Top FSU Football Players Under Jimbo Fisher: No. 9

FSU football has had some great talent over the time Jimbo Fisher has been head coach – here’s another one of the 10 best during his tenure.

It was nearly seven and a half yeas ago that everything changed for FSU football. After almost three and a half decades under the leadership of legendary head coach Bobby Bowden, it was time to hand the keys over to Jimbo Fisher – who had spent the previous three seasons as the offensive coordinator and “head coach in waiting”.

Since that time, the Seminoles have come back from the time known as the “lost decade” from many and turned the program back into a perennial winner over Fisher’s seven seasons in charge. It’s a tenure that has included ACC titles, a national championship and countless award winners and All-Americans who reminded the country that Florida State was indeed back.

Of the hundreds of players who have suited up in the garnet and gold under Fisher, which ones have been the best of the best? It’s not an easy question considering all the talent that has come through Tallahassee. In compiling our top 10 list of the best FSU football players under Fisher, countless players who brought home honors and ended up in the pros didn’t make the cut – showing you the amount of talent that is on the list.

Without further ado, here’s another of the top Seminoles during the Jimbo Fisher era.

Florida State Seminoles Football

No. 9 – Nick O’Leary, TE (2011-2014)

When you think of tight ends, not many people think of deep threat receivers who can bring do the catch and run thing and just stand around and block for the running game. That was not the case with O’Leary, who arrived as the top tight end recruit in the country and a four star player after a stellar prep career at Palm Beach Garden’s Dwyer High School.

During his first two seasons, O’Leary got his plays in where he could but flew somewhat under the radar, combining for 416 yards and four touchdowns over that span. It was his junior year where the grandson of golfing legend Jack Nicklaus (in case you didn’t know that from the fact it was mentioned every game) flourished, scoring three touchdowns in the opener at Pitt and becoming a top target for Jameis Winston during the title season, finishing with 557 yards and seven touchdowns – highlighted by a 194 yard day in the blowout win at Clemson.

While he could have likely been selected by the pros after the 2013 season, O’Leary returned for his senior season. During his final year, O’Leary become a consensus All-American and was awarded the John Mackey Award as the top tight end in the country after racking up 619 yards and six touchdowns before being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 2015 NFL Drat.

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O’Leary finished his FSU football career as arguably the best tight end to ever play for the Seminoles and changed the way the position was played in Tallahassee.