Jeff Wickersham Strong-Armed Quarterback from Merritt Island High Set LSU Tigers Passing Records
By Space Coast Daily // June 25, 2026
2019 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Jeff Wickersham, strong-armed quarterback from Merritt Island High School, was one of the most highly recruited quarterbacks in the state in the early 80s. When the dust cleared from all of the scholarship offers, he chose to attend Louisiana State University (LSU).
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Jeff Wickersham, strong-armed quarterback from Merritt Island High School, was one of the most highly recruited quarterbacks in the state in the early 80s.
When the dust cleared from all of the scholarship offers, he chose to attend Louisiana State University (LSU).
During his recruiting visit to Baton Rouge, he was impressed by not only the football tradition but also the sense of family that surrounded the program and the university.
“It was that family atmosphere that goes back to the early 1980s when I was being recruited by then-head coach Jerry Stovall, and still prevails today, that drew me to LSU from Merritt Island,” said Wickersham.
“The fans were always so great,” he recalls.
“We used to go watch the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando every year and LSU ended up playing in that quite often. I would go watch the games and walk around the parking lot and see the LSU fans cooking gumbo and jambalaya. They were super nice and super crazy. When I took my official visit to LSU, it was the same thing.”
He continues: “And of course when you went out on the field at Death Valley (LSU Stadium), there’s no other place like it in the country. Nothing even came close to having that thrill. The people and the fans are just so inviting. It’s just a great place to be.”
Wickersham’s decision to wear the Tigers’ purple and gold proved to be a win-win all around. During his three years as the starting quarterback for the Tigers Wickersham completed 58.4 percent of his passes for 6,921 yards, which at the time were both the 3rd best performances in Southeastern Conference (SEC) history, and also set a conference mark for the lowest percentage of interceptions per pass attempt.
SET LSU PASSING RECORDS
Wickersham was the first quarterback in LSU history to pass for over 5,000 career yards, the first LSU quarterback to throw for over 2,000 yards in three different seasons, the first LSU quarterback to throw for over 2,500 yards in a season (1983), and the first LSU quarterback to throw for over 350 yards in a game (368 yards vs. Mississippi State in 1983).
By the end of his college career, Wickersham held the school’s record for most passing yards, along with 15 other marks.
Wickersham led the Tigers to strong seasons and national rankings during his junior and senior seasons, and to the Orange, Sugar, and Liberty Bowls over his three seasons starting for the Tigers.
As a junior in 1984, he completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 2,165 yards and 12 touchdowns. Major victories included LSU’s 23-3 victory at #15 Southern California and #10 LSU’s 36-10 victory at #16 Kentucky.
LSU finished the year with an 8-3-1 record and a #15 ranking in the final Associated Press Poll.
During his senior year in 1985, Wickersham completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 2,145 yards and 5 touchdowns. Major victories included #16 LSU’s 14-0 victory at Ole Miss and #17 LSU’s 10-7 win at Notre Dame.
The Tigers finished the year with a 9-2-1 record and a #20 ranking in the final Associated Press Poll.
Wickersham’s love for Louisiana has kept him in the Bayou State, where he lives in Metairie and is the president of Ship Yard Supply Inc.
He presently spends a considerable amount of time following the LSU softball team since his daughter, Shelby, one of the most sought-after high school softball pitchers in the nation, matriculated at LSU this past fall and immediately had an impact, throwing a no-hitter against Iowa in her college debut in February.
Playing college softball was always a dream for Shelby, but playing college softball at LSU, where her dad broke all those records so many years ago, means so much more.
“I definitely think that makes it even more special to be able to follow in his footsteps,” Shelby says, “and hopefully I can create a legacy as he did.”
