TAMPA, Fla. — You could say football runs in the family for Nico Gramatica

His father is former Bucs kicker and Super Bowl champion, Martin Gramatica. 

Following in his father’s footsteps, Nico is the number one-ranked kicker in the class of 2024. 

Cambridge Christian football head coach Brian Palone says a player like Nico is rare. 

What You Need To Know

  • Five-star kicker Nico Gramatica, the oldest son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend, Martin Gramatica, has garnered interest from programs across the country. 

  • The senior will soon take his talent to the University of South Florida, announcing he’s 100 percent committed this summer.

  • Nico will be the third Gramatica to kick for the bulls, following his uncles, Bill and Santiago. 

“Any opportunities I can get to utilize somebody like that in our program, it’s such a huge weapon,” Palone said. “I tell our team every single day that we’re blessed to have someone like him in our program. Because that doesn’t happen. I’ve been doing this for 20 years and it doesn’t happen very often.”

The senior will soon take his talent to the University of South Florida, announcing he’s 100 percent committed this summer.

“I really just wanted to stay here in Tampa. I love what they’re building with this program. What Coach Golesh and Coach Creamer and the special teams coach and just everything that they’re building in Tampa and I just wanted to be a part of it.”

Nico received interest across the nation, but the choice was clear.

“My family was next to me the whole time throughout this all and when Coach Golesh called me and I was like I’m going to tell them, I’m going to commit,” he said. “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.”

His ties to the green and gold run deep. 

Nico will be the third Gramatica to kick for the bulls, following his uncles, Bill and Santiago. 

His mom, Ashlee, played tennis for USF. 

“It’s a huge thing in my family. Both my uncles played there, by 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.”

And soon, he’ll be competing at Raymond James stadium, where his dad played for the Buccaneers.

“Going to be super excited. Just being out there, Raymond James, having all my family out there. My uncle Santiago, my dad Martin, just there watching me, very excited to play on that field.”

Coach Palone says the Bulls are getting a competitor, hard worker, and leader. 

“Super positive and lifts his teammates up. Ever since I’ve known him I haven’t seen him in a bad mood,” Palone said. “He just wants to be a good teammate. Wants to be a good leader and just really, be out here and have fun.”

Nico hopes to add to the Gramatica legacy in Tampa Bay football while creating a career of his own.