Dan LeFevour
Daniel Terrence LeFevour (born March 19, 1987) is an American former professional football quarterback best known for his record-setting college career at Central Michigan University, where he led the Chippewas to three Mid-American Conference (MAC) championships and a 38-17 record from 2006 to 2009, before brief stints in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL).[1][2][3] At Central Michigan, LeFevour emerged as a dual-threat quarterback, amassing 15,853 yards of total offense—ranking second in NCAA FBS history at the time—and scoring 150 touchdowns (102 passing, 47 rushing, and one receiving), which set an NCAA record later surpassed by Case Keenum.[3][4][5] He established MAC career records in passing completions (1,171), attempts (1,763), yards (12,905), and touchdowns (102), while also rushing for 2,948 yards and 47 scores, showcasing his versatility as a runner who began his high school career at Benet Academy in Illinois as a running back before switching to quarterback.[3][4] His exceptional performance earned him induction into the Central Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020.[2] LeFevour was selected by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round (181st overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft, standing at 6 feet 3 inches and 230 pounds, but saw limited action across multiple teams, including the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011, Cincinnati Bengals, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2016, primarily on practice squads or in preseason without appearing in a regular-season game.[1][6][4] He found more opportunities in the CFL, playing from 2012 to 2017 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2012–2014, including a 2013 Grey Cup appearance), Montreal Alouettes (2015), Toronto Argonauts (2016), and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2017), where he appeared in 28 regular-season games as a backup, completing 94 of 139 passes for 950 yards and six touchdowns, while rushing for 297 yards and six scores.[7]Early years
Early life
Dan LeFevour was born on March 19, 1987, in Downers Grove, Illinois.[8] He grew up in the same community as the youngest of five children in a family that emphasized strong values.[9][10] His parents, Jack and Judy LeFevour, provided a supportive environment that nurtured his early interests.[9] LeFevour attended St. Mary of Gostyn elementary school in Downers Grove, where he developed a passion for sports, particularly football, from a young age.[9] By age five, he preferred watching videos of Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton over cartoons, and at six, he began drawing football plays with X's and O's on a chalkboard.[10] His older brothers, including Ed, a high school football coach, and Andy, recognized his talent early; at seven, LeFevour outran Andy during backyard touch football games, showcasing his natural athleticism.[10] The family remained in the Downers Grove area throughout his youth, with no significant residence changes reported.[9] LeFevour's early involvement in informal sports like touch football laid the foundation for his athletic pursuits, leading him to continue developing his skills at Benet Academy in nearby Lisle for high school.[4]High school career
LeFevour attended Benet Academy, a private Catholic high school in Lisle, Illinois, where he graduated in 2005.[11] He began his high school football career as a freshman running back for the Redwings but transitioned to quarterback midway through that season.[4] By his sophomore year, he had established himself as the starting quarterback, leading the team in a run-oriented offense while showcasing his dual-threat abilities.[12] Over his four-year varsity career, LeFevour compiled impressive passing statistics, completing 173 passes for 2,929 yards and 24 touchdowns, which ranked third in school history for passing yards at the time.[11] He became the all-time career touchdown leader at Benet with 54 touchdowns and led the team to the playoffs in 2003 and 2004.[9] His senior season highlighted his development. In recognition of his contributions, Benet Academy retired his No. 11 jersey in 2011 during a halftime ceremony.[11] Despite his on-field success, LeFevour's recruitment was modest, as he received only four Division I scholarship offers amid limited interest from major programs like Big Ten schools.[12] His high school coach, Gary Goforth, regarded him as the top quarterback in Illinois during his senior year, yet the run-heavy scheme and average receiving corps tempered broader attention.[12] Ultimately, LeFevour committed to Central Michigan University, a decision that proved pivotal for his future development.[12]College career
Overview and playing style
Dan LeFevour enrolled at Central Michigan University in 2005 after a lightly recruited high school career at Benet Academy, where he committed to the Chippewas over limited scholarship offers from other programs.[13] He redshirted during the 2005 season to develop behind the scenes, preserving a year of eligibility. As a redshirt freshman in 2006, LeFevour took over as the starting quarterback midway through the year under new head coach Butch Jones, replacing an injured incumbent and leading the team from that point onward.[14] He maintained the starting role for the remainder of his college career through 2009, becoming a cornerstone of the Chippewas' offense over four seasons.[15] LeFevour excelled as a dual-threat quarterback in Central Michigan's spread offense, blending a strong arm for accurate downfield passes with exceptional mobility to extend plays and gain yards on the ground.[9] His ability to read defenses quickly allowed for smart decision-making under pressure, often turning potential losses into positive gains through improvisation or designed runs.[16] This versatile skill set made him a dynamic leader, capable of dictating game tempo while minimizing turnovers in a system that emphasized quick releases and option plays.[17] Under LeFevour's guidance, the Chippewas achieved significant team success, including Mid-American Conference (MAC) championships in 2006, 2007, and 2009, contributing to an overall record of 38-16 during his starting tenure.[2] In 2006, his mid-season emergence propelled Central Michigan to the MAC title game, where he orchestrated a decisive victory over Ohio, marking the program's first conference championship appearance.[18] The 2007 season saw LeFevour build on that momentum with a record-setting performance, guiding the team to another MAC crown against Miami (OH) and establishing himself as one of the conference's premier talents.[19] By 2009, as a senior, he delivered a capstone campaign that included a third MAC championship win over Ohio and a program-record 12 victories, culminating in a bowl appearance and solidifying his legacy as a transformative figure for the Chippewas.[20]Statistics
During his four-year college career at Central Michigan University from 2006 to 2009, Dan LeFevour amassed impressive dual-threat statistics, culminating in career totals of 12,905 passing yards, 2,948 rushing yards, and 150 total touchdowns responsible for (102 passing, 47 rushing, and 1 receiving), which set the NCAA FBS record for most career total touchdowns by a player.[21][3] These figures placed him first in Mid-American Conference (MAC) history for career passing yards and passing touchdowns since 1962, surpassing conference averages for quarterbacks in both passing efficiency and rushing production.[22][23]Passing Statistics
| Year | Class | Games | Completions | Attempts | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Freshman | 14 | 247 | 388 | 3,031 | 26 | 10 |
| 2007 | Sophomore | 14 | 355 | 543 | 3,652 | 27 | 13 |
| 2008 | Junior | 11 | 251 | 376 | 2,784 | 21 | 6 |
| 2009 | Senior | 14 | 318 | 456 | 3,438 | 28 | 7 |
| Career | 53 | 1,171 | 1,763 | 12,905 | 102 | 36 |
Rushing Statistics
| Year | Class | Games | Attempts | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Freshman | 14 | 132 | 521 | 7 |
| 2007 | Sophomore | 14 | 188 | 1,122 | 19 |
| 2008 | Junior | 11 | 168 | 592 | 6 |
| 2009 | Senior | 14 | 183 | 713 | 15 |
| Career | 53 | 671 | 2,948 | 47 |
Receiving Statistics
| Year | Class | Games | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Freshman | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2007 | Sophomore | 14 | 1 | 32 | 1 |
| 2008 | Junior | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | Senior | 14 | 1 | 24 | 0 |
| Career | 53 | 3 | 58 | 1 |