Sterling Weatherford
{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Sterling Weatherford
| image = Sterling Weatherford (51515807652) (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Weatherford with Miami in 2021
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|1|26}}
| birth_place = Cicero, Indiana, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 224
| high_school = Hamilton Heights (Arcadia, Indiana)
| college = Miami (OH)
| undraftedyear = 2022
| pastteams =
- Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2022}})*
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2022}})
| status =
| highlights =
- Second-team All-MAC (2021)
| statleague =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 = Total tackles
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Sacks
| statvalue3 =
| pfr = WeatSt01
}}
Sterling Weatherford (born January 26, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2022 after playing college football at Miami (OH).
College career
Weatherford was a two-star prospect coming out of Hamilton Heights and committed to the Miami RedHawks on August 2, 2016.{{Cite web |last=Rinard |first=Jordan |date=August 3, 2016 |title=Miami football recruiting 2017: Sterling Weatherford commits |url=https://www.hustlebelt.com/2016/8/3/12364670/miami-football-recruiting-2017-sterling-weatherford-commits |access-date=September 2, 2022 |website=Hustle Belt}} In his freshman season, he was named Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year, before playing in twelve games as a sophomore, starting one.{{Cite web |title=Sterling Weatherford - Football |url=https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/football/roster/sterling-weatherford/7136 |access-date=September 2, 2022 |website=Miami RedHawks Athletics}} In a game against Army, Weatherford recorded a career-high nine tackles. In 2019, he finished second on the team with ninety-eight tackles, helping Miami defeat Central Michigan for the MAC Championship. In 2021, he was named All-MAC 2nd Team Defense after recording sixty-six tackles, two interceptions, and a sack.{{Cite web |date=December 1, 2021 |title=MAC Announces 2021 Postseason Football Awards & All-MAC Teams |url=https://getsomemaction.com/news/2021/11/30/mac-announces-2021-postseason-football-awards-all-mac-teams.aspx |access-date=March 12, 2023 |website=Get Some Maction |language=en}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4
| weight = 224
| dash = 4.60
| ten split = 1.58
| twenty split = 2.66
| shuttle = 4.33
| cone drill = 6.93
| vertical = 36.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 9
| bench = 21
| arm span = 32
| hand span = 8 5/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1025286&DraftYear=2022 |title=2022 Draft Scout Sterling Weatherford, Miami (OH) NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=December 10, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/105899 |title=Sterling Weatherford 2022 NFL Draft Profile |website=insider.espn.com |access-date=December 10, 2022}}
}}
=Indianapolis Colts=
Weatherford signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL draft on April 30, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Jimenez |first=James H. |date=April 30, 2022 |title=Sterling Weatherford signs as undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts |url=https://www.hustlebelt.com/2022/4/30/23044828/miami-ohio-safety-sterling-weatherford-undrafted-free-agent-indianapolis-colts |access-date=September 2, 2022 |website=Hustle Belt}} In his first preseason game, Weatherford recorded an interception of Buffalo Bills quarterback Matt Barkley.{{Cite web |last=Thomison |first=Andrew |date=August 15, 2022 |title=What We Learned: Colts vs. Bills Preseason Week 1 |url=https://www.stampedeblue.com/2022/8/15/23305916/what-we-learned-colts-vs-bills-preseason-week-1 |access-date=March 12, 2023 |website=Stampede Blue |language=en}} He was waived during final roster cuts on August 30.{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2022 |title=Colts Announce Final 2022 Roster Cuts |url=https://www.colts.com/news/final-2022-roster-cuts-philip-lindsay-tyson-williams-jack-coan |access-date=September 2, 2022 |website=Colts.com}}
=Chicago Bears=
On August 31, 2022, Weatherford was claimed by the Chicago Bears and signed to their active roster.{{Cite web |last=Hickey |first=Kevin |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Bears claimed LB Sterling Weatherford off waivers from Colts |url=https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2022/08/31/nfl-waivers-bears-sterling-weatherford-colts-2022/ |access-date=September 2, 2022 |website=Colts Wire}} Colts GM Chris Ballard was reportedly "upset" that the Bears claimed Weatherford, hoping to re-sign him to the team's practice squad.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Ryan |date=September 1, 2022 |title=Colts GM Upset About Bears Claiming LB Sterling Weatherford |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/colts-gm-upset-about-bears-claiming-lb-sterling-weatherford/2929321/ |access-date=September 2, 2022 |website=NBC - Chicago}}
On July 25, 2023, Weatherford was waived.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-25 |title=Sterling Weatherford: Gets cut loose |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/sterling-weatherford-gets-cut-loose/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}
On July 26, 2023, Weatherford was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams,{{Cite web |author=Alper, Josh |date=2023-07-26 |title=Rams claim Sterling Weatherford off waivers |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/rams-claim-sterling-weatherford-off-waivers |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}} but was waived two days later with a failed physical.{{Cite web |author=DaSilva, Cameron |date=2023-07-29 |title=Rams waive LB Sterling Weatherford following failed physical |url=https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2023/07/29/rams-sterling-weatherford-waived-physical-claim/ |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=USAToday.com }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/football/roster/sterling-weatherford/7136 Miami RedHawks bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weatherford, Sterling}}
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Players of American football from Indiana
Category:Miami RedHawks football players