Temple University Athletics
Nick Sharga: Tough Road Traveled
8.26.15 | Football
Until yesterday, not many Temple fans outside the gates of Edberg Olson Hall knew who Nick Sharga was. His teammates have taken notice, though, as they awarded him with a single-digit jersey, given to the toughest members of the team. Now that Sharga will be wearing jersey number four, his tough play, ability to play either side of the ball and his hairstyle will become more familiar to Owls' fans.
As far as Temple football players go, Sharga has one of the more recognizable haircuts on the team, but his life and road to the Temple Owls is even more unique than his hair. Sharga attended Northampton High School where he played linebacker, his current position, and tight end for about a year. In his senior year of high school Sharga tore his ACL taking him out a full year and maybe hindering some of his choices of where he could attend college. Finally, he decided upon West Virginia Wesleyan, a division II school. After a year there, Sharga transferred to Temple in 2014 and redshirted his sophomore season.
Sharga arrived at Temple looking to work on his game a bit closer to home. In 2014, Sharga was forced to redshirt his sophomore season and discussed how that has helped him, "I think the biggest thing was just mentally because I had never played on such a complex defense so having the time to learn that should really help me this year." Sharga is looking to use last year to be prepared and understand the defense when his number is called.
There were many reason why Sharga chose to transfer to Temple last year but proximity to his hometown was definitely high on his list "It's closer to home and the high level of competition here is great and I have been learning so much more." Home and family have always been big for Sharga, both literally and figuratively, as the Sharga family has 11 children, also enough to field a full defense or offense on a football team.
Sharga is in the middle of the 11 children as he has three older sisters, five younger sisters, and one older and one younger brother. Not many people can say they grew up with that many siblings and Sharga discussed his family a bit and how it may have aided his football career. "The coolest thing is that we are all so close we all get along very well. It definitely shapes your personality positively, just gives you a good attitude on life and helps you learn about dealing with other people." Dealing with that many siblings most certainly would make it easier to deal with and understand other people and especially if you are on a football team with 125 guys. The whole Sharga family will be excited to see that number 4 on the field after he sat out the 2014 season.
Off the field, Sharga has a couple hidden interest and hobbies that keep him occupied when not concentrating about football. Sharga said "even a lot of people I grew up with don't know this but I am big on guitar, I love playing and it is something I really enjoy doing." Sharga has been playing since he was 13 years old and continues playing to this day saying "All summer I jammed with a buddy at home and whenever I get back to my room from practice or have free time I try to play." Sharga did not grow up around instruments, saying he got the inspiration to play guitar from outside his home, "No one in my family plays an instrument, but I saw a bunch of guitar solos and I wanted to be able to play just like that." Sharga has been playing for eight years and will continue to try and master those solos.
The outside life of football has been good to Nick Sharga and he has made his way closer to home with the transfer last season and this year is looking to show what he can do. Sharga reiterated how important it was to gain knowledge during the redshirt season and how he has worked on it during camp stating "If you know what you are doing you are going to play well and everything else has just been technique and execution." Those two things have been important to all members of this Owls team and Sharga is no different as he has spent the time learning last season and he is now as anxious as anyone on the Temple team to get back onto the field.
When the Owls take that field on September 5th, Sharga will be fired up and ready to go like the rest of his teammates as he has not seen real action in a long time and he is looking to play well. "Obviously, I couldn't get on the field last year so just looking forward to get on the field and show everyone what I can do."
As far as Temple football players go, Sharga has one of the more recognizable haircuts on the team, but his life and road to the Temple Owls is even more unique than his hair. Sharga attended Northampton High School where he played linebacker, his current position, and tight end for about a year. In his senior year of high school Sharga tore his ACL taking him out a full year and maybe hindering some of his choices of where he could attend college. Finally, he decided upon West Virginia Wesleyan, a division II school. After a year there, Sharga transferred to Temple in 2014 and redshirted his sophomore season.
Sharga arrived at Temple looking to work on his game a bit closer to home. In 2014, Sharga was forced to redshirt his sophomore season and discussed how that has helped him, "I think the biggest thing was just mentally because I had never played on such a complex defense so having the time to learn that should really help me this year." Sharga is looking to use last year to be prepared and understand the defense when his number is called.
There were many reason why Sharga chose to transfer to Temple last year but proximity to his hometown was definitely high on his list "It's closer to home and the high level of competition here is great and I have been learning so much more." Home and family have always been big for Sharga, both literally and figuratively, as the Sharga family has 11 children, also enough to field a full defense or offense on a football team.
Sharga is in the middle of the 11 children as he has three older sisters, five younger sisters, and one older and one younger brother. Not many people can say they grew up with that many siblings and Sharga discussed his family a bit and how it may have aided his football career. "The coolest thing is that we are all so close we all get along very well. It definitely shapes your personality positively, just gives you a good attitude on life and helps you learn about dealing with other people." Dealing with that many siblings most certainly would make it easier to deal with and understand other people and especially if you are on a football team with 125 guys. The whole Sharga family will be excited to see that number 4 on the field after he sat out the 2014 season.
Off the field, Sharga has a couple hidden interest and hobbies that keep him occupied when not concentrating about football. Sharga said "even a lot of people I grew up with don't know this but I am big on guitar, I love playing and it is something I really enjoy doing." Sharga has been playing since he was 13 years old and continues playing to this day saying "All summer I jammed with a buddy at home and whenever I get back to my room from practice or have free time I try to play." Sharga did not grow up around instruments, saying he got the inspiration to play guitar from outside his home, "No one in my family plays an instrument, but I saw a bunch of guitar solos and I wanted to be able to play just like that." Sharga has been playing for eight years and will continue to try and master those solos.
The outside life of football has been good to Nick Sharga and he has made his way closer to home with the transfer last season and this year is looking to show what he can do. Sharga reiterated how important it was to gain knowledge during the redshirt season and how he has worked on it during camp stating "If you know what you are doing you are going to play well and everything else has just been technique and execution." Those two things have been important to all members of this Owls team and Sharga is no different as he has spent the time learning last season and he is now as anxious as anyone on the Temple team to get back onto the field.
When the Owls take that field on September 5th, Sharga will be fired up and ready to go like the rest of his teammates as he has not seen real action in a long time and he is looking to play well. "Obviously, I couldn't get on the field last year so just looking forward to get on the field and show everyone what I can do."
Players Mentioned
LB
/ FootballMBB Press Conference vs. Princeton (Adam Fisher)
Tuesday, December 23
MBB Press Conference vs.Princeton (Babatunde Durodola and Jordan Mason)
Tuesday, December 23
Temple Men's Basketball 2025-26 All Access | Game 12 at Davidson 12.18.2025
Sunday, December 21
Ep. 29: Last Episode of First Semester from David & Amelia
Wednesday, December 17
