Former Florida wide receiver Chimere Dike sets all-time NFL rookie record
By David Wasson
Published:
Former Florida wide receiver Chimere Dike continued his stellar rookie season Sunday, setting the all-time NFL rookie record for all-purpose yards.
Dike now has 2,371 all-purpose yards through 16 games, breaking the previous record held by Tim Brown – who compiled 2,317 all-purpose yards with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1988.
Dike entered Week 17 with 2,269 all-purpose yards (341 receiving, 11 rushing, 382 punt return, 1,535 kickoff return), and added 4 receptions for 55 yards, 1 rush for 7 yards, 1 punt return for 7 yards and 1 kickoff return for 33 yards in a 34-26 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Dike excelled for Florida in 2024 after a 4-year career at Wisconsin from 2020-23. Dike’s senior season in Gainesville included 783 receiving yards on 42 catches along with 14 punt returns for 295 yards. Dike’s collegiate career finished with 139 receptions for 2,261 yards and 11 touchdowns, with 14 carries for 99 yards, 26 punt returns for 295 yards and 20 kickoff returns for 472 yards.
The Titans selected Dike in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft with the 103rd overall pick. Tennessee is 3-13 so far in Dike’s rookie season, and finishes next Sunday at the Jacksonville Jaguars.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
