BuccaneersFan.com • Player Spotlight • Tampa Bay No. 84
W.P. Rader — Professor Jam • Updated
Current official roster portrait: Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tight end • NFL rookie
From quarterback to the Krewe
William (Bauer) Sharp
- Born
- May 3, 2003 • Age 23
- Hometown
- Dothan, Alabama
- Listed size
- 6 feet 5 inches • 246 pounds
- High school
- Dothan High School • Dothan, Alabama
- College
- Southeastern Louisiana • Oklahoma • LSU
- NFL Draft
- 2026 • Round 6 • Pick 185 • Tampa Bay
- Buccaneers career
- 2026–present
- Jersey
- No. 84
- Current status
- Active roster • As of November 3, 2026
Name: LSU letterwinner record. Birthdate: 2026 Buccaneers media guide. Background: LSU player biography. Current listing: official Buccaneers profile and current roster.
Milestone sources: draft announcement, college background and the original NFL gamebooks linked below.
Bauer Sharp arrived in college as a quarterback. Southeastern Louisiana saw another way to put his athletic ability to work and moved him to tight end. That decision opened a football path through Oklahoma and LSU, then to the Buccaneers. His story is one of learning a different position while carrying the versatility of his first one. Southeastern’s account of the position change; the route to LSU.
Alabama roots • Three college programs • Tampa Bay
The route to a new position and the NFL
Learning a new position Southeastern Louisiana, 2021–2023.
Sharp moved from quarterback to tight end in spring 2022. His Southeastern biography. A year later, position coach Ross Jenkins described major progress in his new assignment and explained that the staff had wanted to get his size and athleticism onto the field. Receiving, blocking and special teams became part of the opportunity. The tight-end position report.
The move to Oklahoma A new program in 2024.
Sharp took his developing tight-end game to Oklahoma. In his introductory interview, he pointed to his confidence in the coaching staff and its experience working with tight ends. The move gave him a new setting in which to keep building the position he had first learned at Southeastern. His Oklahoma introduction.
Back to Louisiana LSU, 2025.
LSU announced Sharp’s addition on December 13, 2024, setting up his final college season in Baton Rouge. The signing announcement. He later described the return to Louisiana as a comfortable fit after his earlier years in Hammond. He also spoke about how quickly he and his new teammates had grown close. His LSU reflections.
The call from Tampa Bay Drafted April 25; signed May 7, 2026.
The Buccaneers selected Sharp 185th overall in Round 6 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Tampa Bay’s draft announcement. He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 7, joining the group of Buccaneers draft picks who completed their deals that day. The rookie signing announcement.
Recognition along the way
A conference honor at tight end First-team All-Southland, 2023.
Sharp earned first-team All-Southland recognition at tight end/H-back in 2023. The honor followed his second season playing the position and marked an important step in his development from a quarterback recruit into a college tight end. The conference honors announcement.
Recognition in the classroom Fall 2022 academic honor roll.
Southeastern included Sharp on the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Fall 2022 Academic Honor Roll. That classroom recognition sits alongside the football achievements from his time with the Lions. The university’s academic announcement.
October 18, 2026 • Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay
A first NFL catch, a first down
A rookie connection at Raymond James Stadium
21
YARDS • FIRST NFL RECEPTION
From Jalon Daniels • A third-quarter first down
Tampa Bay 19 • Pittsburgh 26 • Overtime.
Sharp’s first NFL start also brought his first reception: a 21-yard pass from Jalon Daniels at 12:16 of the third quarter, good for a first down. The original Pittsburgh gamebook.
Tampa Bay • 2026–present
A rookie role in Tampa Bay
Sharp’s rookie workload includes offense and special teams. Tampa Bay’s November 3 depth-chart report highlighted his season-high 19 offensive snaps against Atlanta in Week 8, as the Buccaneers increased their use of tight ends. That role gives the young player responsibilities that extend beyond the receiving column. The team’s account of its tight-end usage.
As of November 3, 2026, Sharp is listed on the Active roster as No. 84. The current Buccaneers roster. His game-by-game record below includes every appearance through November 1, including games without a target or catch and his special-teams tackles.
The person behind No. 84
Beyond the stat sheet
Sharp comes from Dothan, Alabama, and played quarterback at Dothan High School. He began his prep career at Northside Methodist Academy, where baseball was also part of his athletic background. His original college signing introduction. The Buccaneers’ biography records participation in football, basketball and baseball during high school. The official background.
Southeastern listed sports management as his major in its 2023 roster biography. The school’s player record. He earned a degree from Southeastern, according to the Buccaneers. Degree statement.
A service trip to Maui An experience he shared publicly.
In a July 2026 Buccaneers interview, Sharp described a 2024 trip to Hawaii that included helping children in Maui after the fires. He recalled service work followed by time to enjoy the visit. It is a personal experience he has discussed publicly alongside his football journey. Sharp’s account of the trip.
Baseball and beach time Interests beyond football.
Sharp named Bryce Harper as his favorite athlete and described his longtime interest in baseball. He also singled out easy access to the beaches as something he enjoys about Tampa Bay, recalling time spent around Panama City beaches while growing up. The Buccaneers’ get-to-know interview.
NFL regular season • Career through 2026
The NFL career record
Sharp entered the NFL in 2026. These regular-season records cover his rookie year through November 1, Week 8. The asterisk marks the incomplete season. NFL postseason and preseason figures are excluded.
| Season | G | GS | TAR | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | 1st | 20+ | 40+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 21.0 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| NFL career | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 21.0 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
G = games played; GS = starts; TAR = targets; REC = catches; YDS = receiving yards; AVG = yards per catch; LNG = longest catch; TD = receiving touchdowns; 1st = receiving first downs. A 40-yard catch also counts in 20+; those columns are not added together. The eight original gamebooks below establish the full record.
No rush, pass attempt or fumble is credited. He has six special-teams tackles (four solo, two assisted) and zero defensive tackles. Unofficial snaps total 57 on offense and 146 on special teams.
NFL postseason appearances
Sharp has no NFL postseason appearance within this rookie-season record, which ends November 1, 2026. NFL preseason statistics are excluded.
September 13–November 1, 2026
Eight appearances through Week 8
| Week | Date | Opponent | TB result | G | GS | OFF snaps | ST snaps | TAR | REC | YDS | LNG | TD | ST TKL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 13 | @CIN | L 27–33 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | Sep 20 | CLE | L 19–23 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Sep 27 | MIN | L 16–23 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Oct 4 | GB | L 14–17 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | Oct 8 | @DAL | W 24–16 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Oct 18 | PIT | L 19–26 OT | 1 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Oct 25 | @CAR | W 43–13 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | Nov 1 | ATL | W 16–0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 total | Through Nov 1 | Tampa Bay | — | 8 | 1 | 57 | 146 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 6 |
All eight rows record actual appearances; Pittsburgh was his first start. Games without targets or catches remain in the table. A dash in LNG means no credited reception, not a missed game.
The apparent Dallas pass at 3:23 of the first quarter was erased by an accepted illegal-contact penalty and marked No Play. It does not count as a target. Dallas play-by-play, PDF p. 8.
OFF = offense; ST = special teams; ST TKL = special-teams tackles. Snap counts come from the gamebooks’ unofficial playtime reports. Results are from Tampa Bay’s perspective; @ = away; OT = overtime. CIN = Cincinnati; CLE = Cleveland; MIN = Minnesota; GB = Green Bay; DAL = Dallas; PIT = Pittsburgh; CAR = Carolina; ATL = Atlanta.
Original final gamebooks: Week 1 · Week 2 · Week 3 · Week 4 · Week 5 · Week 6 · Week 7 · Week 8.
Southeastern Louisiana • Oklahoma • LSU
The college record
Sharp played at Southeastern Louisiana in 2021–2023, Oklahoma in 2024 and LSU in 2025. His 2021 redshirt year includes one actual reserve appearance at Nicholls and stays in the table. The original Nicholls game record. Actual FCS playoff and bowl contributions are already included in the annual records.
| Season | School | Level | G | GS | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Southeastern Louisiana | FCS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 |
| 2022 | Southeastern Louisiana | FCS | 13 | — | 11 | 78 | 7.1 | 24 | 1 |
| 2023 | Southeastern Louisiana | FCS | 11 | — | 29 | 288 | 9.9 | 33 | 3 |
| 2024 | Oklahoma | FBS | 12 | 12 | 42 | 324 | 7.7 | 43 | 2 |
| 2025 | LSU | FBS | 13 | 13 | 24 | 252 | 10.5 | 65 | 2 |
| All colleges | — | FCS + FBS | 50 | — | 106 | 942 | 8.9 | 65 | 8 |
G = games played; GS = starts; REC = catches; YDS = receiving yards; AVG = yards per catch; LNG = longest catch; TD = receiving touchdowns. A dash marks an unavailable value or an inapplicable average/long, not an assumed zero.
The retained original Southeastern annual participation lists establish games but do not resolve 2022 and 2023 starts. Those GS entries and the complete career GS total remain unavailable here. Oklahoma and LSU starts are verified in their original final participation charts: Oklahoma, PDF p. 25 and LSU, PDF p. 12.
Original annual records: 2021 Southeastern Louisiana final statistics · 2022 Southeastern Louisiana final statistics · 2023 Southeastern Louisiana final statistics · 2024 Oklahoma final statistics, PDF p. 4 · 2025 LSU final statistics, PDF p. 6.
| Level | Programs | G | GS | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCS | Southeastern Louisiana | 25 | — | 40 | 366 | 9.2 | 33 | 4 |
| FBS | Oklahoma + LSU | 25 | 25 | 66 | 576 | 8.7 | 65 | 4 |
| Combined | All three programs | 50 | — | 106 | 942 | 8.9 | 65 | 8 |
FCS = NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision; FBS = Football Bowl Subdivision. The combined row sums the three programs; the two levels remain visible. Averages use total yards divided by catches, rounded to one decimal, and longest gains are maxima rather than sums.
Rushing, passing and returns
| Season | School | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Southeastern Louisiana | 10 | 83 | 8.3 | 55 | 0 |
| 2023 | Southeastern Louisiana | 25 | 133 | 5.3 | 30 | 5 |
| 2024 | Oklahoma | 2 | -8 | -4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| College career | FCS + FBS | 37 | 208 | 5.6 | 55 | 5 |
ATT = rushing attempts. Only seasons with an attempt appear in this table. Southeastern accounts for 35 carries, 216 yards and five touchdowns; Oklahoma adds two carries for −8 yards. There was no credited rush in 2021 or at LSU in 2025. Oklahoma’s zero-yard longest rush is retained; its season average is −4.0.
| Season | School | CMP | ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Southeastern Louisiana | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Oklahoma | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| College career | FCS + FBS | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
CMP = completions; ATT = passes attempted; INT = interceptions thrown. The original records credit one incomplete pass for Southeastern in 2023 and one intercepted pass for Oklahoma in 2024. No completed pass or passing touchdown is credited across his college record.
| Season | School | KR | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Southeastern Louisiana | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | LSU | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 |
| College career | FCS + FBS | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 9 | 0 |
KR = kickoff returns. The LSU return came in the Texas Bowl and is included in both the 2025 row and the postseason subset below. No punt return is credited in the five annual records.
Additional annual credits: one assisted tackle at Southeastern in 2022, one solo tackle at Oklahoma in 2024, and three solo tackles plus one assist at LSU in 2025. These total six college tackles. Oklahoma’s individual fumble log, PDF p. 24 records one fumble, none lost. The retained Southeastern 2022–2023 and LSU 2025 annual records do not supply complete individual offensive fumble totals, so a college career fumble/lost total is not asserted.
College postseason appearances
| Season / game | Date | Opponent | School result | G | GS | REC | REC YDS | REC TD | Rush ATT | Rush YDS | KR | KR YDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Southeastern Louisiana — FCS first round | Nov 26, 2022 | Idaho | W 45–42 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 1 | -5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 Southeastern Louisiana — FCS second round | Dec 3, 2022 | Samford | L 42–48 (OT) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 LSU — Texas Bowl | Dec 27, 2025 | Houston | L 35–38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Postseason subset | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
Sharp appeared as a reserve in both 2022 FCS playoff games: Idaho and Samford. His Idaho receiving line includes one 24-yard catch; he also had a five-yard rushing loss. At Samford, he had no catch and gained six yards on one carry. The 2025 Texas Bowl was a start with no credited catch and one five-yard kickoff return.
All three games are already included in the annual and career totals. Results are from his school’s perspective; OT = overtime. Neither Southeastern’s 2021 playoff games nor Oklahoma’s 2024 bowl creates an appearance for Sharp. Southeastern’s final 2021 record identifies his sole appearance at Nicholls; Oklahoma’s final individual record marks the Navy bowl as DNP.
Original postseason records: 2022 Idaho game record · 2022 Samford game record · 2025 Houston game record. LSU’s starting lineup appears on Texas Bowl PDF p. 5.
Sources & statistical notes
The records behind the spotlight
- Identity and background: Buccaneers player profile, 2026 media guide, LSU’s William (Bauer) Sharp letterwinner entry and original college signing story.
- College journey and recognition: Southeastern position report, All-Southland honors, academic honor roll, Oklahoma introduction, LSU signing announcement and LSU interview.
- Tampa Bay and personal interests: draft selection, rookie contract, November 3 depth chart and July 2026 player interview.
- NFL statistics: Eight original final 2026 gamebooks establish participation, receiving, special-teams tackles and unofficial snaps. The nullified Dallas play is excluded. All gamebooks are linked beside the weekly table.
- College statistics: Three original Southeastern annual records, Oklahoma’s and LSU’s final season reports, and three actual postseason game records. FCS and FBS totals remain identified. Unresolved Southeastern starts and incomplete individual annual fumble records are disclosed beside the tables.
- Portrait: the current official Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster image.
Updated November 3, 2026. NFL regular-season statistics stop after November 1, Week 8; preseason is excluded. No NFL postseason appearance falls within this rookie-season cutoff. College postseason games are subsets already included in the annual records. FCS and FBS totals are identified separately. Actual zero-stat appearances remain in the participation record.