North Carolina College Football Passing Leaders: Duke’s Darian Mensah, ECU’s Katin Houser Among Best in FBS

The 2025 college football season has turned into a quarterback showcase across North Carolina, one that’s getting national attention. Duke’s Darian Mensah and East Carolina’s Katin Houser are both among the top five nationally in FBS passing yards, while North Carolina Central’s Walker Harris ranks second in the FCS. Division II and III signal callers also are putting up eye-popping numbers.

From Durham to Buies Creek, passers are lighting up defenses and giving fans reason to watch every weekend.

👉 Check out our Statewide Stats Leaders Page for rushing, receiving, tackles, punting and more.

🏈 Top Passing Leaders in North Carolina (Through Week 4)

(Total Yards | YPG | TDs)

1. Darian Mensah (Duke, FBS, So, QB) – 1,305 yards | 326.3 YPG | 11 TDs
   3rd in FBS in passing yards; 6th nationally in TDs.
2. Katin Houser (East Carolina, FBS, Sr, QB) – 1,258 yards | 314.5 YPG | 5 TDs
   4th in FBS in passing yards; leads the American in total offense.
3. Walker Harris (NC Central, FCS, Sr, QB) – 1,226 yards | 245.2 YPG | 8 TDs
   2nd in the FCS in passing; teammate Chris Mosley ranks 3rd in rushing nationally.
4. CJ Bailey (NC State, FBS, So, QB) – 1,083 yards | 270.8 YPG | 7 TDs
   15th in FBS passing yards; steady dual threat for the Wolfpack.
5. Daylin Lee (Winston-Salem State, D2, Jr, QB) – 956 yards | 239.0 YPG | 10 TDs
   Top passer in the CIAA; tied for 6th nationally in D2 touchdown passes.
6. Preston Brown (Catawba, D2, Sr, QB) – 899 yards | 224.8 YPG | 7 TDs
7. Kamden Sixkiller (Campbell, FCS, So, QB) – 893 yards | 223.3 YPG | 7 TDs
8. Kelvin Durham (Johnson C. Smith, D2, Sr, QB) – 892 yards | 223.0 YPG | 5 TDs
9. AJ Swann (App State, FBS, Jr, QB) – 879 yards | 293.0 YPG | 5 TDs
   Only three games played; averages nearly 300 yards per outing.
10. Landen Clark (Elon, FCS, Fr, QB) – 876 yards | 219.0 YPG | 7 TDs
11. Tre Robinson (UNC Pembroke, D2, So, QB) – 813 yards | 203.3 YPG | 8 TDs
12. Nate Hampton (Gardner-Webb, FCS, Sr, QB) – 803 yards | 200.8 YPG | 7 TDs

🚀 Touchdown Tossers (7+ TDs)

Quarterbacks across every level of North Carolina football are piling up touchdowns as well as yards. Duke’s Darian Mensah leads the way among FBS signal callers, while Winston-Salem State’s Daylin Lee and Wingate’s Elijah Holmes are torching defenses in D2. Even JUCO freshman Jon Bissonnette has cracked the top tier.

• Darian Mensah (Duke, FBS, So) – 11 TDs in 4 games
• Daylin Lee (WSSU, D2, Jr) – 10 TDs in 4 games
• Elijah Holmes (Wingate, D2, So) – 9 TDs in 3 games
• Jon Bissonnette (Louisburg, JUCO, Fr) – 8 TDs in 4 games
• Tre Robinson (UNC Pembroke, D2, So) – 8 TDs in 4 games
• Walker Harris (NC Central, FCS, Sr) – 8 TDs in 5 games
• CJ Bailey (NC State, FBS, So) – 7 TDs in 4 games
• Coulter Cleland (Davidson, FCS, Sr) – 7 TDs in 4 games
• Ethan Beamish (Brevard, D3, Sr) – 7 TDs in 3 games
• JR Martin (Mars Hill, D2, Sr) – 7 TDs in 3 games
• Kamden Sixkiller (Campbell, FCS, So) – 7 TDs in 4 games
• Khamoni Robinson (Lenoir-Rhyne, D2, Jr) – 7 TDs in 4 games
• Landen Clark (Elon, FCS, Fr) – 7 TDs in 4 games
• Nate Hampton (Gardner-Webb, FCS, Sr) – 7 TDs in 4 games
• Preston Brown (Catawba, D2, Sr) – 7 TDs in 4 games

💥 Top Single-Game Passing Performances (2025)

• 582 yards – Taron Dickens (Western Carolina, Week 4 vs. Samford)
  Completed 35 of 46 with 6 TDs and no interceptions after a lightning delay. Second-highest passing total in SoCon history and the most by any NC quarterback this season.
• 389 yards – Darian Mensah (Duke, Week 1 vs. Elon)
  Went 27-for-34 with 3 TDs and no picks, setting the tone for his breakout sophomore season.
• 387 yards – Walker Harris (NC Central, Week 3 vs. Fayetteville State)
  Hit a 63-yard strike as part of a 23-for-36 outing with 3 TDs in a 49-19 win.
• 382 yards – Conner Harrell (Charlotte, Week 3 vs. Monmouth)
  Nearly flawless at 26-for-30 with 3 TDs, leading the 49ers to a 42-35 win.
• 380 yards – Walker Harris (NC Central, Week 4 at NC A&T)
  Piled up 3 TDs on 22-of-29 passing as the Eagles rolled to their fourth-straight rivalry win.
• 372 yards – Preston Brown (Catawba, Week 3 vs. UVA Wise)
  Efficient 25-of-29 day with 3 TDs as the Indians pulled out a 44-34 victory.
• 368 yards – AJ Swann (App State, Week 1 vs. Charlotte)
  Opened the season with 3 TDs on 31-of-46 passing in a 34-11 neutral-site win.
• 366 yards – Katin Houser (East Carolina, Week 1 at NC State)
  Went 30-for-44 with 1 TD in a narrow road loss to the Wolfpack.
• 364 yards – CJ Bailey (NC State, Week 4 at Duke)
  Tried to rally the Pack in a shootout, finishing 29-of-39 with 2 TDs and 3 interceptions.