Jimmy Kimmel roasted new Illinois State Redbirds recruit Kobe Buffalomeat Thursday when he appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
"You know, my wife’s having a baby, we never even considered ‘Kobe Buffalomeat,’" Kimmel joked.
Kimmel asked the high school senior, who appeared on the show via video call from his Kansas hometown, about the response to his name. Buffalomeat, 18, became a social media star when he signed with the Redbirds this week.
"I mean, growing up, everyone kind of just when I introduced myself, they always said, ‘Is that really your last name?’" Buffalomeat said. "Uh, yes it is. You go to airports, grocery stores, you pay with a card, they kind of look at it, doubletake, and then they ask my mom or me, ‘Is that really your last name?’ And we say, ‘Yeah, it is.’"
The Native American offensive lineman, who is 6 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 285 pounds, said he was named for NBA champion Kobe Bryant. His unusual name has inspired some even more unusual nicknames.
"A lot of people call me ‘Buff,’ couple people call me ‘Beef,’ and my head coach calls me ‘Meat,’" said Buffalomeat, who said he’s never tasted buffalo meat.
"I like ‘Meat.’ That’s a good one. I think the fans at Illinois State should definitely chant ‘Meat’ when you come on the field," Kimmel said.
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" airs 10:35 weeknights on ABC.
Kobe Buffalomeat on signing with Illinois State, becoming a hit on social media
Kobe Buffalomeat on signing with Illinois State and becoming a hit on social media. (Teddy Greenstein/Chicago Tribune)
Kobe Buffalomeat on signing with Illinois State and becoming a hit on social media. (Teddy Greenstein/Chicago Tribune)
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