WyomingOSUAlum
01-13-2008, 07:29 AM
http://newsok.com/article/3192262/1200204481
By Mike Baldwin
Staff Writer
Kickers don't receive as much hype as four-star linebackers or All-America junior college transfers. But Quinn Sharp, the nation's No. 1 rated high school kicker, could wind up playing as big a role as anyone in Oklahoma State's 2008 class.
Few college kickers are as athletic as Sharp, who committed to OSU a year ago. He's so athletic his dream is to play two sports and walk on the baseball team. His experience on the diamond pays dividends on late-game pressure kicks.
"There are a lot of plays the first 55 minutes of a game but sometimes it comes down to the kicker who decides who wins and who loses,” Sharp said. "There can be a lot of pressure which makes it an important job.”
Cowboy fans know first hand how kicks can decide games. Last season, a blocked extra point was the deciding factor against Texas A&M. This year's OSU-Texas game was even more revealing as to the importance a kicker can have on a season.
Jason Ricks lost the kicking job after he missed a potential go-ahead field goal with 1:13 left against the Longhorns. Texas won it when Ryan Bailey nailed a 40-yard field goal with :00 showing.
"You feel bad for (Ricks),” Sharp said. "It started out perfect and then sailed to the right. Not everything goes right every time.
"I haven't missed in a pressure situation, yet. Hopefully, I can keep it that way.”
Although his sample size is small, Sharp said he has made every late-game kick he's attempted the past three years.
Sharp knew kicking might be his future when in the eighth grade he nailed a 42-yard field goal with 30 seconds left to defeat DeSoto. His career changed that summer after he attended the Chris Sailer's nationally renowned kicking camp in Las Vegas.
"They told me if I kept working at it I could easily get a D-I scholarship,” Sharp said. "That's when I started specializing on kicking. And baseball.”
This past season Sharp drilled a 46-yarder to beat South Grand Prairie in the waning minutes. He's also converted three shorter game-deciding kicks.
Sharp, from Arlington Summit High School, converted 30 of 39 field goals in his career, 162 of 170 extra points.
Coaches raved about Sharp routinely nailing 50-yard kicks during workouts for the Offense-Defense high school All-America game earlier this month.
The game, held in Miami, is the same event OSU freshman wide receiver Dez Bryant played in last season.
"It was pretty cool,” Sharp said. "The game itself wasn't that impressive. But all the practices, being around great players like that, it was a great experience.”
Sharp also averaged 46 yards a punt. His preference is to handle all kicking duties — kickoffs, field goals and punting.
Since OSU punter Matt Fodge will return for his senior year it's doubtful Sharp will punt. Still, it's a job Sharp would like to add to his resume, even if he has to wait until his sophomore season.
"I'll still work on all three to keep my whole leg in shape,” Sharp said.
"Field goals and kickoffs are similar leg swings. I figure I can challenge to do both of those things. And I can punt if they ever need me.”
Sharp has the talent to play other positions. He said he ran a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash his junior year. Summit coaches asked him if he wanted to play wide receiver last season. Once he received a scholarship offer from OSU he didn't want to risk injury.
"At first you can get a little bored,” Sharp said. "But you have an important job. And I always had baseball to fall back on.”
A center fielder, Sharp once played for a national championship summer youth team. Last season, as a junior, he was named the top defensive baseball player in his district.
As for walking on Frank Anderson's baseball team in the spring 2009, Sharp is realistic.
"I talked with my dad,” Sharp said. "It will be a last-minute decision after football season is over. Football is so year-round now. But it would be cool to play college baseball, too.”
By Mike Baldwin
Staff Writer
Kickers don't receive as much hype as four-star linebackers or All-America junior college transfers. But Quinn Sharp, the nation's No. 1 rated high school kicker, could wind up playing as big a role as anyone in Oklahoma State's 2008 class.
Few college kickers are as athletic as Sharp, who committed to OSU a year ago. He's so athletic his dream is to play two sports and walk on the baseball team. His experience on the diamond pays dividends on late-game pressure kicks.
"There are a lot of plays the first 55 minutes of a game but sometimes it comes down to the kicker who decides who wins and who loses,” Sharp said. "There can be a lot of pressure which makes it an important job.”
Cowboy fans know first hand how kicks can decide games. Last season, a blocked extra point was the deciding factor against Texas A&M. This year's OSU-Texas game was even more revealing as to the importance a kicker can have on a season.
Jason Ricks lost the kicking job after he missed a potential go-ahead field goal with 1:13 left against the Longhorns. Texas won it when Ryan Bailey nailed a 40-yard field goal with :00 showing.
"You feel bad for (Ricks),” Sharp said. "It started out perfect and then sailed to the right. Not everything goes right every time.
"I haven't missed in a pressure situation, yet. Hopefully, I can keep it that way.”
Although his sample size is small, Sharp said he has made every late-game kick he's attempted the past three years.
Sharp knew kicking might be his future when in the eighth grade he nailed a 42-yard field goal with 30 seconds left to defeat DeSoto. His career changed that summer after he attended the Chris Sailer's nationally renowned kicking camp in Las Vegas.
"They told me if I kept working at it I could easily get a D-I scholarship,” Sharp said. "That's when I started specializing on kicking. And baseball.”
This past season Sharp drilled a 46-yarder to beat South Grand Prairie in the waning minutes. He's also converted three shorter game-deciding kicks.
Sharp, from Arlington Summit High School, converted 30 of 39 field goals in his career, 162 of 170 extra points.
Coaches raved about Sharp routinely nailing 50-yard kicks during workouts for the Offense-Defense high school All-America game earlier this month.
The game, held in Miami, is the same event OSU freshman wide receiver Dez Bryant played in last season.
"It was pretty cool,” Sharp said. "The game itself wasn't that impressive. But all the practices, being around great players like that, it was a great experience.”
Sharp also averaged 46 yards a punt. His preference is to handle all kicking duties — kickoffs, field goals and punting.
Since OSU punter Matt Fodge will return for his senior year it's doubtful Sharp will punt. Still, it's a job Sharp would like to add to his resume, even if he has to wait until his sophomore season.
"I'll still work on all three to keep my whole leg in shape,” Sharp said.
"Field goals and kickoffs are similar leg swings. I figure I can challenge to do both of those things. And I can punt if they ever need me.”
Sharp has the talent to play other positions. He said he ran a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash his junior year. Summit coaches asked him if he wanted to play wide receiver last season. Once he received a scholarship offer from OSU he didn't want to risk injury.
"At first you can get a little bored,” Sharp said. "But you have an important job. And I always had baseball to fall back on.”
A center fielder, Sharp once played for a national championship summer youth team. Last season, as a junior, he was named the top defensive baseball player in his district.
As for walking on Frank Anderson's baseball team in the spring 2009, Sharp is realistic.
"I talked with my dad,” Sharp said. "It will be a last-minute decision after football season is over. Football is so year-round now. But it would be cool to play college baseball, too.”