Researching high school sports is akin to being an archaeologist. Every so often, archaeologists unearth a "new dinosaur" thus changing the evolution timeline and altering the way history is viewed. In high school sports, Chris NesSmith of New Life Christian (Millford, Ala.) is the new dinosaur.
Discovered while researching this story, NesSmith was a receiver on the New Life Christian team in 1999 when he had a season for the ages. The only problem is nobody really noticed outside of the Montgomery, Ala., area. During New Life's 12-1 season, in which they won a national Christian school championship, NesSmith caught 149 passes for 2,915 yards and 39 touchdowns — all of which obliterated known national records set the previous year. NesSmith is the latest addition to MaxPreps' list of year-by-year reception leaders since 1960 — albeit 20 years late.
The 149 receptions, which obviously led all receivers in the nation in 1999, also broke the previous national record of 132 set by Chris Martin of Nitro (W.Va.) the previous season. His yardage total also broke the mark of 2,427 yards by Cody Cardwell of Stephenville (Texas). Brandon Greer of Westbrook Christian (Rainbow City, Ala.) held the touchdown record with 30.
NesSmith was playing in his first year of 11-man football in 1999 as New Life played 8-man football in 1998. New Life was also not a member of the Alabama High School Athletic Association and was only barely a member of the Alabama Independent School Association since it only played six AISA opponents. As a result, NesSmith's records are not included in the AHSAA record book, nor are they listed in the National Federation of High Schools record book. After a solid college career at Southeast Missouri, NesSmith's name has not been mentioned with regard to national records since.
NesSmith still holds the yardage mark, although Marvin Mims of Lone Star (Frisco, Texas) was reported as breaking the national record last year with 2,626 yards. NesSmith is still nearly 300 yards ahead. Tren'Davian Dickson of Navasota (Texas) tied NesSmith's touchdown record in 2014 and NesSmith's receptions total still ranks No. 6 all-time.
Sources to determine national yearly leaders included MaxPreps leaderboards, Doug Huff's National High School Sports Record Book, Cal-Hi Sports Record Book by Mark Tennis and Nelson Tennis, state association record books and research via Newspapers.com. Any corrections, please e-mail Kevin Askeland at kevinaskeland65@gmail.com.
Truitt Tollett, Shiloh Christian
File photo by Richey Miller
1960 — Bob Farris, Saltville (Va.), 67
1961 — Charles Carr,
Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Va.), 52
1962 — Johnny Johnson,
Sunray (Texas), 55
1963 — Charles Carr, Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Va.), 89
1964 — Jim Lewis,
Gardena (Calif.), 68
1965 — Jerry Roberts,
Groom (Texas), 64; Orville Jansen,
Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), 64
1966 — Richard Corrada,
Meadowbrook (Richmond, Va.), 65
1967 — Jon Harrison,
Cooper (Abilene, Texas), 78
1968 — Frank Mobley, Suwannee River (Madison, Fla.), 88
1969 — John McKay,
Bishop Amat (La Puente, Calif.), 106
1970 — Pete Demmerle,
New Canaan (New Canaan, Conn.), 102
1971 — Jim Lusa,
Southeast Warren (Liberty Center, Iowa), 87
1972 — Bob Thomas,
Upper Merion Area (King of Prussia, Pa.), 92
1973 — JImmy Campbell,
Dadeville (Dadeville, Ala.), 92
1974 — Phil Wallace,
Leon (Tallahassee, Fla.), 74
1975 — Kurt Unglaub, Leon (Tallahassee, Fla.), 84
1976 — Dan Vogelback,
George Washington (Charleston, W. Va.), 91
1977 — Steve Martinez,
Wilson (Los Angeles), 121
1978 — Paul Bergman,
Granada Hills Charter (Calif.), 72
1979 — Ray McNeil,
El Monte (El Monte, Calif.), 90
1980 — Brent Duhon, Jefferson (Port Arthur, Texas), 89
1981 — Doug Stis,
Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.), 96
1982 — Bob Westerkamp,
Montini Catholic (Lombard, Ill.), 82
1983 — Steve Ybarra,
Rosemead (Calif.), 107
1984 — Brian Streiffer,
Metairie Park Country Day (Metairie, La.), 97
1985 — Travis Watkins,
Claremont (Calif.), 104
1986 — Randy Baier,
McDonell Central (Chippewa Falls, Wis.), 96
1987 — Rick Baier, McDonnell Central (Chippewa Falls, Wisc.), 106
1988 — Matt Frier,
Suwannee (Live Oak, Fla.), 99
1989 — Orlando Waters,
Anniston (Ala.), 102
1990 — Lee Crawford,
Cummings (Burlington, N.C.), 90
1991 — Maurice Mebane, Cummings (Burlington, NC), 106
1992 — Nasser Ayyad,
Arlington (Texas), 105
1993 — Anthony Freeman,
Orangeburg-Wilkinson (Orangeburg, S.C.), 108
1994 — Michael Partlow,
Handley (Winchester, Va.), 96
1995 — Willie Brown,
Foothill (Pleasanton, Calif.), 92
1996 — Abram Booty,
Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport, La.), 109
1997 — Josh Whatley,
Rogers (Texas), 122
1998 — Chris Martin,
Nitro (W. Va.), 132
1999 — Chris NesSmith, New Life Christian (Millford, Ala.), 149
2000 — Josh Bell,
Greenwood (Ark.), 111
2001 — Shatone Powers,
Riverside-Brookfield (Riverside, Ill.), 117
2002 — Kole Heckendorf,
Mosinee (Wis.), 116
2003 — Jeff Fritchman,
Lake Washington (Kirkland, Wash.), 126
2004 — Aaron Langford,
Pulaski Academy (Little Rock, Ark.), 117
2005 — Hayo Carpenter,
Burroughs (Ridgecrest, Calif.), 111
2006 — Brian Langford, Pulaski Academy (Little Rock, Ark.), 139
2007 — Jason Bird, Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), 151
2008 — Kirby Moore,
Prosser (Wash.); Aldo Hernandez,
Alexander (Laredo, Texas), 131
2009 — Mark McDonagh, Riverside-Brookfield (Riverside, Ill.), 165
2010 — Max Morrison,
Kenton (Ohio), 142
2011 — Logan Smith,
Vista del Lago (Folsom, Calif.), 152
2012 — Corbin Covey,
Camarillo (Calif.); Davis Howell,
Christian Academy of Knoxville (Tenn.), 143
2013 — Justin Sawmiller, Kenton (Ohio), 158
2014 — Ethan Sanford,
Bells (Texas), 138
2015 — Josh Hampton,
Cashion (Okla.), 146
2016 — Jake Johnson,
Pulaski County (Somerset, Ky.), 139
2017 — Cale Miranda,
Lighthouse Christian (Springfield, Mo.), 146
2018 — Caine Savage,
Western (Anaheim, Calif.), 124
2019 — Truitt Tollett,
Shiloh Christian (Springdale, Ark.), 134
