Brent Venables claps back at OU fans over Bauer Sharp criticism

Sooner Nation was collectively happy to see tight end Bauer Sharp go, but Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables believes OU fans will soon realize what the Sooners really had with Sharp, who transferred to LSU this offseason.

Tight end seems to be the Sooners' weakest spot heading into the 2025 season, so on Wednesday at SEC Media Days, Rivals' Parker Thune asked Venables about the position and Venables went out of his way to bring up Sharp and the hate he got while in Norman.

“I really like the group of guys," Venables said. "I know we had some opinions about Bauer Sharp - that he wasn't a really good player. He's a really good player, everybody will see it. He was one of our best leaders. It is what it is. Not a soapbox, sad to see him go.

"That being said, Kaden Helms has had his best period of performance and being a player. He's been healthy the last several months.”

Venables defends Sharp after transferring to LSU

Sharp was actually the Sooners' leading receiver last season with 42 receptions, 324 yards and two touchdowns. Despite that, though, he seemed to be criticized the most by OU fans after dropped passes, blown blocks and dumb plays like the interception he threw on a trick play against LSU.

Social media was like a roast of Bauer Sharp every Saturday last fall.

Apparently Venables caught wind of all the Bauer Sharp hate, and even though Sharp is off to an SEC rival that's on OU's schedule in 2025, Venables still took the time to defend his former tight end to his own fans. However, it seems Sooner Nation still isn't buying it and there's still no love lost toward Sharp.

Sharp and LSU will visit Norman on Nov. 29 for the Sooners' regular-season finale.

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