ESPN 300 offensive lineman Bailey Sharp was presented with his Under Armour All-America Game jersey Tuesday afternoon in a ceremony sponsored by American Family Insurance. The ceremony took place in front of family, friends, teammates and classmates on the campus of Sprayberry High in Marietta, Georgia.
Sprayberry head coach Billy Shackelford can't say enough about Sharp as a student and person of high quality before ever getting to what makes him a top notch offensive tackle prospect.
"He's a phenomenal kid," Shackelford said. "His dad is a former coacher, teacher and administrator and his mother is a teacher and administrator. He had no option, but to be a quality student and he is. I believe he carries a 3.6 GPA or around there. He really is a phenomenal kid. He's good with younger kids, and is a role model for them. He has that ability to be nice off the field, and then turn into an animal on the field."
"On the field, he brings agility and athleticism to his position. There are a lot of big guys out there, but Bailey is a mobile athlete at tackle. He can block the edge, block on the perimeter and play in space."
Sharp committed to Auburn on April 19 over Georgia, Notre Dame and South Carolina. He comes from a football family with his father having played collegiately at Southern Mississippi, as well as coaching many years at the high school level.
Congratulations to Bailey Sharp on his #UAALLAMERICA Selection! https://t.co/oHLbnCu6v5
— RecruitingNation (@ESPNRNFball) September 16, 2014Eight questions with Bailey Sharp
Who is one player you are looking forward to competing against?
Sharp: I haven't really studied the roster in terms of the defensive linemen. I'm really just excited for the opportunity to play in the Under Armour Game, and look forward to going against all of the best players. I'm not calling anybody out yet [laughing]. It's just a great opportunity.
If you were to start a team with any other player in your class, who would it be and why?
Sharp: I think that Tyler Queen is a big time quarterback and has excellent leadership qualities in a quarterback. I expect him to do great things in college football. He would be my pick.
Who is the best player to ever play in the Under Armour game that you know of?
Sharp: I would probably say A.J. Green. He's a phenomenal player and seems like a really good guy on and off the field. I haven't watched them all, but last year's game with the uniforms got me really excited at the thought of having the chance to play in the game.
What is your earliest football memory? What about college football?
Sharp: When I was really younger I remember watching Lee Ziemba at Auburn. I watched him thinking he was mobile and athletic on the line. I remember thinking I want to be like him one day.
Which football player did you idolize or want to be like when you were a kid?
Sharp: I usually just watched college football games. I watched the offensive lines and the skill they played with. I guess it would be Greg Robinson when he was at Auburn. I thought he was a great college football offensive lineman and player.
If you could take on any pro player in their sport, who would it be?
Sharp: I would probably go with Nick Fairley. I would just like to see how and why he was so hard to handle for college offensive linemen.
What number do you wear and why?
Sharp: I wear 67 in high school, and hope to wear it in college, too. My dad wore 87 in college at Southern Miss, and the six and eight on some jerseys look a lot alike so I picked 67 [laughing].
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Sharp: It would be the most excitement a person will see me with is when I am at the beach. It's just the basking in the sun, and spending fun times with friends and family.
@BaileySharp67 proud of you! pic.twitter.com/G2nrgTHDyu
— Stacey Sharp (@staceysharp3rd) September 16, 2014