The South Florida Bulls got some big moments early in their week 4 game against the No. 11 Hurricanes. Kicker Nico Gramatica showed his potential and tried his best to help USF win their second back-to-back game in the 2024 season. Yes, Nico is the son of Martin Gramatica, a former player of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Nico followed in his father’s footsteps to become a kicker who was part of the 2022 Super Bowl-winning season.

Despite his two impressive plays in the first quarter, the Hurricanes dominated and were defeated with a huge margin. One of Nico’s plays was called back due to a penalty. However, he managed to put his team on the board with a 58-yard field goal. “Nico is not only kicking royalty, but he is part of South Florida Bulls royalty as well! We are fired up to have another Gramatica suiting up for the Bulls!” says head coach Alex Golesh. His statements reflect the importance of the kicker in USF.

Nico made his official visit to the USF Bulls on 2nd December 2023 and decided to play in the 2024 season. He made an early impact not only on his head coach but on his teammates and his USF fans as well. He kicked his career’s first PAT during the second half of the season opener against B-CU played on 31st August.

Before joining the South Florida Bulls, the number one kicker of the 2024 class had an impressive high school career at Cambridge Christian High School. During his junior year in 2022, he attempted to hit 27 out of 31 extra points. The next year, he set the school record by kicking a 54-yard field goal, and he broke the record in the same year with a 56-yard field goal.

He has grown up surrounded by sports excellence, and he has embraced the challenge of carrying forward the Gramatica name at USF. It is not everyone’s cup of tea to carry forward the family legacy, but with Nico’s performance in 2024 so far, we can say that the kicker is on the right path.

Ashlee and Martin Gramatica

Nico is very fortunate to have been born into a family with a strong sports background and comes from Tampa, Florida. His father is a former NFL kicker, and his mom, Ashlee, played tennis for USF. USF’s kicker is the third Gramatica to kick for the Bulls. His uncles Bill and Santiago were also kickers for the Bulls. Spectrum News reported the player’s statements about his family: “It’s a huge thing in my family. Both my uncles played there; my dad played here in Tampa Bay, and just the legacy he left. And both my uncles and the legacy they left. Just very awesome to see and wanting to be in Tampa and compete in Tampa.” The deep connection of Nico’s athletic family plays a significant role in his growing football career.

The Gramatica family shares a deep connection with the South Florida Bulls, the coaching staff, and all the players. Currently, Nico is not the only athlete from his family who is part of the Bulls; his brother Gaston Gramatica is serving as a holder. Their father, who has been their emotional support, set the NCAA record with a 65-yard field goal while playing at Kansas State in the 1990s.

Their dad had a successful 10-year NFL career; during his time he played for the Buccaneers, Colts, Saints, and Cowboys. Martin was also selected to the Pro Bowl in 2000, and he finished his successful career with a kicking percentage of 76.4%. His uncle Bill Gramatica also had a remarkable career in the NFL; he played four seasons with the Cardinals and Dolphins. Bill is remembered for tearing his ACL during a celebration.

On the other hand, Ashley is the family’s backbone. She plays a significant role in Nico and his brothers’ football careers. Nico shared how his family celebrated his commitment to the Bulls. “My family was next to me the whole time throughout this all, and when Coach Golesh called me, I was like, I’m going to tell them, I’m going to commit.” He added, “Everyone was super excited, from my brother jumping up in the living room to my sister right there next to me giving me hugs and my parents.” The kicker shares a strong bond with each member of his family. He credits much of his success to his parents’ unwavering support.