Newcomer Profile: How TE Bauer Sharp's Versatility can Help Transform Oklahoma's Tight End Room

After the Sooners' tight end group failed to make a big impact in 2023, Brent Venables and company added a game changer to the roster over the offseason.

Oklahoma's Bauer Sharp. / © SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Starting his career as an FCS quarterback, Oklahoma tight end Bauer Sharp took one of the most unlikely paths to OU.

Hailing from Dothan, AL, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound athlete had just one scholarship offer out of high school, and he went to Southeastern Louisiana as a signal caller.

But after he spent his freshman year as a QB, the Lions' coaching staff quickly realized that Sharp's athleticism and size would make him a good fit at the tight end position.

"I was kind of raw mentally in the QB room," Sharp said. "It was easy, kind of knowing coverages, just knowing where to sit in a zone, break off high or low in man. Concepts started to click for me once I started playing tight end."

WATCH: Oklahoma TE Bauer Sharp Interview

As a redshirt sophomore, Sharp tallied 288 receiving yards and three touchdowns through the air while adding 133 yards and five scores on the ground. Sharp recorded 25 rushing attempts in his final year at Southeastern Louisiana, operating as a running quarterback out of the wildcat formation.

After the Sooners' tight end room had a lackluster performance in 2023, combining for just 20 catches, 252 yards and three touchdowns, Joe Jon Finley and company made an effort to add to the tight end room over the offseason.

Getting a pledge from Sharp brought a versatile, athletic playmaker to the group who provides great size and solid experience at the position. The former Lions' standout played 311 snaps last year, according to Pro Football Focus, earning an impressive 81.2 overall offensive grade in just his second season ever playing tight end.

PFF gave Sharp a 75.5 receiving grade, a 77.8 rushing grade and a 72.2 run blocking grade. With his well-rounded game, the redshirt junior should play a big part in the Sooners' offense as Oklahoma heads to the SEC.

“I think that I’m very versatile as a tight end. I don’t think I’m the regular tight end that’s going to put his hand down and block the whole game," Sharp said in early March.

"I feel like you can use me in different ways, I played wildcat QB at my old school and I feel like that’s a huge part of my game, what I can do running up the middle. I’m just happy to help this offense anyway I can. Whatever they need me to do, special teams, anything on offense, blocking, I’m doing that. I’m blocking for my teammates, I just want to win.” 

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According to Sharp, Finley played a big part in his decision to transfer to Oklahoma over the many other interested FBS programs once he entered the portal.

Finley played tight end for the Sooners from 2003-2007, earning Honorable Mention All-Big 12 recognition during his final two years in Norman. Like Sharp, Finley played quarterback in high school and came to OU as a tight end.

Following his time at Oklahoma, Finley spent five seasons in the NFL, mostly on practice squads. Since his playing career ended, the Arlington, TX, native has served as a graduate assistant for the Sooners and a position coach at Baylor, Missouri, Texas A&M and Mississippi.

Now OU's tight ends coach and co-offensive coordinator, Finley has helped rebuild the tight end room in Norman.

"He just gives the confidence to our whole room of what it is to be a tight end. He explains the offense very well to where we understand it in a very simpler term. Just to know that he has played tight end, makes it an even better relationship between me and him," Sharp said.

“I feel like we hit it off from the jump. He’s just a great guy. That’s kind of why I made this decision to come here, was him and (offensive coordinator Seth) Littrell, how authentic and real they were. Once I’ve gotten in the tight end room and he started coaching me, it’s just been super fun.”

Since spring practice has started for the Sooners, the transfer tight end has been impressive, showcasing solid agility and speed for a player of his size and stature. As Oklahoma heads into the SEC, they will need strong, athletic playmakers like Sharp to step up and help first-year starter Jackson Arnold settle in at the quarterback position.

Bauer Sharp continues to stand out every time we’re out at practice

Transfer tight end absolutely looks like a guy who can contribute this season #Sooners pic.twitter.com/LDbcAKmLsx

— Josh Callaway (@JoshMCallaway) April 2, 2024

"He's extremely athletic. He's super physical too. Obviously he runs great routes and catches the ball, but he'll go and move some people in the run game too, which is what I love. He'll do it all," Arnold said of his new tight end. "He's super athletic and that showed the first week when he was here. We were running routes and you could tell this dude was a little different."

"Whenever we always warm up he always tries to get a couple throws and I have to get on him to hand me the ball back," Arnold added jokingly.

Growing up in Alabama, Sharp said that he is looking forward to facing both Aubrun and the University of Alabama in his first year with the Sooners.

“Going to Auburn, that’s going to be a big one I’m looking forward to. All the family is going to be there,” Sharp said.

“All of my family will probably still be going for Alabama, just pulling for me. Kidding, but my family has always been die hard Alabama fans, it’s going to be surreal playing them, but I hope we get a (win).”

Oklahoma will travel to Auburn to take on the Tigers on Sept. 28, and will meet the Crimson Tide in Norman on Nov. 23 for the penultimate game of the Sooners' inaugural season in the SEC.

With Austin Stogner and Blake Smith both out of OU's tight end room, Sharp will have a great chance to start this season, and will likely share the team's primary tight end responsibilities with Baylor transfer Jake Roberts and freshman Davon Mitchell.

If Sharp continues to have a big spring, however, he could firmly establish himself as Oklahoma's "TE1" heading into fall camp, giving Finley and Littrell the most versatile option at tight end the Sooners have had since Brayden Willis' departure.

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