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He also logged six sacks and was a semifinalist for the Lombardi and Butkus awards, given to the best college football lineman or linebacker. Bad Luck or Sign of Things to Come? Texas Southmost Scorpions. His performance against Michigan in the 1924 season is one of the greatest in history: Grange scored five touchdowns, including a 95-yard kickoff return, threw for a touchdown and intercepted two passes. Across the country, depth charts feature bucks, dogs, spurs, bulls and macs. And maybe we can have a cooler name than the H-backs. He finished his Sooner career as the third all-time rusher with 4,057 total rushing yards and 42 total touchdowns. Its not a surprise either, as both sides have played annually since 93, including in the Division I-AA quarterfinals in 2001 and while they each transitioned to FBS. In his first season at Oregon, DeRuyter again has his perfect fit at the position in Kayvon Thibodeaux, the country's No. The wideout, who evidently came up with the nickname "The Playmaker" himself, dazzled in his three seasons in Coral Gables. Ive never seen that kind of bulk move that quickly, Georgia coach Vince Dooley said of Perry. Last season, there were more than 75,000 defensive snaps in college football games, according to Sports Info Solutions. Chad Kauha'aha'a, who was the Badgers' defensive line coach, brought it to Oregon State when Tuiaki worked there, and Tuiaki brought the name with him to BYU. Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more. Or perhaps you'd rather be named for a deadly serpent. After all, he would win the award himself in 1946. The trophy didnt actually return to the football field until 2005 when it re-resurfaced, this time in a closet on Oregons campus because lets face it, the trophy isnt much to look at, neither side has fully embraced it. And really, why pitch a recruit on being a linebacker when you can pitch them on being a striker instead? When you buy products through Boardroom's links, we may earn an affiliate commission. 1 overall recruit in 2019, who said he wants to win the Heisman this season. Both teams are 9-1 and ranked in the top 15 of the College Football Playoff rankings. 2023 defensive tackle prospect rankings More From DraftKings Nation Zach Evans, Ole Miss (TCU) Evans ran for 648 yards in six games last season, four times going over 100 yards, before missing most of October and all of November with a Sweetness usually isnt a word youd associate with a football player. "Let's get everybody excited," Leach said. Though Colorado has only three wins on the season, an unconventional Friday afternoon kickoff could be the foundation for a solid game. "Johnny Football," may have a great nickname, but is it the best in college football history? So we just started calling that the money position.". As a senior team captain in 1983, White dominated opposing linemen for a program record 15 sacks. "Everybody's fighting for the right to name something," Tuiaki said. Tackling him was like trying to pull down a rolling refrigerator, you know. Who won the spring transfer cycle? "Neon Deion" was a standout football player for Bobby Bowden and the Seminoles. But no matter the year or the circumstances, this in-state rivalry is clean, its old-fashioned, and its all about the hate. "We probably need to get a little bit more aggressive with our words so that you go, 'Hey listen, you are going to be a Terminator!'". He was a two-time consensus All-American selection at cornerback as well as a dangerous punt returner with amazing speed and a beautiful running style. Saturday, Nov. 27, 3 p.m. But this is how it happened: Dave Aranda, now head coach at Baylor, used cinco at Wisconsin when he was defensive coordinator. Red Elephants Atlanta newspapermen hung that intimidating name on thefearsome 1930 Alabama team that quaked the earthwhileoutscoring its foes, 271-13. The talented tailback set another record when the Washington Redskins selected him with the first pick in the 1962 NFL draft. RELATED: A defensive back named Moh Bility (yes, really) just committed to Rice erased positive gains in his area, rarely making mistakes as the last line of defense. The criteria considered when compiling and ranking the entries were the following (not in any specific order): Appropriateness of the nickname (capturing the player's style and/or personality), (Note: Wikipedia was used in some cases for statistical and/or background information.). Ernie Davis broke tackles and the color barrier as a standout Syracuse tailback from 1958-61. Saturday, Nov. 27, 2:30 p.m ET (ESPN+)All-time meetings: 35 (Appalachian State leads 19-15-1). Does all that make sense? The 2023 NFL draft is approaching and plenty of FCS players could hear their names called. Mississippi State coach Mike Leach, who certainly has gotten plenty of mileage out of branding his offense the Air Raid back at Iowa Wesleyan, understands the appeal of a catchy label. Manziel's sheer ability to make playspowered his team to a thrilling 29-24 victory in Tuscaloosa. 1 Alabama and No. The Wild Bunch Taken from the 1969 film of the same name, the Southern Cal defense led by Al Cowlings (yes, he drove the Bronco)took on the name and personality of this violent film in marching to a 10-0-1 seasonin '69, topped offby aRose Bowl win over Michigan. His father started referring to him as "All Day" because of his boundless energy. 61 overall prospect in Florida by 247Sports in the 2023 class. He stood 64, 250+ pounds, with a 72 wingspan and 11.63 hands (the Combine record is 11.75). Some take a more direct route and lean into school spirit. An elite run-stuffer at the collegiate level, the 6-foot-3, 295-pounder plays with ideal leverage and strength above his size. In BYU's case, there's even a bit of a competitive element to it. An elite run-stuffer at the collegiate level, Injuries have hampered the versatile fifth-year senior who projects as a slot receiver at the next level, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. And to start, we will look at one of the sports greatest contributions to our culture: so many magnificent nicknames. Florida State has a fox, a stud and a buck. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports) and Instagram (tlhnolesports). Pro Football Network, LLC. Ten years later, college football has more weird position names than ever, thanks to the need for so many new defensive packages to counter pass-happy offenses. In the early 1990s, the addition of a fifth defensive back, or nickel back, provided an opening for new names. At Clemson, Perry was already a massive individual. Davis, "Mr. Outside," was known as a speedy halfback. If we were going to change one offensively, that would be the one. Historians will tell you the first college football game bore a greater resemblance to soccer than modern college football, but gradually we progressed from the contest played that day to the one currently ruled by Clemson and Alabama. Payton recorded 31 tackles, including 6.0 tackles for loss with 5.0 sacks, one forced fumble, three pass breakups and a quarterback hurry last season, earning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. It took a while for Heyward to become a great college player. The name of that great Notre Dame team lives on until today. The former blue-chip recruit who originally played at Alabama before transferring to Texas has all the measurables at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds and 4.6 speed. Once it had kind of seen the light of day, there was no going back.". In a 4-3, the middle linebacker is the Mike. Thus, you wont see Johnny Football Manziel or Carnell Cadillac Williams, as they first received their monikers on the high school stage. His became a household nickname when he helped the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers win four Super Bowls. Texas Tech Red Raiders and Lady Raiders. Travian Robertson. FSU retired his No. "We sit here and we scheme as coaches, and just talk 'round and 'round and finally make a decision and then we're finally waiting to name it," Tuiaki said. Red is rather common, has been the preferred name for such sporting hall of famers as Albert Schoendienst, Johnny Kerr and Gordon Berenson. Being seen as a specialized defender in Miller's old role sure won't hurt. Texas Southern Tigers. Were trying to go down as The 2020-21 college football awards were doled out in front of a national TV audience leading up to Monday's College Football Playoff National Championship between No. The Seattle Kraken should be markedly improved in season two, Jaxon Smith-Njigba injury update: Ryan Day give 'hope' on Ohio State receiver, John Daly Was Not Drunk During SEC Nation Appearance, Alabama football: Will Anderson is going to give the entire state of Utah nightmares, College football rankings 2022: Projected Week 2 AP Top 25 after Ohio State outlasts Notre Dame, Georgia dismantles Oregon, Florida upsets Utah with dramatic defensive stand: Best memes, reactions. The Bandits were a defensive unit built upon speed, not size. Charles Edward Greene. If two nicknames are given, the first is for men's teams and the second for women's teams, unless otherwise noted. His single-season rushing and scoring records were not eclipsed until teams began playing 10- and 11-game schedules. ', "So we said, 'Well, I guess we have to call it the striker now.' I came out with the FanSided All-Name Team for the 2022 season. Win money. First, Georgia Tech has the largest margin of victory in the history of the rivalry, winning 48-0 in 1943. Junkyard DogsName given the 1976defensethattook Georgiato the Sugar Bowl. Jones played wide receiver and defensive back in college, but Norvell said he was greener to playing defense. Kassim's 5: Defensive player who stood out for Florida State football in spring practices. It conveyed the speed with which Grange traversed the football field as well as the inability of defenders to contain him. Finding the end zone was commonplace for the Tigers running back, as he set the program record for career rushing touchdowns (65). There are some phenomenal nicknames in the world of professional sports: Black Mamba, Megatron, Great Bambino. But he has shown the versatile coverage skills in both man and zone that could make him an effective nickel back, and he also has experience returning kicks. An old-school bully of a run stuffer, the 6-foot-2, 335-pounder could find a home with a team that wants a fireplug at nose guard or defensive tackle. But what makes rivalries special are those unexpected moments. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. He was an amazing athlete who won letters in four varsity sports in one year at Michigan football, basketball, track and baseball and competed in intercollegiate events in different sports in different states on the same day. Indiana has a husky and a bull. But he might be open to reinterpreting his current terminology. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. USF a leo. 1. Under Bronco Mendenhall, Virginia has occasionally played someone at sabre (named for the swords on its logo). The brother of former Georgia Bulldog Champ Bailey earned his menacing nickname at UGA. Here are the top 10 college football nicknames of all time. Copyright 2019-2023. BYU plays a cinco, a flash and a rover. The tailback from Elmira, N.Y.,apparently earned his nickname from a journalist after Davis's performance against the University of Pittsburgh. Asked many times what he thought of the name, Hirsch had a ready response: Anythings better than Elroy.. WebTexas A&MTexarkana Eagles. Only someone with Sanders first name and his propensity to draw the spotlight onto himself could be "Neon" Deion. Before he was a standout tailback for the Chicago Bears, Gale Sayers was a prolific playmaker for the Kansas Jayhawks in the early 1960s. Their 1963 N.C. State Wolfpackwent 8-2. Florida State footballwrapped up its 15th and final spring practice Monday. 14:08. On top of beginning one of the most iconic jersey traditions in sports, Mathieu also obtained one of the most iconic nicknames. Tallahassee Democrat. Terminology has always been subject to change or the whim of a coach. 4. The Fire Ants South Carolina's garnet-clad defenders who swarmed all over the field from 1983 until Coach Joe Morrison's untimely death following the 1988 season. Coming in as a 3-star recruit, there arent huge expectations for Crawford on the field, but rest assured that the college football world will always know his name. But this year might be different. He tallied 3,917 all-purpose yards in his college career, shredding defenses with his speed and agility. When Deion Sanders was playing, you knew you were in for a treat. List of college team nicknames in the United States, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, Scripps College, Fairleigh Dickinson (Metropolitan Campus), State College of Florida, ManateeSarasota, List of college nickname changes in the United States, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_college_team_nicknames_in_the_United_States&oldid=1146623824, College sports in the United States lists, College sports culture in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. UNT is now the Mean Green, but its an adoption of the chant, not of Greenes nickname: Im proud of the tie and my link to North Texas, but I was too busy playing when the chanting started.. Its just not clear which came first. There are a lot of great names out there in college football. Chicago American sportswriter Warren Brown, who would win the J.G. The two combined for 98 career touchdowns. With 9,345 combined yards and five Pro Bowl selections, he is considered one of the best backs in NFL history. He added 3.0 sacks, seven pass breakups and five quarterback hurries. Gang Green: [33] Nickname of the New York Jets, [34] or the Philadelphia Eagles defensive team from 1987 to 1990, when the team was coached by Buddy Ryan. He went on to play in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys before retiring after the 2001 season. Even at the same school. After rushing for 1,099 and 10 scores last season, he could be a huge factor in the SEC for the Tigers. The school has gone all-in on football spending, and it shows in both its facilities and the staff page on the Clemson football website. The Four Horsemen"Outlinedagainst the blue-gray October sky rode the Four Horsemen: Stuhldreher, Crowley, Layden, and Miller," wrote Grantland Rice on Oct. 18, 1924. A Gap AFC East AFC North AFC South AFC West Air Raid Offense Air Yards All-Pro All-Purpose Yards Alligator Arms Mathieu forced six fumbles, recovered five, and snatched two interceptions, earning consensus All-American honors and finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. More to the point, he is one of the few athletes, ever, whose personal nickname became the nickname for his schools athletic teams. With this game closing out the regular season, it is sure to have major Big 12 title implications. Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern labeled his superbacks. In a 3-4, there's another linebacker, often called a Jack, and used as an edge pass-rusher. There are some phenomenal nicknames in the world of professional sports: Black Mamba, Megatron, Great Bambino. Every Texas football fan and every follower of the NFL draft expects running back Bijan Robinson to get taken in the first round Thursday night. Tallahassee Democrat. Of those, there were five or more defensive backs on the field 92% of the time. There are stars everywhere now: Browsing every available FBS spring depth chart shows 14 teams that label it as a defined position, the most of any of the newfangled hybrid names. More:Bohls, Golden: Where will you go, Mr. Robinson? Term generally applies to any Georgia defensesince '76. It's hard to imagine trying to defend a backfield with two Heisman Trophy winners. From 1980-83, he generated 293 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 32 career sacks (a school record until 2016), three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and seven batted passes. 13 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Tom Bradley, who played the hero back position at Penn State and later coached it as a longtime assistant there, called Takkarist McKinley, who went on to be a first-round pick, a razor when he was UCLA's defensive coordinator. "You'd be amazed sometimes by the brainstorming sessions to come up with something that starts with one of those letters.". Heres a list of all the FBS schools organized in alphabetical order, both by school (first) and team names (second). To Lindsay Berra, he was Grandpa Yogi long Sign up for Boardrooms newsletters to get the biggest stories in the business of sports, entertainment, and culture directly in your inbox daily. What Is the College Football Playoff Committee, and Whos On It? But he has heard appeals from his own players and said maybe a time will come when he'll trick up the name for his H-backs as well, a position he utilizes quite a bit. A half-century later, North Texas teams are known as the Mean Green, with an attacking green eagle as the mascot logo. ET (ABC)All-time meetings: 125 (Oklahoma leads 90-18-7). "By God, we got a thingamajig out here, so how are they gonna possibly survive that? He was a three-year starter at linebacker and an All-American in 2002, his senior season. New QB, new coordinators, same Nick Saban: How Bama is handling its latest challenge. What No. "It was actually funny, [in spring 2018] we had been debating a bunch of names and striker had come about," he said. Cornhuskers held 10 regular season foes to 75 points on the road to the Big Eight title. Only athletes who received their nicknames in college were considered for the list. So, as Musso told the Hartford Courant in 1985, sports information director Charley Thornton wanted him to have a nickname to help draw attention to his play. Was it Rah-GIB or Rah-GEEB? ET (ESPN)All-time meetings: 124 (Oregon leads 66-48-10), I was today years old when I found out the Oregon-Oregon State trophy is a platypus and I LOVE IT https://t.co/B0KgIdEeyq pic.twitter.com/NnqCK7FCin. 6. It would be unseemly to have the same name at those two schools, after all. A rose by any other name might smell sweet, but a college football players name can make him a damn internet legend. Clemsons Bryan Bresee has been a highly-touted prospect throughout his years in college, but his injury issues limited his play with the Tigers. But Neon Deion is an expression of how Sanders operated at FSU: supremely great as a cover corner and return man, never shy about making everyone aware of it. Since then, the Cowboys have never won more than two meetings in a row and the Sooners have won the last six. College football journalists went wild for the nickname, and Mathieus six forced fumbles and five recoveries in the 2011 season didnt hurt. As former Tennessee Titans teammate Albert Haynesworth said, He was like a gazelle hunting down a sloth in a quarterback. Kearse concluded his three years at Florida with 145 total tackles, 34.5 tackles for a loss, 16.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, one interception, one recovered fumble, and 19 pass deflections. That got us wondering about where some of the greatest players in football history such as Reggie White (Minister of Defense), Joe Montana (Joe Cool) and Deion And he's like, 'Yeah, they've got me playing the striker position now. Women's teams in sports that have men's teams, most notably basketball, use "Lady Raiders". Western Kentuckys Brodric Martin has an intriguing size and build reminiscent of Jordan Davis, and could become a major weapon with more coaching. Felix "Doc" Blanchard and Glenn Davis were an incredible duo at tailback for the Army Cadets from 1944-46. Hirschs career was impacted by World War II, which is why he left the Badgers for the Wolverines following his sophomore year; he joined the Marine Corp as the war advanced and transferred to Michigan to be part of a Naval officer training program. It resurfaced in the 1960s as the trophy awarded to the winner of the teams water polo rivalry. Say it out loud. Deion Sanders became Prime Time back in high school. Kirkland has the speed to play at the college level this season. No one ever wore that nickname as famously as Grange, who revolutionized interest in college football and then helped ignite the nations passion for the burgeoning NFL. A native of Shreveport, LA, many thought the beautifully-named Decoldest Toevadoit Crawford was headed to LSU. Lincoln Riley notes that Oklahoma is "probably the most normal team in America," keeping things pretty standard by calling their rush linebacker "the rush linebacker." All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Navy lists a raider, a striker and a bandit. The Team Named Desire1954 Navy squad quarterbacked by George Welsh wasso named by Coach EddieErdelatz on the way to a Sugar Bowl win over Mississippi. ", 'No one wants to be the poodle': Why defensive positions have the coolest names, What's going on at Colorado? "They interviewed one of the kids who was playing that position. The sport played now on autumn Saturdays looks nothing at all like the one that is acknowledged as the first in the games history. Keondre Coburn, defensive tackle. Ehsan Kassim. This is an incomplete list of U.S. college nicknames. Theyve played each other as the top-ranked team in FCS. Texas College Steers. Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State Rivalry Explained. Despite questions about his durability, Peterson has established himself as arguably the best tailback in the NFL. And depending on what formation a Defense uses, you may hear other names: Middle Linebacker (MLB), Strong Side Linebacker, and/or Weak Side Linebacker, which refers to what side of the field they line up on. But the nephew of former USC quarterback John David Booty keeps that legacy alive with his iconic name. Perry attained even greater fame when he became part of the famed Chicago Bears defense as a rookie in 1985, when coach Mike Ditka chose to use him as a short-yardage fullback. WebThe Dome Patrol was rated by NFL Network as the #1 linebacker corps of all-time. He also boasts breakaway speed that helps make up for his lack of open-field elusiveness; he had 56 catches for 420 yards on his four years. Under current coach Neal Brown, bandits are more of a linebacker/defensive end mix. Typically, nicknames are earned, not created by the athlete. Keondre Coburn, defensive tackle. With no one stepping up in the wake of safety Jammie Robinson heading to the NFL, Kirkland has a real shot to claim playing time during preseason camp and the 2023 season. He stepped in after being forced into more playing time last season due to injuries to Jared Verse and Fabien Lovett. General football fans may refer to him simply as "AP," but Oklahoma fans will always know Adrian Peterson by the initials "AD.". College football has seen quite a few great labels for great players, from "Prime Time" to "All Day.". 5. The Playmaker went on to become a perennial star for the Dallas Cowboys. Mr. The history behind the name choice isnt as spectacularly enriched in folklore it was the winning selection of a fan naming contest. Paniolo is the Hawaiian word for cowboy. However, Sanders gained another nickname during his tenure at Florida State. WebMIR-MIT [ edit] MiraCosta Spartans Miramar Jets Misericordia Cougars Mission Saints Mississippi see Ole Miss Mississippi College Choctaws Mississippi Delta CC Trojans It does kind of keep it exciting.". The Galloping Ghost name stayed with Grange throughout his life, and particularly during his pioneering days as a professional football player. WebView College Football stats, leaders & player statistics. He picked off Jordan Travis on a throw and would have returned it for a score in a game. Pro Football Network, LLC. The names don't even necessarily mean the same spot on the field. In his four years at Pitt, during which I was a sportswriter at The Pittsburgh Press, I never heard him referenced by his first name. He could be drafted by a team that prefers the 3-technique in a four-man front. Typical defensive coverages include: 0/1: Man coverage with either 0 deep zone players, or 1 deep player (often referred to as man free) 2: the deepest part of the He was a five-time Pro Bowler and the 1992 MVP. Sure enough, Miller embraced it on his way to winning the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker, and he became the No. "It was just a name somebody came up with and I said, 'OK, that's good.'". So head coach Kalani Sitake and Tuiaki took a position known as the stud that they used when they worked for Kyle Whittingham at Utah and renamed it the flash at BYU. Teammate Ray Brown saw firsthand just how massive, as Perry filled the entire door frame of an elevator as he stepped off. So as I dove into the science of finding the best names in college football for the 2022 season (an arduous and highly tedious process in which I used my gut instincts and which names just stuck with me the most), I came out with the best at each position. "No one wants to be the poodle.". Everyone called him Ironhead. He noticed an online video of an animal called the honey badger, a small mammal native to Africa and southern Asia, so fierce despite its size that it has been seen to frighten away even grown lions. He talked the talk and walked the walk. The free safety was a consensus All-American that season and a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award, given to the nation's best defensive back. By Ben Portnoy. Nowhere on Greenes birth certificate does it say Joe. However, his aunt began calling him Joe as a child due to his resemblance to legendary heavyweight champion boxer Joe Louis, and it stuck. A 5-foot-11, 215-pound back with speed and power, Robinson can work between the tackles and also is a gifted receiver who caught 60 passes for 805 yards with eight TDs to go along with his 3,410 yards and 33 rushing TDs in three seasons at Texas. That was the year both schools joined the Pac-12. 9. College Football Awards. Both teams are hovering around .500 this year, but the Paniolo trophy should still be hotly contested for the 26th time as the Warriors travel to War Memorial Stadium to take on the Cowboys.