College Football: Ranking the best players names of all time

25. Tank Bigsby, Auburn/ Tank Carder, TCU

Anytime a football player is named “Tank,” it’s a big win. Both happen to embody their positions quite well. Bigsby came on strong as a freshman running back with the Tigers last year.

However, I’ll always remember Tank Carder for his defensive heroics in the 2011 Rose Bowl versus Wisconsin where after recording what felt like his 20th tackle late in the game, Brent Musburger said, “You know who that is? That’s the Tank, baby.” Just the way he said that has always tickled me.

24. Peerless Price, Tennessee

I have to give credit to the alliteration here because it helps to smooth out his full name and make it feel natural. Many might remember him for his NFL career, but Peerless Price first won a national championship at Tennessee by catching a crucial touchdown pass in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl for the title against Florida State.

23. Ironhead Heyward, Pitt

Many might have known that he was Craig Heyward, but during his days as a bruising tailback, everybody called him “Ironhead.” Heyward supposedly received his nickname as a youngster after ramming headfirst into opponents during street football games and claimed that when he was 12 or 13, he once was struck with a pool cue over his head which broke in half. He was an All-American and Heisman finalist in 1987 before going on to a long NFL career.

22. Red Grange, Illinois

Few probably know that the man was born Harold Edward Grange before he received the nickname “Red” because of his flaming red head of hair growing up. Red Grange is legendary for his role in popularizing the sport in the early 20th century as one of the game’s early stars. He was a three-time All-American halfback at Illinois before joining the Chicago Bears and helping to bring respectability to the NFL in its early years. Grange was also known as the “Galloping Ghost” and the “Wheaton Iceman” which are two of the more awesome nicknames in any era.

21. Dee Liner, Arkansas State

Safe to say he is not the placeholder on extra points. Dee Liner played D-Line for Alabama for a couple of years before transferring to play at Arkansas State from 2016-17. His real name is Davion, but as he once told The Tennessean, “everybody knows me as Dee.” However, there was a time when he did not play along the D-line as one might always have assumed. While growing up, he was a quarterback and even a kicker, but he eventually grew into a D-lineman. Some things are just meant to be.