Sharif Finch

Sharif Jarel Gregory Wayne Finch (born October 1, 1995) is an American football linebacker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Temple, where he played 53 career games, which is tied for the most career games in Temple football history.[1] He was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He has also played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Las Vegas Raiders, and Chicago Bears.

Sharif Finch
Finch with the Tennessee Titans in 2018
No. 54 – New York Jets
Position:Outside linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1995-10-01) October 1, 1995
Queens, New York
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school:Henrico (VA)
College:Temple
Undrafted:2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2020
Total tackles:41
Sacks:3.5
Forced fumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:1
Interceptions:0
Player stats at NFL.com

Early life

Finch was born to Wendy and Gregory Finch on October 1, 1995 in the Queens borough of New York City.[2] He played linebacker at Henrico High School. During his junior season in 2011, Finch led the team with 161 tackles and 10.5 sacks. During his senior season in 2012, Finch once again led the team with 123 tackles and 7 sacks.[3] Finch received eight scholarship offers to play college football. His top three candidate were Temple, Penn State, and Old Dominion. Impressed with Temple’s facilities and academics, Finch officially committed to play for coach Matt Rhule and the Owls in February 2013.[4]

College career

College statistics
Year Team GP Tackles Interceptions FF
CombTotalAstSackIntYardsAvgTDPD
2013Temple 11302192.0000.0010
2014Temple 123520152.016565.0122
2015Temple 1313761.012626.0010
2016Temple 411471.0000.0002
2017Temple 135533228.5000.0011
Career53144855914.529145.5155

In 2013, Finch played 11 games and started twice as a true freshman for the Temple Owls. In the season finale, he batted down a pass on 3rd down forcing Memphis to punt and then blocked the punt on the following play which Temple recovered in the endzone for a Touchdown.[5]

In the 2014 season, Finch moved to defensive end and played in all 13 games and started in 11 games. In the first defensive play of the first home game against Navy, he forced a fumble that he recovered in the endzone for a touchdown. In the next game against Delaware State, Finch recorded his first career interception, where he returned it 65 yards for a touchdown.

In 2015, Finch’s production declined as the team went with a defensive end rotation strategy. He played in 12 games, and missed one game to nurse a knee injury. In the season opening game at Penn State, he recorded a 26-yard interception return to set up Temple’s game-winning score. Finch finished tied for second in the nation in blocked kicks.[6]

In 2016, knee injuries limited Finch to just four games. He was granted a medical redshirt exception, allowing him to play in the 2017 season.

In the 2017 season, Finch played in all 13 games with 12 starts. He recorded 55 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. His team-leading 8.5 sacks were a single-season career high. He was named to the Second Team All-American Athletic Conference and ECAC First Team All-East.[7] On March 19, 2018, Finch participated in the Temple ProDay, an event where Temple football players demonstrate their skills to an audience of NFL scouts and coaches. Twenty-two NFL teams attended this event.[8]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 4 1⁄8 in
(1.93 m)		 251 lb
(114 kg)		 4.65 s 1.65 s 2.66 s 4.45 s 7.00 s 31 in
(0.79 m)		 9 ft 9 in
(2.97 m)		 23 reps
All values from NFL Draft[9][10]

Finch was not selected in the 2018 NFL Draft. Despite a body size prototypical for NFL outside linebackers,[11] scouting reports indicated Finch lacked strength and technique needed at the professional level. However, the reports state it lacked enough research on Finch due to his 2016 injury. Scouting reports also considered Finch to be a good teammate and a humble leader.[12]

Tennessee Titans

Finch signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent on May 11, 2018. The free agent offer by the Titans to Finch was the highest among the 22 undrafted free agents signed that season.[13] On September 1, 2018, Finch secured his place on the Titans’ 53-man roster for the 2018 season, after a strong preseason. He recorded his first career tackle on September 23, 2018 in a 9-6 Titans victory on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars.[14] On September 30, 2018, Finch recorded his first career sack in a 26-23 overtime victory against the Philadelphia Eagles.[15]

Finch finished his rookie year with 22 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback pressures, two stops for loss, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and seven special teams stops.

Finch was waived by the Titans on December 21, 2019 after being inactive for the majority of the season.[16]

Cincinnati Bengals

On December 23, 2019, Finch was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals, but was waived the next day after failing his physical.[17]

Las Vegas Raiders

Finch was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders on August 25, 2020.[18] The Raiders waived him on September 1, 2020.[19]

Chicago Bears

On September 29, 2020, Finch was signed to the Chicago Bears' practice squad.[20] He was released on October 23, 2020.[21]

New York Jets

On November 3, 2020, Finch was signed to the New York Jets' practice squad.[22] He was elevated to the active roster on December 19 for the team's week 15 game against the Los Angeles Rams, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.[23] On December 26, 2020, Finch was promoted to the active roster for week 16 against the Cleveland Browns. On January 2, 2021, Finch was promoted to the active roster for the season finale against the New England Patriots.[24]

NFL statistics
Year Team Games Tackling Fumbles Interceptions
GPGSCombTotalAstSackFFFRYdsIntYdsAvgLngTDPD
2018TEN 150272071.5210000000
2019TEN 83131032.0000000000
2020NYJ 301010.0000000000
Career2634130113.5210000000

Personal life

Finch is the youngest of 22 siblings and enjoys playing the piano. His mother, Wendy, died of breast cancer on May 28, 2015. His father, Gregory, died of a heart attack on July 30, 2018, while Finch was participating in his rookie training camp. His father's death occurred just 10 days before Finch’s first professional preseason game. Since Gregory’s death was sudden and heartbreaking, Finch mustered up the courage to comfort his family by playing the piano at his father's funeral. On August 9, 2018, during the third quarter of this preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, Finch recorded his first sack. Immediately after the sack, he pointed to the sky with two fingers as a tribute to both of his parents.[25] He wears a set of dog tags with their names and photo and an inscription that reads "everything is for you."

References
  1. "Sharif Finch, Biography". titansonline.com. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  2. Torres, Luis (August 20, 2018). "Undrafted rookie Sharif Finch trying to make Titans roster while mourning father's death". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  3. "Sharif Finch, Bio". owlsports.com. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  4. Lamb, John (February 1, 2013). "Temple Football Recruiting: Linebacker Sharif Finch Pops for the Owls". bleacherreport. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  5. "Sharif Finch, Stats". owlsports.com. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  6. "Sharif Finch, Bio". owlsports.com. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  7. "Sharif Finch, Biography". titansonline.com. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  8. Roling, Chris (March 25, 2018). "Bengals attended Temple Pro Day for DE Sharif Finch". BengalsWire. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  9. "NFL Draft Prospect Profile - Sharif Finch". nfl.com. March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  10. "Temple DE Sharif Finch : 2018 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". NFLDraftScout.com. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  11. "Sharif Finch, DS #23 DE, Temple". draftscout.com. March 19, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  12. "Prospect Info: Sharif Finch". nfl.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  13. "Tennessee Titans UDFA Sharif Finch should make the team". titansized.com. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  14. "Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars - September 23rd, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  15. "Eagles 10, Titans 3: 4 halftime takeaways on pass protection, Alshon Jeffery and more". PennLive.com. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  16. Wyatt, Jim (December 21, 2019). "Titans Add RB Dalyn Dawkins to 53-Man Roster, Waive OLB Sharif Finch". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  17. "Bengals Acquire Sharif Finch On Waivers, Place A.J. Green On Reserve/Injured". Bengals.com. December 23, 2019.
  18. "Raiders sign defensive end Sharif Finch". Las Vegas Raiders. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  19. Alper, Josh (September 1, 2020). "Raiders part ways with five players, including Jordan Devey and Rod Smith". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  20. Mayer, Larry (September 29, 2020). "Roster Moves: Bears put Cohen on IR, elevate Pierce". Chicago Bears. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  21. Chamberlain, Gene (October 23, 2020). "Badara Traore Returns from COVID-19". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  22. Greenberg, Ethan (November 3, 2020). "Jets Sign LB Bryce Hager, S Bennett Jackson to Active Roster; Release OL Jimmy Murray". NewYorkJets.com.
  23. Greenberg, Ethan (December 19, 2020). "Jets Activate K Sam Ficken from Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  24. Greenberg, Ethan (January 2, 2021). "Jets Activate RG Greg Van Roten from Injured Reserve, Waive K Sam Ficken". New York Jets Official Website. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  25. Torres, Luis (August 20, 2018). "Undrafted rookie Sharif Finch trying to make Titans roster while mourning father's death". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
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