Iowa football team lands a 'name player'

It has been reported that Daumantas Venckus has verbally committed to play football at Iowa. He is a high school defensive end for the Cypress Bay Lightning in Weston, Fla., in the southern part of the state.

You can do the legwork to find out the kid's time in the 40-yard dash and how much he can benchpress. Me, I just like the name.

Even if he never makes a tackle for the Hawkeyes, Daumantas Venckus is still guaranteed a spot on my all-time Iowa name team. From the current Iowa squad, members include Markus Zusevics, Broderick Binns and Marvin McNutt. From the Hayden Fry/Kirk Ferentz eras, I start with Epanesa Epanesa. Hayden Fry called him "Repeat." Fry was funny.

I'll add Pat Angerer. Good name for a linebacker. Jonathan Babineaux doesn't sound like the name of a forceful defensive lineman to me, but he was one.

Nick Bell. What better name for a brute of a running back? No frills. And he rang some defenders' bells.

Chuck Long. What better name for a quarterback? He could chuck it long, too, and no college quarterback I ever covered threw a better 17-yard sideline route.

Quinn Early. His name was as distinctive as his considerable skill as a receiver.

Clinton Solomon. Presidential and Biblical. And a darn good receiver himself.

Larry Station and Reggie Roby. Two incredible players.

Brad Quast and Matt Quest.

Paki O'Meara. Who doesn't like that name?

From further back, I like Bruno Andruska, Shanty Burks, Wally Hilgenberg (one of six Hilgenbergs who have played for Iowa).

Prince Sawyer, Duke Slater. Willis Glassgow, Brandt Yocom.

If you were going to have one player from your institution go through history as your lone Heisman Trophy winner, who better than a man named "Nile Kinnick?"

So, who have you got to add to the list?