T.Y. Hilton close to passing Dallas Clark, John Mackey in Colts record books

T.Y. Hilton has quickly developed into the Colts’ top receiver and one of the top-tier wideouts in the NFL.

Through four games this year he has caught 25 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns, ranking in the top ten in the NFL in both receptions and receiving yards. He’s been producing ever since he entered the NFL, however, and he’s rising in the Colts’ all-time record books - much faster than you might think.

Hilton is actually within reach of passing two prominent former Colts in the record books, either this week or in the near future. Hilton is just 139 yards away from passing Dallas Clark for eighth place on the team’s all-time receiving yards list, while he is just 13 catches away from passing John Mackey for ninth place on the team’s all-time receptions list.

Both of those players are obviously significant guys in Colts history. John Mackey played for the team during their time in Baltimore and is among the top tight ends in NFL history, having caught 320 passes for 5,126 yards and 38 touchdowns during nine seasons with the Colts. He’s a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was named to the NFL’s all-decade team of the 1960s, was a three-time All-Pro, and a five-time Pro Bowler. Dallas Clark was also a very good tight end for Indianapolis, as he caught 427 passes for 4,887 yards and 46 touchdowns during his time with the team. He was a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in 2009, when he caught 100 passes for 1,106 yards and ten touchdowns, proving to be the most dangerous player in the NFL at the position at that time.

Hilton is currently tenth in Colts history in receptions (having passed Jimmy Orr already this season), and he’s within range of climbing up that list a bit more this year. Here’s a look at the current top ten in Colts history in receptions:

1. Marvin Harrison - 1,102

2. Reggie Wayne - 1,070

3. Raymond Berry - 631

4. Dallas Clark - 427

5. Bill Brooks - 411

6. Lenny Moore - 363

7. Edgerrin James - 356

8. Don McCauley - 333

9. John Mackey - 320

10. T.Y. Hilton - 308

If Hilton averages just 4.6 catches per game for the rest of this season, he’ll move into sixth place in Colts history in receptions after just his fifth year in the NFL. He’s in a similar position when it comes to career receving yards with the franchise. He’s currently tenth in that category as well; here’s the top ten.

1. Marvin Harrison - 14,580

2. Reggie Wayne - 14,345

3. Raymond Berry - 9,275

4. Lenny Moore - 6,039

5. Jimmy Orr - 5,859

6. Bill Brooks - 5,818

7. John Mackey - 5,126

8. Dallas Clark - 4,887

9. Roger Carr - 4,770

10. T.Y. Hilton - 4,749

Hilton is just 21 yards from passing Carr, just 139 yards from passing Clark, and just 377 yards from passing Mackey - while he’s also just over 1,000 yards away from passing both Bill Brooks and Jimmy Orr to reach the top five.

It should also be noted that Hilton is just four touchdown receptions away from passing Roger Carr (29) for tenth place in Colts history. Hilton is also already fourth in Colts history in 100+ yard games (19), behind only Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Raymond Berry (two Hall of Famers and another guy who very well could get in one day). Furthermore, Hilton is one of just three Colts in history with multiple 1,000-yard seasons: Marvin Harrison had eight, Reggie Wayne had eight, and Hilton has three.

Obviously, you can read into Hilton’s prominence in the Colts’ record books however you want to, but it’s certainly significant whenever he’s nearing Dallas Clark and John Mackey. With a contract that will keep him in Indianapolis through at least 2020 and with Andrew Luck at quarterback, expect to see Hilton’s climb in Colts history continue moving forward.