, 10/18/1980
76* George Jr. to Smalling at South Florida, 9/15/2017
76 Williams to Mendenhall vs. Syracuse, 9/16/2006
74 K. Steger to E. Rouse at Missouri, 9/18/1976
72 Scheelhaase to R. Lankford vs. Washington, 9/14/2013
72 Scheelhaase to A.J. Jenkins vs. Arkansas State, 9/3/2011
72 Beutjer to Hayden vs. California, 9/20/2003
69 Williams to J. Willis at Michigan State, 9/30/2006
69 Williams to Hudson vs. Syracuse, 9/16/2006
68 Lunt to Turner vs. Murray State, 9/3/2016
68* Eason to Lopez at Northwestern, 11/21/1981
67* Paddock to Williams vs. Indiana, 11/11/2023
67 Bush Jr. to Smalling at Minnesota, 11/3/2018
67 Scheelhaase to Jenkins at Indiana, 10/8/2011
67* Kittner to D. Smith vs. Louisville, 9/22/2001
67 O’Connell to Smith at Iowa, 11/8/1952
66 Weaver to Holcombe vs. Indiana, 10/5/1996

* - indicates non-scoring play

50-yard Field Goals
59 Ethan Moczulski vs. Central Michigan, 9/14/2024
57 James McCourt vs. Eastern Michigan, 9/14/2019
57 Dan Beaver vs. Purdue, 10/18/7195
55 Doug Higgins vs. Michigan State, 10/20/1990
54 Chase McLaughlin vs. Western Illinois, 9/8/2018
54 Taylor Zalewski vs. Purdue, 11/17/2012
53 Caleb Griffin at Purdue, 9/30/2023
53 James McCourt at Iowa, 11/20/2021
53 James McCourt vs. UTSA, 9/4/2021
53 James McCourt at Connecticut, 9/7/2019
53 Chase McLaughlin vs. South Florida, 9/15/2018
53 Chase McLaughlin vs. Minnesota, 10/29/2016
53 Doug Higgins vs. Minnesota, 10/31/1987
53 Mike Bass at Syracuse, 9/18/1982
53 Dave Finzer at Purdue, 10/15/1977
52 Caleb Griffin at Iowa, 11/18/2023
52 Caleb Griffin vs. Mississippi State, 1/2/2023
52 James McCourt vs. UTSA, 9/4/2021
52 Chase McLaughlin at Wisconsin, 10/20/2018
52 Derek Dimke vs. Missouri, 9/4/2010
52 Jason Reda at Indiana, 10/8/2005
52 John Gockman vs. Northwestern, 11/22/2001
52 Chris Richardson vs. Iowa, 10/15/1994
52 Chris White vs. Michigan State, 9/22/1984
52 Mike Bass at Iowa, 10/30/1982
52 Kirk Bostrom at Air Force, 9/22/1979
52 Dan Beaver vs. Washington State, 10/4/1975
52 Dan Beaver vs. Purdue, 10/13/1973
52 Lonnie Perrin vs. Penn State, 10/7/1972
51 James McCourt at Purdue, 9/25/2021
51 Taylor Zalewski vs. Middle Tenn St, 9/26/2015
51 Taylor Zalewski vs. Northwestern, 11/30/2013
51 Matt Eller vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 9/13/2008
51 Jason Reda at Minnesota, 11/3/2007
51 John Gockman vs. Minnesota, 10/6/2001
51 Bret Scheuplein at Wisconsin, 11/25/1995
51 Chris White vs. Indiana, 11/16/1985
51 Dan McKissic vs. Purdue, 11/4/1967
50 David Olano vs. Kansas, 9/7/2024
50 James McCourt vs. Michigan, 10/12/2019
50 James McCourt vs. Northwestern, 11/30/2019
50 Chase McLaughlin vs. Kent State, 9/1/2018
50 Derek Dimke at Penn State, 10/9/2010
50 Jason Reda vs. Wisconsin, 10/6/2007
50 Jason Reda at Syracuse, 9/15/2007
50 Neil Rackers at Iowa, 11/6/1999
50 Neil Rackers at Ohio State, 11/13/1999
50 Chris White at Missouri, 9/10/1983
50 Mike Bass at Minnesota, 10/2/1982
50 Dan Beaver at Iowa, 10/26/1974
50 Earl Britton at Iowa, 10/20/1923

Longest Interception Returns
98 Willie Osley vs. Washington, 10/2/1971
98 Bruce Sullivan at Michigan, 11/5/1966
98 Julius Rykovich vs. Ohio State, 11/16/1946
95 Eddie McGovern at Iowa, 11/6/1943
93 Bruce Sullivan at Purdue, 10/29/1966
92 Brian Williams vs. Indiana, 11/18/1989
90 Red Grange vs. Northwestern, 10/27/1923
89 Asim Pleas vs. Middle Tennessee, 9/12/1998
83 Bobby Jackson at Purdue, 11/3/2001
80 Arnold Wolgast# vs. Army, 11/9/1929
78 Darius Mosely at Rutgers, 10/15/2016
78* Russell Ellington vs. Illinois State, 9/12/2009
77 Taylor Barton vs. Westen Kentucky, 9/6/2014
77* Ron Bess vs. Notre Dame, 10/21/1967
76 Sydney Brown at Michigan State, 11/9/2019
75 Mondrian Long vs. Iowa, 11/14/2000
75 Ron Bess vs. Notre Dame, 10/21/1967
73 Craig Swoope vs. Indiana, 11/10/1984
72 Justin Harrison vs. Michigan, 10/16/2004
72* Phil Pezzoli at Notre Dame, 10/15/1938
68 Patrick Nixon-Youman vs. Indiana, 10/23/2010
66 Jonathan Brown vs. Indiana, 10/23/2010
65 Don Greenwood vs. Indiana, 9/23/1944
62 Christian Morton at Purdue, 11/3/2001
62 Phil Knell at Indiana, 10/15/1966
61* Dana Howard at Northwestern, 10/29/1994
60 Harold Pogue at Minnesota, 10/21/1914
59* Lance Harkey vs. Southern Illinois, 9/14/1985
58 Mason Monheim vs. Northwestern, 11/28/2015
56* Stan Wallace vs. Stanford, 1/1/1952
55 Miles Scott vs. Northwestern, 11/25/2023
55 Nana Agyeman vs. Middle Tennessee, 9/2/2000
54 Dele Harding vs. Rutgers, 11/2/2019
54 Jack Kane at Wisconsin, 10/9/1943
53* Dale Hardy vs. Northwestern, 11/20/1976
52 Bob Mitchell vs. Iowa State, 10/1/1955
52 Sam Zatkoff at Michigan, 10/26/1946
52* Frank Walker at Michigan, 10/25/1930
51* Antwoine Patton at Ohio State, 10/8/1994
51* Mike Dundy at UCLA, 10/25/1963

* - indicates non-scoring play
# - indicates lateral pass

Opponents

Punts
88 Ollie Olson, Northwestern, 10/15/1932
87 Karl Edwards, Ohio State, 10/15/1983
83 Gordon Teter, Purdue, 10/30/1965
79 Ed Sutter, Northwestern, 11/24/1990
79 Jason Baker, Iowa, 9/26/1998
78 Joe Radigan, Rutgers, 9/9/2006
78 Joe Whisler, Ohio State, 11/13/1948
75 Tom Tupa, Ohio State, 10/4/1986
74 Brad Nortman, Wisconsin, 11/19/2011
74 Nick Harris, California, 9/16/2000
71 Ollie Olson, Northwestern, 10/15/1932
71 Cameron Johnston, Ohio State, 11/16/2013

Rushing Plays
92 Royce Mix, Iowa, 11/25/1972
85 Albert Potter, Northwestern, 11/7/1896
84 Larry Johnson, Penn State, 11/2/2002
84 Billy Taylor, Michigan, 11/8/1969
83 Brian Leonard, Rutgers, 9/3/2005
83 Emil Sitko, Notre Dame, 9/28/1946
80 Mike Trumpy, Northwestern, 11/20/2010
79 Justin Jackson, Northwestern, 11/25/2017
78 Keith Jones, Nebraska, 9/20/1986
78 Jim Hatch, Iowa, 11/8/1952
78 Bill Glassgow, Iowa, 10/19/1929

Interception Returns
99 Michael Mauti, Penn State, 9/29/2012
95 Dave Puzzuoli, Pittsburgh, 9/25/1982
90 Kywin Supernaw, Indiana, 10/31/1997
86 Mikal Smith, Arizona, 9/14/1996
83 Ahmed Plummer, Ohio State, 11/15/1997
81 Ed Thompson, Ohio State, 11/6/1976
75 Dave Holt, Kansas, 9/21/1968
73 Jeff Robinson, Northwestern, 11/21/1987
72 Phil Parker, Michigan State, 9/24/1983
71 Trevis Graham, Minnesota, 9/30/2000
71 Loran Day, Northwestern, 11/22/1947

Fumble Returns
100 Cornelius Brown, Missouri, 9/1/2007

Pass Plays
97 M. Koffler to R. Jay Soward, USC, 9/7/1996
95 T. Blanchford to B. Newland, Oregon, 9/19/1970
91 S. Schaffner to J. Bruce, Minnesota, 10/29/1988
90 T. Collins to D. Alexander, Michigan, 10/23/1993
90 S. Smith to A. Carter, Michigan, 11/6/1982
87 D. O’Neil to W. Tate, Oregon, 9/25/1993
86 T. Morgan to R. Bateman, 11/3/2018
84 B. Otton to C. Miller, USC, 9/7/1996
82 M. LoVecchio to J. Gilmore, Indiana, 11/6/2004
81 B. McAllister to M. Ingram, Michigan State, 10/19/1985
80 C. Sokol to K. Dixon, Louisiana Tech, 12/26/2014
80 A. Appleby to Danny Anthrop, Purdue, 10/4/2014
80 R. Bolden to D. Moye, Penn State, 10/9/2010
80 A. Abdul-Khaliq to A. Hosack, Minnesota, 10/25/2003
80 R. Leaf to K. McKenzie, Washington State, 9/20/1997
80 J. Blake to D. Johnson, East Carolina, 8/31/1991
80 R. Venturi to R. Rector, Northwestern, 11/20/1965

Longest Field Goals
61 Ralf Mojsiejenko, Michigan State, 9/11/1982
59 Tom Skladany, Ohio State, 11/8/1975
58 Tim Douglas, Iowa, 9/26/1998
57 Mark Harmon, Stanford, 9/15/1984
57 Paul Rogind, Minnesota, 10/27/1979
57 Pat O’Dea, Wisconsin, 11/11/1899
56 Dave Jacobs, Syracuse, 10/1/1977
55 Gary Cairns, Ohio State, 10/8/1966
54 Jim Harper, Colorado, 9/15/1990
54 Ron Van Der Meer, California, 10/5/1974
54 Paul Edinger, Michigan State, 9/25/1999