There is nothing wrong with being a hard-working individual. A hard-working individual is often too busy making sure that their objectives are achieved to get caught up in the emotion of a situation.
Many players exhibit this exceptional quality, yet not all of them do it in the same manner as former Virginia star linebacker Jamie Sharper. To lead the National Football League in tackles in 2004 as a Houston Texan, to provide an anchor to the record-setting Baltimore Ravens defense of 2000, to help lead the relocated Ravens to their first Super Bowl win the same year and to still not make a Pro-Bowl appearance, there has to be ulterior motivation behind Sharper's play.
"I'm trying to prove that I'm the best linebacker in the league," Sharper said.
And with his performance during his years as a Cavalier, it doesn't seem like that goal is too far to reach.
During his five year stay at Virginia in which he played from 1993-1996 and red-shirted in 1992, Sharper established himself as one of the top linebackers to ever play for the University. As a senior, he broke the record for most career tackles at 435, including a school-record 295 solo stops.
"I'm a physical linebacker that can cover running backs," Sharper said. "I'm both athletic and physical."
In the game of football, fundamentals are very important, and Sharper has mastered the essential concept of sure tackling. In last year's NFL season, he led the league with 164 tackles. The most important aspect of this tackling machine's game is stopping the run, something he learned from then-Virginia defensive coordinator, Rick Lantz.
"I learned a lot from Rick Lantz at Virginia," Sharper said. "You need to stop the run first. He stressed stopping the run. You need to get the running back out of the game."
Eventually, Sharper's hard-nosed style of play helped lead Virginia to regular season success. He helped solidify the defense for a Virginia team that in 1995 upset then-No. 2 Florida State to win a share of the ACC title. After experiencing collegiate success, Sharper moved on to achieving success on the professional stage.
In the 1997 NFL Draft, Sharper was drafted in the second round (34th overall) by the Ravens, in a talented Virginia draft class that included running back Tiki Barber, defensive back Ronde Barber and linebacker James Farrior. Sharper has had the opportunity to face many of his former Virginia teammates in the pros, including on the biggest stage of them all. He faced Tiki Barber in the Ravens' 34-7 win in Super Bowl XXXV.
In order to assert himself as a consistent defensive threat in the NFL, Sharper knew he needed to ensure his body was healthy.
"Staying in shape is so important," Sharper says. "You have to be in shape not just at the beginning of the season but at the end too."
Sharper has been an iron man in the middle in the NFL starting 111 out of 112 career games.
"He's dependable as far as lining up," Houston Texans coach Dom Capers said. "He's physically dependable. He hasn't missed a play yet."
He also didn't miss out on the learning experience during his time at Virginia.
"U.Va. was a good one," Sharper said. "I got a degree. I won an ACC championship in my junior year. I went to a couple bowl games. I was on a good defense. I learned a lot from [Virginia] coach [George] Welsh."
Throw in the 1995 ACC title, a 1994 and 1997 All ACC First-Team recognition, a Super Bowl ring, good health, consistency and hard-work, and you have a list of achievements any NFL player would be proud of.
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