Davis Howell nears adjusted national receptions record

For the past few weeks, Christian Academy of Knoxville (Knoxville, Tenn.) receiver Davis Howell has been closing in on the career receptions all-time national record of 329, set by Christian Fulmer of Nitro (W.V.).

But that all changed last week.

Nothing has happened to Howell. Despite battling with a broken thumb, Howell is expected to play against Roane County (Kingston, Tenn.) in the second round of the Tennessee Class 3A playoffs.

What's changed is the record itself. Recent research has found that the actual national record is 349 receptions and belongs to Ben Wonderly, who played for Fairview (Sherwood, Ohio) from 2005-2008.

The change puts Howell 34 receptions away from the national record. With 101 receptions this year, Howell has 316 for his career.

"It's been kind of crazy," Howell told the Knoxville News. "There's been a lot of changes and stuff. As we started getting closer to the record, we started focusing on it a little more. Now that it's farther away, it makes it easier to step back and say, 'OK. Let's just get to state and close out our senior season.'"

The confusion over the national record was due to Wonderly's totals never having been sent to the National Federation of High Schools, which maintains the national record book.

However, since Wonderly's totals are a part of the Ohio state association record book, they are automatically accepted by the National Federation, a federation spokesman told MaxPreps. The discrepancy was pointed out on Monday and the NFHS made the correction that same day.