Ranking the Best Names in College Football
By Pat Sullivan
Sep 12, 2015; Evanston, IL, USA; A Northwestern Wildcats fan cheers for a great alliteration and Disney movie reference during the game against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
20. Simba Short, Northwestern LB
Biographical Information: Freshman linebacker from Brentwood, California. Born in Wailuku, Hawaii. Was a 3-star recruit and led his high school team (De La Salle) to a 14-0 record his senior year, finishing ranked 2nd nationally by USA Today. Parents’ names are Roger and Lenee Short.
Fun Fact from Official Team Bio: His middle name means “beloved child sent from heaven,” and he achieved Honor Roll in high school in seven consecutive semesters.
Why I love the name: Somehow not the best Lion King reference in the country, this Wildcat linebacker hails from California but was actually born in Hawaii, explaining his middle name, “Kamaleimaikalani.” However, that mouthful is not what got him a spot in the Top 20. Instead, it was the combination of being named after the Disney lion version of Hamlet and the strong alliteration that will make his name much more fun to say as he tries, and probably fails, to tackle Ezekiel Elliott. Hakuna matata, Simba! We still love you and your name, and hopefully you have better luck against the running backs on Purdue and Illinois!
Next: Best Names In College Football #19