With players taking advantage of an extra year of NCAA eligibility, the 2021 season was full of experienced players in FCS college football.

However, even with key losses, that doesn’t mean the Division I subdivision will lack standout players in 2022 – the numbers don’t lie.

Following are some of this year’s key returning offensive leaders from the 2021 FCS season and career-wise while playing in the subdivision:

Passing

Passing Yards – 2021: Jason Shelley, Missouri State, 3,347; Career: Tim DeMorat, Fordham, 8,570

Passing Yards Per Game – 2021 (minimum played in three-quarters of team’s games): Tim DeMorat, Fordham, 292.2 (3,214/11); Career (minimum 25 games): Trae Self, Stephen F. Austin, 242.5 (7,759/32)

Completion Percentage – 2021 (minimum 15 attempts per game and played in three-quarters of team’s games): Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State, 65.9 (272 of 413); Career (minimum 600 attempts): Justin Miller, Southern Utah, 63.4 (391 of 617)

Pass Efficiency Rating – 2021 (minimum 15 attempts per game and played in three-quarters of team’s games): Trae Self, Stephen F. Austin, 153.5; Career (minimum 600 attempts): Tim DeMorat, Fordham, 134.1

Touchdowns – 2021: Tim DeMorat, Fordham, 31; Career: Tim DeMorat, Fordham, 67

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Jackson State’s Shedeur Sanders, who received the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award as the FCS freshman of the year. (AP Photo)

Rushing

Rushing Yards – 2021: Isaiah Ifanse, Montana State, 1,623; Career: Isaiah Ifanse, Montana State, 3,461

Rushing Yards Per Game – 2021 (minimum played in three-quarters of team’s games): Isaiah Ifanse, Montana State, 115.9; (1,623/14); Career (minimum 350 attempts): Juwan Farri, Monmouth, 97.8 (2,249/23)

Yards Per Carry – 2021 (minimum 5 attempts per team’s games): Aris Hilliard, Davidson, 8.5 (605/71); Career (minimum 400 attempts): Julien Gums, Nicholls, 5.9 (2,556/434)

Touchdowns – 2021: Xavier Shepherd, Kennesaw State, 23; Career: Javon Williams Jr., Southern Illinois, 34

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Montana State’s Isaiah Ifanse had eight games of 100+ rushing yards in the Bobcats’ 2021 national runner-up season. (Garrett Becker/MSU Athletics)

Receiving

Receptions – 2021: Jacari Carter, Merrimack, 89; Career: Jakob Herres, Richmond, 226

Receiving Yards – 2021: Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin, 1,367; Career: Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin, 3,142

Receiving Yards Per Game – 2021 (minimum played in three-quarters of team’s games): Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin, 124.3 (1,367/11); Career (minimum 25 games): Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin, 95.2 (3,142/33)

Touchdowns – 2021: Taylor Grimes, UIW, 15; Career: Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin, 30

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Stephen F. Austin’s Xavier Gipson (19) has 178 receptions for 3,142 yards and 30 touchdowns in 33 career games. (SFA Athletics)

Overall

Total Offense – 2021: Jason Shelley, Missouri State, 3,789; Career: Tim DeMorat, Fordham, 8,393

Total Offense Per Game – 2021 (minimum played in three-quarters of team’s games): Jason Shelley, Missouri State, 315.8 (3,789/12); Career (minimum 2,500 yards and 20 games): Lindsey Scott Jr., Nicholls (now at UIW), 295.2 (5,314/18)

Touchdowns – 2021: Xavier Shepherd, Kennesaw State, 23; Career: Ulonzo Gilliam Jr., UC Davis, 38

Total Touchdowns (passing and rushing) – 2021: Xavier Shepherd, Kennesaw State, 38; Career: Tim DeMorat, Fordham, 79

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Fordham’s Tim DeMorat has passed for 8,570 yards and 67 yards in a 36-game career, ranking second and third, respectively, among the school’s all-time leaders. (Fordham Athletics)

All-Purpose Yards – 2021: Jacob Saylors, ETSU, 1,882; Career: Ulonzo Gilliam Jr., UC Davis, 4,480

All-Purpose Yards Per Game – 2021 (minimum played in three-quarters of team’s games): Jake Chisholm, Dayton, 169.4 (1,694/10); Career (minimum 1,500 yards): Jake Chisholm, Dayton, 137.7 (4,269/31)

Note: Statistics by Stats Perform and NCAA.org.