Jarett Dillard

If you asked 100 college fantasy football fans, would even 10 know that Jarrett Dillard is the all-time FBS leader in touchdown catches with 60? Scoring 20 or more touchdowns twice in four seasons, the Rice playmaker also recorded three consecutive campaigns with over 1,000 receiving yards. The CFF Hall of Fame panelists did not pass over Dillard: He collected two second-place votes and one first to earn his spot into the CFF Hall of Fame.

In 2005, the Owls won only one game when Dillard was a freshman. In 2008, Rice won 10 games and were victorious in the Texas Bowl against Western Michigan 38-14 as Dillard made eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown to conclude his college tenure. During his career, he corralled two or more passes in a game 49 times, and the Owls’ receiver ranks 20th all-time in receiving yards and 32nd in receptions in FBS history.  

In 2006, Dillard established single-season records for both games and consecutive ones with a touchdown reception (13) while playing an instrumental role in the Owls first bowl in 45 years. He caught a career-high 91 passes for 1,247 yards and 21 scores. In 2007, the Rice game breaker exceeded 1,000 yards receiving again on 79 catches with 14 touchdowns, and the next year, he had a career-high 1,310 yards with 20 touchdowns on 77 receptions.

As a senior, Dillard was the first Rice player named to the All-America team in five decades. He also accumulated First Team All-Conference USA three times while setting career-best numbers for touchdown receptions and receiving yards in the Conference. Dillard will no longer be forgotten by college football fanatics after being named to the inaugural CFF Hall of Fame Class.

by John Laub