AUBURN, Ala. – "Never give up." These are the words senior offensive lineman Bailey Sharp puts first and foremost when he is about to step onto the field.
"Auburn has definitely taught me to push my limits and push me further than I thought was capable for myself," Sharp says. "I've been humbled to be hungry and fight to get to the position. I want to look back and say that I never gave up and was always there for Auburn when they needed me."
With fall camp less than two weeks away and Auburn's opening game against Oregon just over a month away, Sharp is eager to spend his last season with his teammates. The senior wants to develop bonds with everybody on the team – freshmen included.
"A lot of the freshman offensive linemen see me as their older brother," Sharp said. "I see it as a position to mentor them and pour into them. One of my main passions is to always be there for someone."
Sharp admires the fight that this year's Auburn team has and its will to succeed, and he believes that with their strength, the Tigers can win a championship. That'd be something he would never forget. But it's just not him and his teammates who believe that. The coaches also have a mentality to take this team to the next level.
"I feel like a lot of the coaches here are genuine and whole-hearted guys," Sharp said. "At the same time, a lot of these coaches have had a pretty good track record of sending guys to the NFL. They prepare us for the collegiate level, as well as the next level."
The coaching staff prepares the players for life after football, too. There's a bond there that goes beyond the football field. The past two years, Sharp has been part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) mission trip to the Dominican Republic where they worked the organization, "Until They Know," in Puerto Plata and helped out the community.
"These trips have opened my eyes about Coach (Gus) Malzahn," Sharp said. "He's been such a mentor to me and been constantly pouring into me. All of our coaches across the board have so much wisdom. To be around that and absorb even a little bit of their wisdom is amazing."
Those mission trips are just a small part of Sharp's college experience that has shaped him immensely. Throughout his time on The Plains, he's been drawn to the Auburn community and sharing with others. He serves as the president of FCA and is active with Auburn Connect.
Having already completed his bachelor's degree in exercise science in December 2018, Sharp is preparing to start a graduate nursing program by taking additional pre-med courses. He's grateful for his coaches and the other athletics department staff who have been there for him along the way, providing an incredible support system.
"There is so much community, and people look after each other here," said Sharp, a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll. "I'm starting to look toward the nursing program and just from asking around, a few people in the complex have opened doors for me that I never thought would have been opened before."
That's why they call it the Auburn Family, and now that same family holds a huge place in Sharp's heart. Each Saturday in the fall, when he runs through the tunnel at Jordan-Hare Stadium, he is amped with adrenaline as he's ready to show out for the fans.
The community does not just extend to Auburn's coordinates either. Sharp could be anywhere and still hear the words, "War Eagle."
"I feel the love wherever I go," he says. "Whether I am at the grocery store and get a 'War Eagle' or back home where I feel like not too many people recognize me – I get a 'War Eagle' shout there. I love getting to know the people of the Auburn family."