Nick O'Leary: Throwback for a “Garnet” Opportunity

Every so often we as fans have the chance to witness something that shouldn’t be. Maybe an NFL player that slips through the cracks and falls to a later round. A prospect that just didn’t show enough at the combine, doesn’t seem to be athletic enough to transition to the next level. Sometimes players are over looked and over analyzed.

Fast forward to pick 194, the sixth round of the 2015 NFL draft. Your Buffalo Bills are on the clock. As time was ticking down I franticly scrambled to find if a certain prospect was previously selected. He was not. The feeling of euphoria with a slight nervous sweat overcame my body. As the representative walked to the stand, and announced the Buffalo Bills selection, i thought to myself, why was he still available? How was he still available? The Buffalo Bills selected tight end Nick O’Leary from Florida State University. Are you not impressed? Okay let me explain.

Nick O’Leary is the grandson of golfing great Jack Nicklaus also known as The Golden Bear. A shadow that Nick previously stood behind. Until now. Nick not only turned heads his freshman year of college, but he impressed and gained the respect of his teammates and coaches almost immediately.

Before Nick took to the practice field there was doubts. Florida State offensive coordinator James Coley had a strong feeling Nick would be good, but he wasn’t positive. He hadn’t seen Nick block the caliber of defenders that he would face in the Atlantic Coast Conference. It only took a few days to assure him of his feeling. “You watch him and it kind of brings a smile to your face.” Coley said. “And these other guys are going ‘wow i gotta block this guy?”

Nick immediately began practicing with the starters. With a familiar quarterback in Buffalo, EJ Manuel. “Nick knows the game of football. He is very instinctual. He can set up a defensive back or a safety, and its not something he’s been taught yet, but he’s known that sense day one.” said EJ. Another familiar face in Buffalo and former Seminole teammate linebacker Nigel Bradham said “Nick is extremely advanced for a freshman. Nick is a receiver in a tight end’s body.”

To Nick's teammates he is known not just as Nick, but as “Throwback”. At the time, and most likely still, the only receiver at FSU that preferres not to wear gloves. It is said that Nick rubs his hands in dirt and is then officially ready to play. This old school approach is what makes Nick O’Leary. Nick is not going to run by you, he may not be the flashiest of players, but he very well may be the most physical. Nick O’Leary is known to have great hands and almost never drops a pass. He is also known to be a great run and pass blocker, once again like his freshman year, on a new level of competition he must prove himself capable in those areas. Nick O’Leary’s stats may not pop out at you, but what does is that he has improved statistically each and every year, from being a freshman, to 4th year senior. Last season (2014) Nick O’Leary won the John Mackey Award which touts him as the best tight end in the country.

Finishing up his career at Florida State university he is the schools all time leading tight end in such categories as receptions (114), yards (1,591) and touchdowns (18). In 2014 Nick also received First Team All-ACC honors from the leagues coaches and media, noted as “devastating blocker who developed into a top pass-catching threat.”

So why the heck was Nick O’Leary selected all the way back in the 6th round? Because Nick didn’t have his best day at the 2015 NFL combine. It is as simple as that. You would really think by now people would learn their lesson about the combine. We have seen time and time again players that were great in games, and had a rough day at the combine, drafted later than they probably should have, and yet still turned into a very productive member on their respective team.

Lets take a look at Nick's numbers:

HT: 6’3” WT: 252

Arm Length: 29 3/4”

40 Yard Dash: 4.93 Sec

Vertical Jump: 30.5”

Broad Jump: 110.0”

Nick O’Leary has short arms, and ran a slow 40 time for a tight end at the NFL combine. What these numbers do not tell you is exactly how athletic Nick is. On this play you see Jamies escape the rush and fit the ball over top the defender where Nick makes a great catch in the corner of the end zone.

PASS CATCHING:

Well I made a case that Nick was a physical athlete. Tho any tight end should be able to truck a defensive back, this is the physicality that Nick brings as he runs ‘through’ defenders.

PHYSICALITY:

2014 Highlights:

In the end, Nick is a rookie and there is a lot of mouths to feed on the Buffalo Bills offense. Due to his lack of size and 40 time Nick fell to the 6th round. Only in time will we truly know if O’Leary will adjust to the pro game. Baring injury Nick O’Leary may very well not contribute much at all. The exciting part is that he will have time to grow and perfect the areas of his game that need improvement. You be the judge.

Bobby Ray: Follow on IG @WeAreTheBillsFanatics

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