Neal Sterling
{{Short description|American football player (born 1992)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Neal Sterling
| image = Neal Sterling.JPG
| alt =
| caption = Sterling with the New York Jets in 2017
| number = 85, 87
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|1|14|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Belmar, New Jersey, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| high_school = Manasquan
(Manasquan, New Jersey)
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 257
| college = Monmouth (2010–2014)
| draftyear = 2015
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 220
| pastteams = * Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2015}}–{{NFL Year|2016}})
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2017}})
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2017}})*
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2017}}–{{NFL Year|2018}})
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2019}})*
| statweek =
| statseason =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 24
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 239
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 =
| pfr = SterNe00
}}
Neal J. Sterling (born January 14, 1992) is an American former professional football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons. He played college football for the Monmouth Hawks and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL draft. He was also a member of the New York Jets.
Early life
Sterling attended Belmar Elementary School (Belmar, New Jersey) and Manasquan High School (in Manasquan, New Jersey), where he played both basketball and football. Sterling was a two-time NJSIAA Group II Central Jersey State Champion his junior and senior year at Manasquan High School under coach Pete Cahill. In his senior year, the Warriors posted a 9–3 record where Sterling led the team in offense with 40 catches for 700 yards with 8 touchdowns. He also contributed on defense at safety, where he recorded 50 tackles and one interception. After receiving multiple scholarships for both sports, he opted for a full football scholarship offer from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey.Newman, Josh. [http://www.app.com/story/sports/college/monmouth-university/2015/05/02/monmouths-neal-sterling-drafted-jacksonville-jaguars/26788723/ "Monmouth's Neal Sterling Chosen in NFL Draft by Jacksonville Jaguars"], Asbury Park Press, May 3, 2015. Accessed May 17, 2015. "Sterling, a Belmar native and a 2009 graduate of Manasquan High School, finished in the top three on the career list of every receiving category."
College career
Sterling played wide receiver at Monmouth University. He did not see time his freshman year, ultimately redshirting. In his redshirt freshman year, Sterling started all 11 of Monmouth's games where he recorded 57 receptions for 677 yards and five touchdowns. After leading the team in receptions and receiving yards, Sterling was named Northeast Conference Offensive Rookie of the Year and was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the nation's top freshman in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). During his sophomore campaign, Sterling recorded 33 receptions, 386 receiving yards, and five touchdowns while playing in all 10 games. His 33 catches were third on the team and the 386 receiving yards were second. In his junior year, Sterling played in all 12 of his games where he recorded 57 catches, 647 receiving yards, and six touchdowns which all led the team. The following year, Sterling had his best season. He again led the team in the three major receiving categories where he got 55 receptions, 905 receiving yards, and six touchdowns.
Professional career
=Jacksonville Jaguars=
Sterling was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round with the 220th overall pick of the 2015 NFL draft.{{cite web|title='15 NFL Draft: Jaguars select Sterling at No. 220|url=http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/%E2%80%9815-NFL-Draft-Jaguars-select-Sterling-at-No-220/34d29a32-8642-4649-8946-e2acda20df6a|author=Oehser, John|website=Jaguars.com|date=May 2, 2015|access-date=September 2, 2017}} He was waived by the team on September 4, 2015 and was signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=Roster moves: Eighteen done, four to go|url=http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Roster-moves-Eighteen-done-four-to-go/580bdeae-b80c-4e0c-ac6b-7a9317c3bf49|author=Oehser, John|website=Jaguars.com|date=September 4, 2015|access-date=September 2, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826071445/http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Roster-moves-Eighteen-done-four-to-go/580bdeae-b80c-4e0c-ac6b-7a9317c3bf49|archive-date=August 26, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Jaguars sign eight to practice squad|url=http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Jaguars-sign-eight-to-practice-squad/7bfafe23-7c40-4fa2-8b7f-f1abb75b2c7a|website=Jaguars.com|date=September 6, 2015|access-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907171006/http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Jaguars-sign-eight-to-practice-squad/7bfafe23-7c40-4fa2-8b7f-f1abb75b2c7a|archive-date=September 7, 2015|url-status=dead}} He was promoted to the active roster on October 20, 2015.{{cite web|title=Jaguars make roster moves|url=http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Jaguars-make-roster-moves/6fa81a3e-04d5-4b9d-9d77-b7bf47eb676a|website=Jaguars.com|date=October 20, 2015|access-date=September 2, 2017}}
In 2016, Sterling converted to the tight end position.{{cite web | url=http://www.firstcoastnews.com/mobile/article/sports/nfl/jacksonville-jaguars/jaguars-forced-to-improvise-at-tight-end-in-win-over-the-colts/328432474 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20170902220755/http://www.firstcoastnews.com/mobile/article/sports/nfl/jacksonville-jaguars/jaguars-forced-to-improvise-at-tight-end-in-win-over-the-colts/328432474 | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 2, 2017 | title=Jaguars forced to improvise at tight end in win over the Colts | publisher=firstcoastnews.com | date=October 2, 2016 | access-date=September 2, 2017 | author=Kaye, Mike}} He played in 10 games with one start during the 2016 season, recording 12 catches for 110 yards.
On September 3, 2017, Sterling was waived by the Jaguars.{{cite web|title=Jaguars claim five players off waivers|url=http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Jaguars-claim-five-players-off-waivers/e47673c7-dd94-49ad-b822-483e832b4998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105151457/http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Jaguars-claim-five-players-off-waivers/e47673c7-dd94-49ad-b822-483e832b4998|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2017|website=Jaguars.com|date=September 3, 2017}}
=New York Jets (first stint)=
On September 6, 2017, Sterling was signed by the New York Jets.{{cite web|title=Jets Sign TE Neal Sterling to Active Roster|url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Jets-Sign-TE-Neal-Sterling-to-Active-Roster/edaaac8e-d92e-4885-8d56-9a9c9700379d|author=Lange, Randy|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=September 6, 2017}} He was released by the team on October 5, 2017.{{cite web|title=Jets Waive TE Sterling|url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Jets-Waive-TE-Sterling/088765d5-39f9-40ec-b8ae-2899f4e4c0a4|author=Allen, Eric|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=October 5, 2017}}
=Kansas City Chiefs (first stint)=
On October 7, 2017, Sterling was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad.{{cite web|title=Chiefs Sign TE Neal Sterling To Practice Squad, Release TE Orson Charles|url=http://nfltraderumors.co/chiefs-sign-te-neal-sterling-practice-squad-release-te-orson-charles/|date=October 7, 2017}}
=New York Jets (second stint)=
On October 25, 2017, Sterling was signed by the Jets off the Chiefs' practice squad.{{cite web|title=Jets IR Xavier Coleman, Re-Sign Neal Sterling|url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Jets-IR-Xavier-Coleman-Re-Sign-Neal-Sterling/49831e1f-fc7e-42d4-a28e-7b3fe23d9f47|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026053845/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Jets-IR-Xavier-Coleman-Re-Sign-Neal-Sterling/49831e1f-fc7e-42d4-a28e-7b3fe23d9f47|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 26, 2017|author=Lange, Randy|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=October 25, 2017}}
On November 10, 2018, Sterling was placed on injured reserve with a head injury.{{cite web|title=Jets Promote QB Davis Webb to Active Roster, Place TE Neal Sterling on IR|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-promote-qb-davis-webb-to-active-roster-place-te-neal-sterling-on-ir|first1=Eric|last1=Allen|first2=Ethan|last2=Greenberg|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=November 10, 2018}}
On March 25, 2019, Sterling re-signed with the Jets.{{cite web|title=Jets Re-Sign Fifth-Year Tight End Neal Sterling|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-re-sign-fifth-year-tight-end-neal-sterling|author=Lange, Randy|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=March 25, 2019}} He was released on June 11, 2019.{{cite web|title=Jets Release TE Neal Sterling|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-release-te-neal-sterling|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=June 11, 2019}}
=Kansas City Chiefs (second stint)=
On June 13, 2019, Sterling signed with the Chiefs.{{Cite web |last=Bouda |first=Nate |date=2019-06-13 |title=Chiefs Sign TE Neal Sterling, Cut Three |url=https://nfltraderumors.co/chiefs-sign-te-neal-sterling-cut-three/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=NFLTradeRumors.co |language=en-US}} He was released on July 24.{{Cite web |last=Conner |first=Matt |date=2019-07-25 |title=Kansas City Chiefs waive tight end Neal Sterling |url=https://arrowheadaddict.com/2019/07/25/kansas-city-chiefs-waive-tight-end-neal-sterling/ |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=Arrowhead Addict|publisher=FanSided}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Jaguars2015DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sterling, Neal}}
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:American football tight ends
Category:Monmouth Hawks football players
Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players
Category:Kansas City Chiefs players
Category:New York Jets players
Category:Manasquan High School alumni
Category:People from Belmar, New Jersey
Category:Players of American football from Monmouth County, New Jersey