One of the players among the 10 from Alabama high schools and colleges with the most NFL all-purpose yards fits the classic profile of that statistic so completely that he’s unique in NFL history.
All-purpose yards include the yards gained by a player on offense rushing and receiving (along with the occasional run after recovering a teammate’s fumble) and special-teams yards picked up on kickoff and punt returns.
During his 12 NFL seasons, former Auburn running back James Brooks collected 7,962 rushing yards, 3,621 receiving yards, 2,762 kickoff-return yards and 565 punt-return yards.
No other player in NFL history can match Brooks’ output in all four statistical categories.
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The other nine players among the Alabama-roots top 10 in all-purpose yards are wide receivers who got the bulk of their yards through the air or running backs who got the bulk of their yards on the ground.
Former West Alabama wide receiver Tyreek Hill started out as an exception. As a rookie, he was an All-Pro returner, led the NFL in punt-return yards and had two punt-return touchdowns and one kickoff-return TD in 2016. Hill didn’t have a single return in 2023, when he led the NFL in receiving yards, but his early work allowed him to become the 10th player in league history with 10,000 receiving and 1,000 punt-return yards – and he’s the only one of those players who also has at least 500 rushing yards.
Former Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper moved into the top 10 during the 2023 season, when he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the seventh time in his career. He displaced former Sulligent High School and Auburn running back Joe Cribbs from the top 10.
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The top 10 players with Alabama football roots in NFL all-purpose yards include:
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens catches a touchdown pass during an NFL playoff game against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 3, 1999, at 3COM Park in San Francisco.(AP Photo/Susan Ragan)
1. Terrell Owens, Benjamin Russell High School: 16,276 all-purpose yards
San Francisco 49ers 1996-2003, Philadelphia Eagles 2004-2005, Dallas Cowboys 2006-2008, Buffalo Bills 2009, Cincinnati Bengals 2010: 251 rushing yards, 15,934 receiving yards, 78 kickoff-return yards and 13 fumble-recovery yards
2. James Brooks, Auburn: 14,910 all-purpose yards
San Diego Chargers 1981-1983, Cincinnati Bengals 1984-1991, Cleveland Browns 1992, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1992: 7,962 rushing yards, 3,621 yards receiving yards, 2,762 kickoff-return yards and 565 punt-return yards
3. Julio Jones, Foley High School, Alabama: 13,884 all-purpose yards
Atlanta Falcons 2011-2020, Tennessee Titans 2021, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2022, Philadelphia Eagles 2023: 163 rushing yards, 13,703 receiving yards and 18 fumble-recovery yards
4. Tyreek Hill, West Alabama: 12,354 all-purpose yards
Kansas City Chiefs 2016-2021, Miami Dolphins 2022-2023: 766 rushing yards, 10,139 receiving yards, 384 kickoff-return yards, 1,005 punt-return yards and 60 fumble-recovery yards
5. Shaun Alexander, Alabama: 10,981 all-purpose yards
Seattle Seahawks 2000-2007, Washington Redskins 2008: 9,453 rushing yards, 1,520 receiving yards and 8 fumble-recovery yards
6. Derrick Henry, Alabama: 10,954 all-purpose yards
Tennessee Titans 2016-2023: 9,502 rushing yards, 1,458 receiving yards and minus-6 fumble-recovery yards
7. Roddy White, UAB: 10,882 all-purpose yards
Atlanta Falcons 2005-2015: 19 rushing yards and 10,863 receiving yards
8. Mark Ingram, Alabama: 10,237 all-purpose yards
New Orleans Saints 2011-2018, 2021-2022, Baltimore Ravens 2019-2020, Houston Texans 2021: 8,111 rushing yards, 2,125 receiving yards and 1 fumble-recovery yard
9. Stephen Davis, Auburn: 9,608 all-purpose yards
Washington Redskins 1996-2002, Carolina Panthers 2003-2005, St. Louis Rams 2006: 8,052 rushing yards, 1,494 receiving yards and 62 kickoff-return yards
10. Amari Cooper, Alabama: 9,562 all-purpose yards
Oakland Raiders 2015-2018, Dallas Cowboys 2018-2021, Cleveland Browns 2022-2023: 9,486 receiving yards, 41 rushing yards, 41 punt-return yards and minus-6 fumble-return yards
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.