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Name of the Year: The Best Names in Big Ten Football in 2019

Indiana’s roster is so whimsical it’s ridiculous

Central Florida v Michigan Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images

We last held this contest three years ago and I think it’s time we bring it back.

Presenting your OTE Name of the Year Top Ten!

10: Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan Wolverines

The Peoples-Champion got six votes for a 10th-place finish. Three years ago, Michigan dominated this category.

9: Isaiahh Loudermilk, DE, Wisconsin Badgers

The phenomenal and very Wisconsin-appropriate surname distracts from the fact that Mr. Loudermilk’s first name always looks like a typo. There are two h’s. 16 points.

8: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State Nittany Lions

A strange one to say. 25 points.

7: Sio Nofoagatoto’a, DT, Indiana Hoosiers

The first of the Hoosiers on this list has seven syllables in his last name, which is the most I can remember since Michael Ho’omanawanui. 28 points

6: Josh Imatorbhebhe, WR, Illinois Fighting Illini

Ay Bhebhe! The juxtaposition with the simple first name is nice, but what I really love about this name is that it could easily be pronounced “immature baby.” Josh is probably among the most mature adults in the Big Ten. 35 points

5: Rachad Wildgoose, DB, Wisconsin

This one is all about the last name, and it packs a whallop. I would love to see him get some work as a slot receiver or a runningback just to hear “Wildgoose is running free into the secondary! It’s a footrace, they’re chasing Wildgoose but they won’t catch him today!”

Have you played Untitled Goose Game?

39 points, with one first place vote

4: Ty Fryfogle, WR, Indiana

There was a clear separation between the top four and the rest of the field, as the wondrous Ty Fryfogle racked up 70 points without a single first place vote

3: Whop Philyor, WR, Indiana

With a roster of names this magical, it’s no wonder Indiana has had such a good season. Philyor gets a little knock because “Whop” is not actually his given name, but he is so universally referred to by “Whop” that he got 83 points anyway.

Imagine having Philyor at receiver with Jake Butt at tight end. The Philyor-Butt combo would be undefendable.

2: DiCaprio Bootle, CB, Nebraska Cornhuskers

Bootle made an appearance on this list three years ago, and he sure did make a strong run. In any other year, he probably would have gotten the nod, but with 96 points and 3 first place votes, it wasn’t quite enough to overcome...

1: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Indiana

It was always going to be Penix.

111 points (8 first place votes)