How do you pronounce Tyler Shough's name? A guide to talking about Louisville QB in 2025 NFL Draft

There's a lot to keep track of when assessing Tyler Shough's NFL prospects.

The Louisville alum is something of an anomaly, even in the age of NIL and an ever-churning transfer carousel. A 6-foot-5 hurler, Shough has the prototypical build of a pocket passer and solid throwing mechanics. Yet, his advanced age — he'll turn 26 four weeks into the 2025 NFL season — make him a polarizing talent in a draft class filled with them.

If that weren't enough, Shough has also dealt with more injuries than most of his draft colleagues.

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Simply, there's plenty of uncertainty regarding Shough's potential. At present, he seems a likely Day 2 pick.

When NFL fans do hear his name called, they might be a little confused. One reason why: the pronunciation of his last name.

With that, here's what you need to know about Shough's surname, as well as its origins.

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How do you pronounce Tyler Shough's name?

Shough's name exists in a compelling universe. Although it looks like it would rhyme with 'cough' or 'dough', it's actually pronounced 'shuck.' Think 'aww shucks' or 'shuck corn.'

The Chandler, Arizona native holds Scottish lineage, he explained to the Louisville Courier-Journal in August 2024.

“It means like medium-sized dog," Shough said. "I found that out like a couple of years ago. I thought it was like some weird German-European (name) and I guess it's Scottish. Kindergarten sucked when I was (younger)."

A glance at Merriam-Webster reveals that Shough is correct; the title refers to a "curly-headed lapdog" believed to have originated in Iceland. Ancestry explained the surname could be an Americanized version of German titles — perhaps Schuch, Schoch or Schau. 

NFL fans would be wise to attempt to get their pronunciation of Shough's patronymic down pat; he's expected to be a Day 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

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Tyler Shough stats

At 25 years old, Shough was no spring chicken in the college game. He spent seven seasons in school, turning out for three different programs from 2018-2024 — Oregon, Texas Tech and Louisville.

Shough enjoyed his most success during his final collegiate season, collecting the 14th most yards and joint-22nd most touchdowns in the nation as a member of the Cardinals.

MORE: Oldest players drafted in NFL history: Chris Weinke, Brandon Weeden among biggest outliers

Here's a look at his figures over the course of his lengthy career

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