Florida State sophomore kicker Conor McAneney was reportedly punched in the face twice by police as officers tried to restrain him after he allegedly refused to leave a Fort Lauderdale bar Wednesday, according to TMZ, which reviewed the probable cause affidavit. McAneney was arrested Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale and charged with felony battery on a law enforcement officer, felony resisting arrest with violence and trespassing in an occupied structure, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s jail records.
McAneney, a native of Northern Ireland, was released from Broward County Jail late Thursday night after posting a $2,750 bond, according to WSVN-Fort Lauderdale. An FSU spokesperson told both WSVN and TMZ that McAneney has been suspended from all team activities.
McAneney was being removed from a Fort Lauderdale barwhen local police attempted to intervene and told him to leave the area. The new Florida State kicker refused and instead latched onto the barrier gates outside the business before scuffling with officers, per TMZ. McAneney reportedly grabbed the arresting officer’s “arm/shirt and attempted to pull me down, placing me off balance, [and] nearly falling through the barrier into the roadway where traffic was flowing,” according to the affidavit reviewed by TMZ.
The officer stated he then “punched the defendant two times in the face and brought him to the ground where he continued to actively resist our attempts to place him into custody.” Of course, officers eventually put him under arrest and took him to jail, where McAneney had a mugshot taken in which he was sporting a visible fat lip.
SLATER SCOOP: Florida State Seminoles kicker Conor McAneney was arrested and charged with a felony on Wednesday in South Florida.
The recent FSU signee is accused of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence. pic.twitter.com/WNmYkjrnOY
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) March 19, 2026
FSU spokesperson confirms Conor McAneney has been suspended following South Florida arrest
The 20-year-old McAneney transferred to FSU from Division II Quincy (Illinois) in January as one of two kickers signed this offseason, along with Gabe Panikowski, formerly of Oklahoma State. The 6-foot-3 McAneney is a kickoff specialist who averaged 60.2 yards on 49 kickoffs last season at Quincy, where he went 7-of-10 on field goal attempts with a long of 45 yards in 2025.
Florida State underwent an overhaul at kicker after last year’s starter Jake Weinberg and backup Brunno Reus both departed via the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason. Weinberg transferred to ACC rival Miami, while Reus transferred to Missouri.
Weinberg connected on 12-of-19 on field goals in 2025 and started all 12 games last season for the Seminoles. He previously redshirted in 2024 after appearing in just four games that season. Meanwhile, Reus was two-of-two on extra point tries while appearing in four games in 2025 to maintain his redshirt.