Staying four years is no longer incredibly common for major college football players. Too often today, the nation’s top prospects are quick to leave school early and enter the NFL Draft. Florida State’s senior class has been part of one of the more incredible spans for a program with a very storied football history. In a series called “Senior Moments”, we’ll be looking back at the top 5 moments from key members of the winningest senior class in Florida State history.
Tight end was one of the few positions where Florida State had no real proud history on the national front. That all changed when Palm Beach star Nick O’Leary came to Florida State. The grandson of golf legend Jack Nicklaus, O’Leary became the greatest tight end ever to play for Florida State over his four-year career. Last week, O’Leary became the first Seminole ever to win the John Mackey Award, annually given to the nation’s premier tight end. Here is a look back at the five best moments in the career of Nick O’Leary:
5. A New Florida State Record
The Citadel 12, Florida State 37
September 6th, 2014
Nick O’Leary entered the 2014 season tied with Melvin Pearsall for the most touchdowns ever by a Florida State tight end. In the home-opener against The Citadel, O’Leary stood alone as he took a 1-yard pass from quarterback Jameis Winston for a score. O’Leary would put Pearsall’s previous record of 11 way out of reach with five other scores throughout the course of the season.
4. Drowning the Gators
Florida 19, Florida State 24
November 29th, 2014
In the final home game of Nick O’Leary’s proud Florida State career, the tight end scored Florida State’s only two offensive touchdowns as the Seminoles erased an early 9-0 deficit in a 24-19 rivalry victory over the Gators. O’Leary caught just four passes, but a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter including an acrobatic 6-yard grab to put the Seminoles ahead for good.
3. 94 Yards
Florida State 51, Clemson 14
October 19th, 2013
Florida State was having no trouble with third-ranked Clemson as the teams met in Death Valley in 2013, but with the Seminoles backed up to their own 1-yard-line, O’Leary would have the longest catch of his career. Rather than try to run out of trouble, head coach Jimbo Fisher elected to pass and Jameis Winston found O’Leary wide open to his left. O’Leary sprinted 94 yards before finally being tripped up at the Tigers’ 5-yard-line. The Seminoles won the contest 51-14 and O’Leary finished with a career-high 161 yards receiving.
2. Three Touchdowns in 2013 Opener
Florida State 41, Pittsburgh 13
September 2nd, 2013
No one knew what to expect from Florida State in 2013. The Seminoles were coming off a top 10 finish and an ACC championship, but were losing a number of key players. In the 2013 opener against ACC newcomer Pittsburgh, O’Leary made it clear that the Seminoles had a big time player at tight end. O’Leary caught four passes that evening, but three went for touchdowns including a 24-yard score to get the Seminoles on the board.
1. O’Leary Brings the Boom
Florida State 51, Clemson 14
October 19th, 2013
Nick O’Leary had a career-night against Clemson in 2013, but the play most remembered won’t be his 94-yard reception, but one that summed up O’Leary’s toughness in a nutshell. After catching a short pass from Jameis Winston in the third quarter, O’Leary turned up field and laid one of the more vicious hits one will see from any ball-carrier, on Clemson safety Travis Blanks. O’Leary forearmed Blanks to the ground and raced 27 yards to the Clemson 6-yard-line for a first down. Though the catch didn’t result in a score, it will forever be the most vivid memory of O’Leary among Florida State fans.
