Florida State Seminoles Lift Suspension on Kicker Conor McAneney Following Spring Break Arrest
The Florida State Seminoles have decided to lift the indefinite suspension on one of their new specialists who was arrested during spring break. Conor McAneney, a kicker for the team, faced charges of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting Arrest with Violence, and Trespassing following an altercation during St. Patrick's Day weekend. However, the charges were later reduced to Resisting Without Violence and Disorderly Intoxication, to which McAneney pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial.
McAneney, who has not yet played for the Seminoles, was expected to be part of the special teams unit that struggled in the previous season. His transfer from Quincy University in Illinois came after a successful 2025 campaign where he made 7 of 10 field goal attempts. Without McAneney, the team would have to rely on Gabe Panikowski, a redshirt senior transfer from Idaho State who had an impressive record in the previous season.
Panikowski, who earned All-American honors and the Fred Mitchell Award for the best non-FBS kicker in 2024, was perfect on field goals and had a high average on kickoffs. The arraignment date for McAneney's misdemeanor charges has not been set, and his participation in the team's activities during the summer and fall camp is still uncertain. The impact of McAneney's return on the Seminoles' special teams unit remains to be seen.