The wait is over. South Carolina football legend Sterling Sharp heads to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. NFL announced the news late Thursday night. The choice of Sharp came through the Senior Committee after years of unjustified exclusion. He joins the defensive near Jared Allen, corner defender Eric Allen and the narrow near Antonio Gates in the 2025 class.
Sharpe is the first Gamecock of South Carolina to win a choice for induction of the Hall of Fame. Former USC defender and longtime NFL coach Dan Reeves was a semi -finalist this season, but was not chosen. Gamecock’s aluminum John Abraham was also a semi -finalist, but he’ll have to wait longer for his call in Canton.
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Sharp was one of the best wide NFL successors in his seven years as a professional. A neck injury tragically interrupted his career in 1994, but not before making his mark on the play of football. The seven years of Sharp with Green Bay Packers included five Pro Bowls and five 1000 yard campaigns.
He led NFL with catch three times, a touchdown twice and once a yard. Two of these years he set the record for all time to take in one season. A favorite target for a young defender named Bret Faver, Sharp won the Triple Crown in 1992 with 108 receptions, 1461 yards and 13 touchdowns. Only four others during the Super Bowl era won the resulting triple crown. In what turned out to be his last season in 1994, he caught 18 passes. Only two successors published more results during the season, Jerry Rice in 1987 and Randy Moss in 2007.
Sterling Sharp will join his brother Shannon (a narrow end that plays for Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens) to form the only brother’s duet in the Hall of Fame. During his speech about the hall of glory in 2011, Shannon said he was the only hall of fame, which is the second best player in his own family.
The induction of Pro Football Hall of Fame will be on August 2 in Canton, Ohio.
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During her football career in South Carolina, Sharp was a two -time all -American. When he left the program, he owned the greater part of receiving Gamecocks records. After choosing the 1st round in the NFL draft in 1988, # 2 was the USC leader of all time in receptions, receiving yards, receiving a touchdown and 100 yards. Sharp was also one of just a few Gamecocks who once returned Punt and a kick to press.
Awarding her excellence, the University of South Carolina withdrew her T -shirt while he was still active with the team. The Hall of Fame of the College of Football also secured Sharp in 2014.