Athlon picks the best names from the 2016 recruiting class.
The first Wednesday in February is essentially Christmas for every college football head coach. After months of hard work on the recruiting trail, coaches will hit the offices bright and early on Wednesday for National Signing Day to welcome a new class full of freshmen and maybe a few junior college transfers to chase a national championship.
With most college football teams signing around 25 prospects on Wednesday, there’s over 3,000 players coming to the FBS ranks next season. And it’s no surprise there are some rather entertaining names among the new group of college players. Athlon combed through the recruits for the 2016 signing class by using the database of players at Scout.com and rounded up the best (and most interesting) names from this year's recruiting lists.
Note: Positions of players can very from recruiting service. Players in this article were listed by position according to Scout.
2016 College Football Recruiting All-Name Team
Quarterback
Messiah deWeaver (Wayne High School), Huber Heights, Ohio
Jawon Pass (Carver High School), Columbus, Georgia
Gunnar Hoak (Dublin Coffman High School), Dublin, Ohio
Zeb Norland (Oconee County High School), Watkinsville, Georgia
Jett Duffey (Lake Ridge High School), Mansfield, Texas
Deuce Wallace (Sevier County High School), Sevierville, Tennessee
Harley Kirsch (Eastside Catholic High School), Sammamish, Washington
Yafari Werts (Newberry High School), Newberry, South Carolina
Rudiger Yearick (Metrolina Christian Academy), Indian Trail, North Carolina
Raekwon Bush (Edna Karr High School), New Orleans, Louisiana
Bailin Markridge (Sandra Day O’Connor High School), Glendale, Arizona
Running Back
Barrick Slaughter (Livonia High School), Livonia, Louisiana
Elijah Holyfield (Woodward Academy), College Park, Georgia
Carlin Fils-Aime (Naples High School), Naples, Florida
Daevon Vigilant (Downey High School), Downey, California
Toks Akinribade (Brownsburg High School), Brownsburg, Indiana
Justice Hill (Booker T. Washington High School), Tulsa, Oklahoma
Torreanho Sweet (Bishop Amat High School), La Puente, California
Kumehnnu Gwilly (Utica High School), Utica, Michigan
Tre Nation (Leeds High School), Leeds, Alabama
Parie Dedeaux (Susan Miller Dorsey High School), Los Angeles, California
Yeedee Thaenrat (Father Judge High School), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Chuby Dunu (Buchanan High School), Clovis, California
Priest Bluitt (Clear Falls High School), League City, Texas
Job McGinty (Junipero Serra High School), Gardena, California
Rickey Henderson (Lancaster High School), Lancaster, Texas
Wide Receiver
Indiana McAlpine (Malibu High School), Malibu, California
Divine Deablo (Mount Tabor High School), Winston-Salem, North Carolina
LePear Toles (McKinley High School), Canton, Ohio
Dock Luckie (Gainesville High School), Gainesville, Florida
Josh Imatorbhebhe (North Gwinnett High School), Suwanee, Georgia
Eddie McDoom (West Orange High School), Winter Garden, Florida
Velus Jones (Saraland High School), Saraland, Alabama
Derrion Rakestraw (Sequoyah High School), Canton, Georgia
True Thompson (Robbinsdale Armstrong Sr.), Plymouth, Minnesota
Taysir Mack (Grand Street High School), Brooklyn, New York
Neru N’Shaka (Hallandale High School), Hallandale, Florida
Major Bellamy (Central Gwinnett High School), Lawrenceville, Georgia
Otumos Payemanu (Athens Drive High School), Raleigh, North Carolina
Deion Hair’Griffin (Arlington Heights High School), Fort Worth, Texas
Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman (Breck School), Minneapolis, Minnesota
Bubba Ogbebor (Heritage High School), Frisco, Texas
Stori Emerson (Ben Davis High School), Indianapolis, Indiana
Tight End
Octavious Cooley (Laurel High School), Laurel, Mississippi
Chase Claypool (Abbotsford Senior Secondary), Abbotsford, BC
Albert Okwuegbunam (Sacred Heart Griffin High School), Springfield, Illinois
J.C. Chalk (Argyle High School), Argyle, Texas
Tangaloa Kaufusi (East High School), Salt Lake City, Utah
Dakota Holtzclaw (Worthington Kilbourne High School), Columbus, Ohio
Scooter Harrington (Greenwich High School), Greenwich, Connecticut
Pro Wells (Dixie M. Hollins High School), St. Petersburg, Florida
Miles Beach (Los Gatos High School), Los Gatos, California
Ian Van der Meer (Sam Barlow High School), Gresham, Oregon
Amorama Noel (Alief Elsik High School), Houston, Texas
Bapa Falemaka (Judge Memorial Catholic High School), Salt Lake City, Utah
Matt Dunkelberger (East Pennsboro Area SHS), Enola, Pennsylvania
Offensive Line
Brodarious Hamm (Spalding High School), Griffin, Georgia
Tank Smith (Byron Nelson High School), Trophy Club, Texas
Zeveyon Furcron (Joliet Catholic Academy), Joliet, Illinois
Saige Young (Woodford County High School), Versailles, Kentucky
Lloyd Cushenberry (Dutchtown High School), Geismar, Louisiana
Tope Imade (Bowie High School), Arlington, Texas
Tiller Bucktrot (Stroud High School), Stroud, Oklahoma
Nino Leone (Pingree School), South Hamilton, Massachusetts
Iverson Moana (Faga’Itua High School), Pago Pago, AS
Ulises De Los Santos (Union City High School), Union City, New Jersey
Derices Brown (Muskegon High School), Muskegon, Michigan
Brown Tuiasosopo (San Fernando Senior High School), San Fernando, California
Michael Jordan (Plymouth High School), Canton, Michigan
Coy Cronk (Central Catholic), Lafayette, Indiana
Stone Forsythe (West Orange High School), Winter Garden, Florida
Rowdy Frederick (Broken Arrow High School), Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Sage Doxtater (Canada Prep Football Academy), St. Catharines, Ontario
Gentle Williams (Florence High School), Florence, Mississippi
Dakota Birdyshaw (Walker High School), Jasper, Alabama
Keymoney Hunt (Sheffield High School), Memphis, Tennessee
Jay-Jay McCargo (Bishop O’Connell), Arlington, Virginia
King James Taylor (Nathaniel Harbonne High School), Harbor City, California
Defensive Line
Handsome Tanielu (Snow College), Ephraim, Utah
Boss Tagaloa (De La Salle High School), Concord, California
Raekwon Davis (Meridian High School), Meridian, Mississippi
Shug Frazier (Buford High School), Buford, Georgia
D’Andre Christmas-Giles (St. Augustine High School), New Orleans, Louisiana
Bo Peek (Plant Senior High School), Tampa, Florida
Atunaisa Mahe (West Jordan High School), West Jordan, Utah
David Letuligasenoa (Heritage High School), Brentwood, California
Corey Tipsword (Norman High School North), Norman, Oklahoma
Oluwole Betiku (Junipero Serra High School), Gardena, California
McTelvin Agim (Hope High School), Hope, Arkansas
Levi Onwuzurike (Allen High School), Allen, Texas
Chauncey Manac (Clinch County High School), Homerville, Georgia
Prince Sammons (Cincinnati Hills Christian Aca), Cincinnati, Ohio
Karamo Dioubate (The Preparatory Charter School), Philadelphia, Philadelphia
Jachai Polite (Mainland High School), Daytona Beach, Florida
Adetokunbo Ogundeji (Walled Lake Central High School), Walled Lake, Michigan
Gary Overshown (Horn High School), Mesquite, Texas
Pookie Maka (Woods Cross High School), Woods Cross, Utah
Solomon Wise (Coppell High School), Coppell, Texas
Lyric Bartley (Taylorsville High School), Salt Lake City, Utah
Baer Hunter (West Forsyth High School), Clemmons, North Carolina
Cedric Muzik (Redondo Union High School), Redondo Beach, California
Woodly Sully (Coconut Creek High School), Pompano Beach, Florida
Linebacker
Seufagafaga Luafatasaga (Farrington High School), Honolulu, Hawaii
Shaquille Quarterman (Oakleaf High School), Orange Park, Florida
Kash Daniel (Paintsville High School), Paintsville, Kentucky
Zach Sandwisch (Central Catholic High School), Toledo, Ohio
Tre Threat (Spanish Fort High School), Spanish Fort, Alabama
Tuck Tucker (Ralph H Poteet High School), Mesquite, Texas
Tiger Baldwin (Bedford-North Lawrence High School), Bedford, Indiana
Landan Word (Bishop O’Connell), Arlington, Virginia
Chris Crumb (Olentangy High School), Lewis Center, Ohio
Tru’self Cooper (Benedictine Military School), Savannah, Georgia
Jack Clancy (Westfield High School), Chantilly, Virginia
Case Hatch (Perry High School), Gilbert, Arizona
Michael Divinity (John Ehret High School), Marrero, Louisiana
Jango Glackin (IMG Academy), Bradenton, Florida
Chase Pine (Lafayette High School), Williamsburg, Virginia
Rhe’Neze Galtney (Francis Howell North High School), Saint Charles, Missouri
Ayo Shogbonyo (Mansfield Summitt High School), Arlington, Texas
Michael Jackson (Susan Miller Dorsey High School), Los Angeles, California
Trevor Tank (South Lyon High School), South Lyon, Michigan
Tuf Borland (Bolingbrook High School), Bolingbrook, Illinois
Jett Whitcher (Stanwood High School), Stanwood, Washington
Majestic Jordan (South Central High School), Winterville, North Carolina
Si Kilinc (Southside High School), Fort Smith, Arkansas
Defensive Back
Hamp Cheevers (Trenton High School), Trenton, Florida
Raleigh Texada (Centennial High School), Frisco, Texas
Antoine Winfield (The Woodlands High School), The Woodlands, Texas
DiCaprio Bootle (Miami Southridge High School), Miami, Florida
Dude Donaldson (Escambia High School), Pensacola, Florida
Dedarallo Blue (Armwood High School), Seffner, Florida
Mato Pacheco (Claremont High School), Claremont, California
Sir Patrick Scott (Riverdale Baptist School), Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Younis Sangaray (Emmett Conrad High School), Dallas, Texas
Green James (Forestville Military Academy), Forestville, Maryland
Nigel Warrior (Peachtree Ridge High School), Suwanee, Georgia
Brady Breeze (Central Catholic High School), Portland, Oregon
Marlon Character (Grady High School), Atlanta, Georgia
Sir Patrick Scott (Riverdale Baptist School), Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Martial Washington (Liberty County High School), Hinesville, Georgia
Scoop Bradshaw (Plant Senior High School), Tampa, Florida
Kindle Vildor (North Clayton High School), College Park, Georgia
Maximilian Roberts (Salisbury School), Salisbury, Connecticut
Qwuantrezz Knight (West Gadsden High School), Quincy, Florida
Darrius Vukobradovich (Grace Brethren), Simi Valley, California
Ronnie Rust (Central Catholic), Portland, Oregon
Mister Calloway (Lufkin High School), Lufkin, Texas
Justice Summerset (Mountain View High School), Tucson, Arizona
Tayte Doddy (Second Baptist School), Houston, Texas
Athlete
Sewo Olonilua (Kingwood High School), Kingwood, Texas
Lil’Jordan Humphrey (Carroll High School), Southlake, Texas
ZyAire Hughes (McCracken County High School), Paducah, Kentucky
Bilal Ally (Clay High School), Green Cove Springs, Florida
Onyx Brown (Daphne High School), Daphne, Alabama
Special Teams
Johnny Den Bleyker (Moreau Catholic High School), Hayward, California (LS)
Michael Leshchyshyn (Roosevelt High School), Seattle, Washington (K)
Jet Toner (Punahou School), Honolulu, Hawaii (P)
Caleb Lightbourn (Camas High School), Camas, Washington (P)
Kody Schexnayder (John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, Louisiana (P)
