Race+Class suggestions for a LOT of pregens?

[Wolfskin]

I'll start running the ToD campaign on late September/early October at a local gaming store, for up to a maximum of eight players, most of whom are total newbies (at least when it comes to 5e). To avoid handing out "dump characters" (i.e. the ones who nobody wanted to pick) to latecomers, I'd like to have a LOT of pregens, but I'm kinda running out of ideas and I'd like some input.

I'm planning to make sixteen pregens, two from each class: three humans, three elves, three dwarves, two halflings and one of each uncommon race. I'd like to pick sensible race and class combinations- not necessarily optimized, but neither I want to shaft players with cool but mechanically useless concepts.

So... advice, please?

 

[tuxgeo]

Here's one:

[The Starter Set included a cleric of the Life domain with the Soldier background. This is a cleric of the War domain with the Acolyte background.]

"RUDIN GARDMERE," LG Mountain Dwarf War Cleric of Clanggedin Silverbeard
[ STR 16, DEX 12, CON 14, INT 11, WIS 14, CHA 10 ] (includes +2 to CON & STR)

Hit Die 1d8. Hit Points 10. AC 17 (Scale Mail = 14; +1 DEX, +2 Shield)
RACIAL Prof.: Lt. & Med. Armor; Battleaxe, Handaxe, Light Hammer, Warhammer
(also, Prof. one set of artisan's tools: Tinker's Tools)

BACKGROUND Prof.: INSIGHT, RELIGION; Gnomish & Giant languages

CLASS Prof.: Lt. & Med. Armor, Shields; Simple Weapons.
Saving Thows: WIS, CHA
Skills: MEDICINE, PERSUASION

Skills with Proficiency: Insight +4, Medicine +4, Persuasion +2, Religion +2

Cantrips: Guidance, Light, Mending
Spells (usually prepared): Bless, Cure Wounds, Healing Word

EQUIPMENT (rolled: 5d4 x 10 GP = 100 GP) 
=================
Scale Mail     50 GP    45 lb. 
Shield         10 GP     6 lb. 
Warhammer      15 GP     2 lb. 
Light hammer    2 GP     2 lb. 
Javelins (6)    3 GP    12 lb.  (priced as a set of 6 javelins) 
Priest's Pack  19 GP    xx lb. 
               =====
Total Prices   99 GP 
Cash on Hand    1 GP

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Rudin doesn't have a set of Tinker's Tools right now, but he can still try
to mend things for people by tapping the things with his light hammer
and using his Mending cantrip.

TRAIT: I am tolerant of other faiths and respect the worship of
other gods.
IDEAL: Faith: I trust that Clanggedin Silverbeard will guide my actions.
I have faith that if I work hard, things will go well.
BOND: I seek to preserve a sacred text that my enemies consider heretical and
seek to destroy.
FLAW: My piety sometimes leads me to blindly trust those that profess faith in
Clanggedin Silverbeard.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Why would anyone play this PC?
(1) AC 17, +5 to attack rolls, 1d8 + 3 damage in melee
(2) This PC has magic but doesn't use it to blast anybody.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Why would anyone be unwilling to play this PC?
(1) This character is awfully generic, despite the ability of the player to replace the character's name with any other.
(2) I didn't do any of the work that the Wizards of the Coast developers did on their pre-gen characters to make this one tightly integrated into the plot of Lost Mine of Phandelver, with built-in motivations to participate in that adventure.