As the Ravens look through the pool of college prospects for another tight end, one of the best brings plenty of intrigue.
Florida State's Nick O'Leary comes from a historic sports bloodline, and he also has ties to the Ravens.
O'Leary, whose full first name is Nicklaus, is the grandson of golf legend Jack Nicklaus. He's also a former teammate of three current Ravens: safeties Matt Elam and Terrence Brooks, and defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan.
He played with Brooks and Jernigan on a National Championship team at Florida State, and was Elam's high school teammate. O'Leary still talks with Elam regularly, and the former high school teammates are also training together this offseason.
When asked if he'd like to reconnect with his old teammates, O'Leary just smiled and said, "Yep."
"I played with Timmy at the Army All-Star game coming out of high school. He was a freak at Florida State, and so was Terrence," O'Leary said. "They were both really good."
Not only does O'Leary have some connections to Baltimore, but he would fill a pressing need for the Ravens if drafted by the team in May. With Dennis Pitta's status for 2015 uncertain, and veteran Owen Daniels heading into free agency, the Ravens want to add depth at tight end.
The Florida State product is considered one of the top tight ends in this year's draft class.
"I feel like I can do it all," O'Leary said. "People say my route running is not that good. I feel like it is. There are a lot of guys at Florida State who weren't able to cover me, and guys we played against. We'll see how it is."
During his four years at Florida State, O'Leary caught 114 passes for 1,591 yards and 17 touchdowns. He caught 48 passes for 618 yards and six touchdowns last year as a senior.
At 6-foot-3, 247 pounds, O'Leary also has the size to play on the line as a run blocker.
"I run block well," he said.
In addition to his talent and Baltimore connections, O'Leary also has rare perspective about life as a professional athlete. His grandpa is widely regarded as the best golfer ever, and he's shared some lessons about handling the pressure that comes along with life in the spotlight.
"We talk a lot. It's all about carrying yourself," O'Leary said. "We talk more as grandfather to grandson."
O'Leary did inherit some of the golf genes form his grandfather, and said that he shoots in the 70s when he plays regularly. He also joked that sticking with golf may have been the best decision long-term, but the physical side of football was too much to pass up.
"Golf would have been better on my body," he said. "But I love football. I love contact."
