Although he is only a sophomore, the Brownsburg High wide receiver has already developed a flare for the dramatics.
"During stressful moments in-game, I always keep a great attitude," explained Sharpe. "As a team, we help each other a lot by saying positive things and encouraging each other."
The 5-foot-11, 155-pound standout was one cool customer in a 31-30 win over Fishers on September 20 when he went up and came down with what proved to be the game-winning 17-yard touchdown pass with 33.5 seconds remaining.
Then on September 28, with his club trailing then top-ranked (Class 6A) Westfield, 13-8, late in the third quarter, he returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to help the Bulldogs escape with a 17-13 victory.
Getting a chance to show off his skills as a freshman provided him the motivation to want to do more.
"In the off-season, my friends and I would go to the high school field by ourselves to do agility training, footwork drills, and work on our route running," recalled Sharpe, who had two catches for 33 yards in 2023. "I also focused on my nutrition and gained around 15 pounds since the end of last season."
In addition to his success on the gridiron, he has also had an opportunity to contribute on the hardwood (1.1 points per game as a freshman) as well as on the track and field squad.
"I actually started participating in organized athletics when I was three years old," recalled Sharpe, who has 64 receptions for 1,132 yards with six touchdowns. "T-Ball was the first team I joined at the YMCA. I've loved watching and playing sports ever since I can remember because I used to shoot the basketball on my 'Fisher Price Court' non-stop as a toddler."
Being a multi-sport athlete has not proven to be an issue.
"I am used to it because I pretty much play sports year-round," Sharpe said "It can be tough to balance it all, but I work really hard to keep my priorities straight."
This includes the classroom where he maintains a 3.3 grade-point average.
"Some ways that I balance sports and academics is by using my spare time wisely," explained Sharpe. "When I have breaks in my day, I use it to go over my notes, study, and finish my homework so there is less to do after practice."
One of his role models along the way include former Lawrence Central and University of Indianapolis wide receiver Daveon Bell, who also happens to be his uncle.
"He is my biggest influence in sports," Sharpe said. "I always used to watch him play basketball and football in high school and college at a high level and that inspired me to do the same."
Getting the chance to work with future Indiana Football Hall of Famer John Hart has benefitted Sharpe as well.
"Playing for Coach Hart has been a great experience," explained Sharpe. "He is an exceptional person and has an off the charts football IQ. It has been great to learn from him. He's taught me a lot about route running, how to use my speed, and the importance of not giving up."
The veteran Brownsburg boss has seen his fair share of talented performers over his 40 years on the sidelines.
"Branden has what all great wide receivers have, which is speed," explained Hart. "He is ultra-competitive and high points the ball. His vertical jump and long arms make him tough to defend one-on-one."
Knowing he still has two years to improve his skills, Sharpe already has a firm grasp of what he needs to do to compete at the next level and beyond.
"Some of my strengths are getting off the line when a defensive back is playing press coverage, running my routes, getting open, and my catching ability," explained Sharpe. "Something that I continue to work on is my run blocking and I want to get faster.
"My goals for the future are to win more state championships throughout my high school career. In college, I want to be able to play (NCAA) Division-1 sports and then become a professional athlete."
As for the present, he does his best to stay level-headed.
"The night before a game, I make sure I get a good night's rest and drink plenty of water," Sharpe said.
"On game day, I eat a solid breakfast and play calm music throughout the day to get my head in the right space. I also pray throughout the day and I ask God to keep me safe and guide us to victory."
His prayers have been answered to this point as No. 3 Brownsburg (12-1) finds itself in the state championship game for the first time since 1985 taking on No. 3 and Hoosier Crossroads Conference rival Westfield (12-1) for the Class 6A crown on November 29.
"It's hard to put into words," Sharpe said. "It is a surreal feeling to finally be here after 39 years as a program. My teammates and I have worked extremely hard to get in this position. It's been my dream to play in a state championship since I started playing football at five years old."
Finding their way to Lucas Oil Stadium for the first time since 1985 was thought to be a longshot at best, though, on November 8 when Brownsburg trailed defending Class 6A state champion Indianapolis Ben Davis, 35-7, in the first half.
However, the Bulldogs rallied for a 38-35 victory to claim the Sectional 5 crown.
It was definitely satisfying after Ben Davis came back from an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit the year before to stun them, 38-35.
They followed this up with a heart-stopping 22-21 win over No. 1 Lawrence North in the regional final on November 15 and then a hard-fought 31-27 decision over Center Grove in the southern semistate on November 22.
"A major key to our team's success is our grit." Sharpe said. "Our team chemistry is outstanding. Our two-quarterback system (sophomore Oscar Frye and senior Iosua Stephens) has helped us tremendously because they both have a lot to offer and we have a lot of depth at all positions. We have top-notch coaches that are very experienced and dedica
