College Football: The 48 Coolest Names in College History

This is a list of the coolest names in college football history.

Not the funniest or most outrageous, although some will be, but the names that are definitely meant to be worn by a football player.

There are plenty of Scotts, Bobs and Davids, but these guys are unique.

Some of them will cause you to crack a smile, and some of them are names that are spoken only with the deepest respect for the players that carry them, but all of them deserve to be remembered.

48. Thor Brown

Hammer anyone?

How appropriate considering many in the state are Scandinavian...

The name "Thor" is a solid football name, and it's surprising we don't hear it more often.

In Brown's case, it may not have helped raise his talent level, but at least he made this list.

47. Bronco Mendenhall

His name does not quite carry the cachet of a Bronko Nagurski, but BYU's coach has a name that can stand on it's own.

Nothing says "football" like a three syllable last name coupled with the name of an animal.

46. Zoltan Mesko

Not only was this former University of Michigan punter built like a linebacker, he got a name that starts with a "Z."

What a waste of a name.

If he was a Heisman winning tailback or something, we would see little Zoltans popping up everywhere.

Instead, we are stuck with a plethora of kids named "Tebow."

45. Nnamdi Asomugha

The guy can play football.

Asomugha played corner for Cal and has since moved on to become one of the top corners in the NFL.

Although his name may be hard to spell and even harder to pronounce, it earns a spot on the list for the use of a double consonant.

You don't see that every day.

44. Red Grange

Yeah, you think you know about Red Grange, but consider this: 30 percent of his touchdowns scored in college were from 50-plus yards, and over 50 percent were longer than 20 yards.

He was ahead of his time.

As if his name wasn't already good enough, he also had one of the best nicknames in history, "The Galloping Ghost."

43. Yourhigness Morgan

Seriously?

What where his parents thinking?

At least he scores coolness points for being unique, but it must be somewhat awkward.

I mean, do you go by the full name, or is it "YH" for short?

42. Xxavier Carter

The double consonant thing has already been visited in reference to Nnmadi Asomugha.

Carter, a backup running back at Stanford, took it to a whole new level.

Double X?

That's one short of the trifecta...

41. Keyshawn Johnson

Sometimes it was difficult to like Keyshawn, unless you were a USC fan.

However, the name is a classic.

It combines the classic "Shawn" with an everyday item for an incredible combo.

Coming soon, "Chairbilly," Forkarl" and "Sinkana."

40. Immaculate Perfection Harris

"I-Perfect" played cornerback for Georgia Tech.

He also moonlights on weekends as a televangelist claiming to be able to make life perfect.

Rumor has it he has since changed his name, as "Immaculate Perfection" was often confused with the "Immaculate Reception" and Terry Bradshaw annoys the mess out of him.

39. Taz Knockum

The name "Taz" brings to mind images of a creature spinning its way through everything in its path en route to its goal.

An apt description of a ball-carrier headed for the end zone.

The name just gets better when you add the passive-aggressive name Knockum to the mix.

38. Xzavier Stewart

Having an "X" in your name is rare, but it happens.

There are plenty of Xaviers and Alexanders in the world.

However, not many folks can claim a '"Z."

Stewart, who played for Kansas State and Illinois State before being dismissed from that program in 2010, has both letters, consecutively.

37. Lawyer Tillman

Lawyer Tillman is famous for this reverse play in the Iron Bowl that won it for Auburn.

(My apologies to Alabama fans who may cringe upon viewing.)

36. Major Ogilvie

Ogilvie played under Bear Bryant at Alabama during the '70s.

He only lost four games in his entire collegiate career and was a part of two national championship teams.

He split time in the backfield with a stable of rushers and finished his career with only 299 carries.

His pedestrian stats, however, should not take away from a solid name.

35. Curley Culp

Curley played ball at Arizona State, both on the offensive and defensive line.

He also won the NCAA wrestling championship while at ASU.

The alliteration in his name serves to earn him a spot on this list.

34. Mister Simpson

Everyone knows this man's name.

At least, he probably feels as if they do.

He played for Michigan in 2006, rushed twice for 11 yards.

He then attempted to transfer to Cincinatti to play but was deemed academically ineligeble.

After that, he dropped off the face of the earth and has since resurfaced after alleged robberies.

33. Golden Tate

With that first name, was there really anywhere else he could play?

He also proved to be "golden" for the Irish, setting school single season records for most receiving yards and most receptions in 2009.

He was an AP All-American in 2009 and also won the Biletnikoff Award.

Unfortunately for him, the rest of the squad did not match his level of talent, and Tate never reached a BCS bowl...

32. Rameses Arceo

The name "Rameses" conotates royalty.

Several Pharaohs from ancient Egypt share the name.

Unfortunatley for this guy, in modern times, it only warrants a picture of half of his head..

Arceo is the player behind No. 35...

31. John David Booty

Yeah, that's a picture of a guy with two first names waving a sword around.

John David Booty played quarterback at USC from '03-'07, backing up Matt Leinart in '03 and '05, redshirting in '04 and starting in '06 and '07.

Believably, he was born in Louisiana, hence the name.

Throw in the "Booty" at the end, and you have a winner.

30. Jordan White-Frisbee

He is apparently doing his best to emulate his name and fly like a plastic disc.

White-Frisbee not only is named after a staple of Americana, but the color is specified as well.

His dreams of soaring with the eagles having already crashed, he settled for playing offensive line at the University of Washington.

29. Brit Barefoot

We will skip the jokes having to do with "barefoot" and "Mississippi."

Barefoot was a kicker for Southern Miss.

Of course, he never kicked barefoot, but it's still ironic, is it not?

28. Rocco Cironi

Anyone named "Rocco" deserves a spot somewhere on this list.

Of course, the combination of "Rocco" and "Cironi" flows off the tongue as smoothly as "bread and butter," firmly compounding his position.

It's a solid name for an offensive lineman.

27. Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada

This may well be one of the coolest names ever.

Just don't ask me to pronounce it.

It's too bad more of Navy's games weren't televised. It would be great listening to Keith Jackson stumble through a name for once.

26. Foswhitt Whittaker

Ending the last name with the same five letters as the first name is somewhat cool.

It doesn't work all the time, so it's not recommended you try it on your kids.

Whittaker, also known as "Fozzy," can be found in the Texas backfield.

Hopefully he can help the 'Horns pull out of their miserable funk after last season's debacle.

25. BenJarvus Green-Ellis

Why have only two names when you can go with four?

It's as if, immediately after his naming, one of the nurses said to his mother "double or nothing," and she agreed.

It's still pretty unique, even if it gives the impression of a one man law firm.

24. Lawyer Milloy

Milloy terrorized Pac-10 receivers as a safety.

There were not many negotiations going on in the defensive backfield, even with a name like "Lawyer."

Of course, no one could ever be sure when to believe a word he said, but he went on to a succesful NFL career, so it must not have been much of a hindrance.

23. Knowledge Timmons

Timmons knew everything he needed to know to be a successful cornerback at Penn State.

He was dismissed from the team for a short time by Joe Paterno for disciplinary reasons but knew enough to get straightened out and back with the squad.

His knowledge of the position was not enough to turn into a productive professional career, however, and Timmons seems to have vanished into "Bolivia."

22. Boomer Esiason

Boomer is one of the few to boast more vowels in his name than consonants and still somehow keep it pronounceable.

He played at Maryland back when Ralph Friedgen was offensive coordinator and is the best known player to come out of Maryland.

Of course, with a name like "Boomer," one would think a career at Oklahoma would be in the cards, but that was a no go.

21. Ray Ray McElrathbey

In that good ol' southern tradition, McElrathbey gets to use two first names.

Ray Ray just has a nice sound.

In all seriousness, he is a great guy, having taken custody of his little brother when he played at Clemson and now is caring for his two sisters.

Read about him here and here.

Stay classy, Ray Ray!

20. Major Applewhite

A quarterback is supposed to lead his offense.

Of course, a name like "Major" lends itself to being a leader.

When Applewhite left the 'Horns, he held eight school records, in spite of his diminuitive size.

Texas fans can tell you that he was a leader.

At least someone got a name that actually fits.

19. Prince Amukamara

Amukamara is a pretty cool last name.

Score 10 points for originality.

His first name however, restores some credibility to a name that has been run down by the artist formerly known as Prince.

It fits, and he owned defensive secondaries during his time at Nebraska.

Maybe the name will translate to success on Sundays as well.

18. Tshimanga Biakabutuka

It's like a party in your mouth.

Go ahead, say it again.

Biakabutuka inexplicably started going by "Tim" at one point in his career, which took some but not all of the fun out of his name.

His 313 yards in an upset victory over the undefeated Buckeyes endears him to every Wolverine fan and still stands as the second highest single game rushing total in UM hisotry.

17. Hercules Satele

Hercules was a legendary demi-god, son of Zeus.

He completed the 12 "Labors of Hercules" and stories and movies have been written and produced about his life.

He then went on to play offensive line for the Hawaii football team, attempting to get them a BCS victory in the Sugar Bowl.

Alas, this Herculean task was even more difficult than slaying the Hydra, and hence, Hercules moved on to easier tasks, such as playing in the NFL.

16. Dick Butkus

That dirty joke you just thought?

Forget it.

Unless of course, you would be willing to share it with Mr. Butkus in person.

Butkus was an All-American linebacker and center for the University of Illinois.

15. Bacarri Rambo

Similar to being named Chuck Norris, anyone with "Rambo" in any part of their name should be feared.

While Bacarri works, so would "Powderpuff Rambo" or "Fluffy Rambo."

Rambo is a hard-hitting safety, playing for Mark Richt's Georgia Bulldogs.

At a young age, Rambo had his name changed.

Seems "Bacarri Fudge" is not quite as intimidating as "Bacarri Rambo."

14. Co-Eric Riley

Can you imagine the conversation when Co-Eric found out what the prefix "co" means?

Everybody has someone with the same name as theirs, not everybody has a co-star.

13. LeQuantum McDonald

No that's not him, but a man named LeQuantum is going to know how to hide himself on the Internet.

Mcdonald played defensive end at Baylor, and it's rumored he mastered the playbook after he got a handle on quantum physics.

This was shortly after he finished filming his James Bond spoof: "LeQuantum of Solace."

12. Darius Passmore

Sometimes it's easy to wonder if every wide receiver actually goes by an alias, and Passmore is his last name.

Anyway, while receivers across the country beg their quarterbacks to throw the ball their way more often, Darius just has to run his routes, and the back of his jersey is begging for the ball.

Take that, Chad whatever your name is at the moment...

11. D'Brickashaw Ferguson

Any name containing the word "Brick" is a great moniker for an offensive lineman.

Ferguson also played linebacker in a rare defensive set for the Virginia Cavaliers during his time there.

He also started in four bowl games for the Cavs, which is significant, considering they haven't sniffed a bowl game since he left.

10. Billy Cannon

Cannon played at LSU, and remains the only Heisman winner to emerge from the school.

While many fans remember him or his famous punt return that won the game against Ole Miss in 1958, it's doubtful that they would if his name was "Billy Smith" or "Bob Roberts."

No, Billy Cannon just has that ring to it.

9. Bronko Nagurski

As if spelling "Bronko" with a "K" wasn't enough, he had to go and have a last name like "Nagurski."

Forget the Steve Smiths and Joe Flaccos of the modern era, Nagurski's name will go down in history, probably more for his achievements on the field, then for any merit of its own.

But it's fun to say.

8. Rock Cartwright

There may not be a better name for a running back than "Rock."

Cartwright, playing for Kansas State at the fullback position, was definitely aptly named.

He sometimes looked like a rock rolling downhill and bowling over defenders.

He is not to be confused, however, with Hoss Cartwright of "Bonanza," and there is no relation.

7. Knute Rockne

The man is a legend.

In the long and storied history of Notre Dame, there is not a player or coach who contributed to their tradition than Rockne.

He coached the Irish for 13 years, with a record of 105-12-5.

He also led them to five undefeated seasons without a tie and five national championships.

In an era of corruption and hypocrisy, his name should be synonomous with ball that is right with college football.

6. Mercury Morris

Some dislike him for his flamboyant style and arrogant attitude, but you must admit, the name is a great one for a running back.

Morris played at West Texas State and went on to become famous as part of the Miami Dolphins team that still holds the only perfect record in the NFL.

At least it wasn't Pluto (which now is not a planet) or Uranus (no explanation needed).

5. Pistol Pete Pedro/ Preacher Pilot

In the early '60s, these two dominated the college football rushing scene.

Pedro was a diminuitive speedster, standing only 5'8" and exercised his talents at West Texas State.

Preacher Pilot, so nicknamed by his grandmother, played for New Mexico State, who apparently actually won a few games back then.

Both men had great names, and they actually met each other on the field a couple of times, as they fought for the nation's rushing title in 1962.

4. Colt McCoy

If you wrote a book about a goofy looking kid from Texas who rises to lead the Longhorns to a national championship game, you couldn't pick a better name that Colt McCoy.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

Of course, if the officials who changed the name of the Red River Shootout got ahold of him, his name might now be "Handshake" McCoy.

3. Ndamukong Suh

In the Ngemba language of Cameroon, Ndamukong means "House of Spears."

The man was absolutely dominant for the Huskers, and while spearing quarterbacks is generally frowned upong by the NCAA, he made a regular practice of putting them on the ground.

2. Sonny Sixkiller

Sixkiller was a quarterback for Washington back in the early '70s.

He took a squad with an abysmal 1-9 record and led them to 22-10 over his three years at the helm.

His name caught on with fans in Washington and has even been immortalized in the "Ballad of Sonny Sixkiller" and had a band named after him.

1. Tank Carder

This guy can play.

Just ask former Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien.

And his name is totally appropriate.

Short and to the point but hinting at the destruction he is about to unleash on opposing quarterbacks.

Great name for a linebacker.