Alabama Roots: 1,000-yard NFL receiving seasons hits 52
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill became the fifth player in NFL history to record 1,000 receiving yards in his first eight games in a season on Sunday.
In the process, Hill recorded the 52nd 1,000-yard receiving season in the NFL by a player from an Alabama high school or college.
The first player to reach 1,000 receiving yards in eight games also is the first player on the Alabama-roots list. Former Alabama star Don Hutson had 57 receptions for 1,032 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first eight games for the Green Bay Packers in the 1942 season.
A former West Alabama standout, Hill passed the 1,000-yard mark on a 7-yard reception from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on a third-and-1 throw from the Miami 13-yard line with 4:19 left in the third quarter.
Hill entered the game with 902 receiving yards in the 2023 season and caught eight passes for 112 yards and one touchdown in a 31-17 victory against the New England Patriots on Sunday. He has 61 receptions for 1,014 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023.
Other players who have reached 1,000 receiving yards in their first eight games in an NFL season include:
· Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Elroy Hirsch, with 44 receptions for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns in 1951
· Houston Oilers wide receiver Charley Hennigan, with 49 receptions for 1,122 yards and six touchdowns in 1961 (in the AFL before its merger with the NFL).
· San Diego Chargers wide receiver Wes Chandler, with 49 receptions for 1,032 yards and nine touchdowns in 1982.
Hill now has six of the 52 1,000-yard NFL receiving seasons by players from Alabama high schools and colleges. Seventeen players have accounted for the 1,000-yard seasons.
The NFL 1,000-yard receivers with Alabama football roots include (with yearly totals presented as receptions-receiving yards-touchdown receptions):
Don Hutson, Alabama
Green Bay Packers
1942: 74-1,211-17
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Harlon Hill, Lauderdale County High School, North Alabama
Chicago Bears
1954: 45-1,124-12
1956: 47-1,128-11
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Jim “Red” Phillips, Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City, Auburn
Los Angeles Rams
1961: 78-1,092-5
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John Stallworth, Tuscaloosa High School, Alabama A&M
Pittsburgh Steelers
1979: 70-1,183-8
1981: 63-1,098-5
1984: 80-1,395-11
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Ozzie Newsome, Colbert County High School, Alabama
Cleveland Browns
1981: 69-1,002-6
1984: 89-1,001-5
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Lionel James, Auburn
San Diego Chargers
1985: 86-1,027-6
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Frank Sanders, Auburn
Arizona Cardinals
1997: 75-1,017-4
1998: 89-1,145-3
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Terrell Owens, Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City
San Francisco 49ers
1998: 67-1,097-14
2000: 97-1,451-13
2001: 93-1,412-16
2002: 100-1,300-13
2003: 80-1,102-9
Philadelphia Eagles
2004: 77-1,200-14
Dallas Cowboys
2006: 85-1,180-13
2007: 81-1,355-15
2008: 69-1,052-10
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Jerricho Cotchery, Phillips High School in Birmingham
New York Jets
2007: 82-1,130-2
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Roddy White, UAB
Atlanta Falcons
2007: 83-1,202-6
2008: 88-1,382-7
2009: 85-1,153-11
2010: 115-1,389-10
2011: 100-1,296-8
2012: 92-1,351-7
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Julio Jones, Foley High School, Alabama
Atlanta Falcons
2012: 79-1,198-10
2014: 104-1,583-6
2015: 136-1,871-8
2016: 83-1,409-6
2017: 88-1,444-3
2018: 113-1,677-8
2019: 99-1,394-6
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Amari Cooper, Alabama
Oakland Raiders
2015: 72-1,070-6
2016: 83-1,153-5
Oakland Raiders/Dallas Cowboys
2018: 75-1,005-7
Dallas Cowboys
2019: 79-1,189-8
2020: 92-1,114-5
Cleveland Browns
2022: 78-1,160-9
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Tyreek Hill, West Alabama
Kansas City Chiefs
2017: 75-1,183-7
2018: 87-1,479-12
2020: 87-1,276-15
2021: 111-1239-9
Miami Dolphins
2022: 119-1,710-7
2023: 61-1,014-8 (through eight games)
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Calvin Ridley, Alabama
Atlanta Falcons
2020: 90-1,374-9
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Darnell Mooney, Gadsden City High School
Chicago Bears
2021: 81-1,055-4
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Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Miami Dolphins
2021: 104-1,015-6
2022: 75-1,356-8
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DeVonta Smith, Alabama
Philadelphia Eagles
2022: 95-1,196-7
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.