Since the transfer portal opened, the National Football League has drafted several young, talented players. Some of these drafted players have popular shortened names or nicknames. However, these popular names are simply nicknames with different origins, not their real or birth names.
From surprising nicknames to full names you’ve never heard, here are the real first names of 2025 NFL Draft rookies you thought you already knew.
The Real First Names Behind Some of the 2025 NFL Draft’s Biggest Stars
Malaki Starks
Starks’ full name is William Malaki Starks, implying that William is his first name and Malaki is his middle name. The Baltimore Ravens drafted William in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
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Cobee Bryant
Based on what his father told him, Bryant was named after the five-time NBA Champion, Kobe Bryant. Contrary to what many know, the full name of this Atlanta Falcons undrafted free agent is Jacobee Bryant
Tez Johnson
The full name of this Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL unsigned draft pick is Keyonteze Johnson. He shortened his full name for the same reason many others do: for ease of communication.
Trey Amos
Trey’s full name is Trenayvian Amos. The Washington Commanders drafted Trenayvian in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Tre Harris
For this Los Angeles Chargers draft pick, his nickname is not a shortened form of his real name but a preferred name by his family and friends. Tre’s real name is Cleveland Harris. From childhood, he has always been called Tre by the closest people.
Nic Scourton
Is Nic’s real name Nicholas Scourton? On the contrary, Nic’s full name is not the regular long form for Nic. His full name is Nictiedric Scourton. The Carolina Panthers of the National Football League have drafted Nic.
JT Tuimoloau
The full meaning of JT is Jaylahn Tuimoloau, a combination of the first letters of his first and last names. JT was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts as one of the team’s defensive players.
Bru McCoy
Bru’s nickname is another example of nicknames that are not coined from real names. His birth name is Horace McCoy III, and his name has an interesting history. As a child, Bruiser constantly got bruised, so his grandmother nicknamed him Bruiser.
As he grew older, he shortened the nickname to Bru, a name that has stuck ever since. Due to medical circumstances, Bru announced his retirement from football on Tuesday, May 6.
Woody Marks
Believe it or not, Jo’Quavious Marks’ nickname came about due to his fandom with the movie Toy Story. Marks was obsessed with a character in the film, Woody, so much so that he constantly wore the Woody costume to school.
This love for the character earned him the nickname. The Houston Texans football team drafted Woody Marks in the fourth round of the draft.
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There is something that knowing a person’s full name does to draw them closer, and that has probably happened now with an insight into their personal lives and the origin of their names and nicknames.
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