No. 85, 87 | |||||||
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Position: | Tight end | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Belmar, New Jersey, U.S. | January 14, 1992||||||
Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 257 lb (117 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Manasquan (Manasquan, New Jersey) | ||||||
College: | Monmouth (2010–2014) | ||||||
NFL Draft: | 2015 / Round: 7 / Pick: 220 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Neal J. Sterling (born January 14, 1992) is a former American football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons. He played college football at Monmouth and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft, where he spent his first two seasons. During his final two seasons, he was a member of the New York Jets.
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. [1]
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 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.
Sterling was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round with the 220th overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. [2] He was waived by the team on September 4, 2015 and was signed to the practice squad. [3] [4] He was promoted to the active roster on October 20, 2015. [5]
In 2016, Sterling converted to the tight end position. [6] 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. [7]
On September 6, 2017, Sterling was signed by the New York Jets. [8] He was released by the team on October 5, 2017. [9]
On October 7, 2017, Sterling was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad. [10]
On October 25, 2017, Sterling was signed by the Jets off the Chiefs' practice squad. [11]
On November 10, 2018, Sterling was placed on injured reserve with a head injury. [12]
On March 25, 2019, Sterling re-signed with the Jets. [13] He was released on June 11, 2019. [14]
On June 13, 2019, Sterling signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. [15] He was released on July 24.
Logan Lamont Thomas Sr. is an American football tight end for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He was the starting quarterback whlist playing college football at Virginia Tech in the early 2010s, where he finished as the school's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns before being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Thomas spent time as a reserve quarterback for the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants before switching to tight end, a position he last played in high school, with the Detroit Lions in 2016.
Austin Edward Seferian-Jenkins is a former American football tight end. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington. He also played for the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Christopher James Hogan is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. He played college football at Monmouth following three years of college lacrosse at Penn State. Joining the NFL as an undrafted free agent, Hogan landed his first roster spot in 2012 with the Buffalo Bills, where he played four seasons. After signing a three-year contract with the New England Patriots in 2016, Hogan made consecutive Super Bowl appearances each season and won two. Hogan spent his final three seasons with the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, and New Orleans Saints. He was also a lacrosse midfielder for the Cannons and Whipsnakes Lacrosse Club of the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) in 2021.
Blake Bell is an American football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma, where he received the nickname "Belldozer", a play on words due to his large frame and running style.
Ryan Francis Griffin is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Connecticut, and was drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He has also previously played for the New York Jets.
Nicklaus O'Leary is a former American football tight end. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.
Benjamin Koyack is a former American football tight end. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame.
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James O'Shaughnessy is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft with the 173rd overall pick. He played college football at Illinois State from 2010-2014.
Eric Tomlinson is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at UTEP. He previously played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, New York Jets, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens.
Evan Michael Engram is an American football tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ole Miss and was drafted by the New York Giants with the 23rd pick in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Daniel Brown is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at James Madison, and was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He also played for the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs.
Jonnu Andre Smith is an American football tight end for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at FIU and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. After four seasons with the Titans, he joined the New England Patriots, and was later traded to the Atlanta Falcons.
Mason Schreck is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He last played for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Buffalo.
Keelan Lawrence Cole Sr. is an American football wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent after the 2017 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kentucky Wesleyan.
Christopher Herndon IV is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Miami (FL) and was drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Lawrence Cager is an American football tight end for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Miami (FL) and Georgia.
Kenneth Yeboah is an American football tight end for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Temple and Ole Miss.