Texas Safety Caden Sterns retiring, declaring for NFL Draft



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Texas junior security Caden Sterns withdraws from the remainder of the 2020 season and declares himself for the 2021 NFL Draft. Multiple sources told Horns247’s Mike Roach ahead of Monday’s announcement that Sterns had to end his time with the Longhorns and that his preference was to get into the draft rather than put his name in the NCAA transfer portal and try to play elsewhere at the college level. in 2021.

In seven games, Sterns recorded 52 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, one interception and three breakage passes. In his last game for Texas, Sterns recorded a career-high 13 tackles and half a losing tackle last Friday in a 23-20 loss to Iowa State.

“I will always look at my time in Austin as one of the best years of my life, especially with my teammates who have become my brothers,” Sterns said. “I want to thank Coach (Tom) Herman, Coach (Chris) Ash and all of my coaches for guiding me to take my game to the next level and everything they have done for me throughout my career at UT. Above all, I want to thank my family for all of their support as I begin this next chapter. I couldn’t be more excited about what the future holds and I will always be a Longhorn at heart. “

After an offensive tackle Samuel cosmi made the decision Sunday to declare himself for the NFL draft by retiring from the last two games of the regular season, Herman said on Monday he did not expect any further withdrawals. If a player other than Cosmi wanted to step down, Herman said on the Big 12 coaches conference call Monday ahead of his regularly scheduled weekly press conference, “they would have happened already.”

When discussing Cosmi’s decision, Herman said he was “extremely proud” of the 34-game starter and the captain of the team who is currently expected to be one of the first offensive tackles selected in the draft. At his press conference, Herman was asked if he felt Cosmi’s departure had the potential to set a negative precedent of packing up and preparing for the next level when things on the pitch hit. complicate.

Herman didn’t think it was, adding that the coaches hadn’t tried to dissuade Cosmi from his decision.

“I think Sam had made a decision,” Herman said. “Nobody blames him. Sam is in a very unique position, a position that no one on our football team is, that is, he has the opportunity to be a first round pick. I don’t think that sets an example for anyone on our football team, because everyone’s situation is unique.

Sterns may not be a planned pick for the start of the round as Cosmi, but his exit ends the career of one of the top-rated rookies Herman landed during his tenure on the Forty Acres. . No.19 general prospect and No.1 nationally safe rookie in the 247Sports Composite in 2018, Sterns is the highest rated defensive back in 247Sports Composite history to sign with the Longhorns (No.25 in the standings General of 247Sports. all-time signatories from Texas).

Sterns was a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award in 2018 when he put on one of the greatest seasons of all time for a true Texas rookie. While becoming the first Longhorn defensive back since Blake gideon in 2008 to start the first 13 straight years of a season as a true freshman (a knee injury forced Sterns to miss the team’s Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia), Sterns was named a freshman Year All-American, Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-Big 12 selection.

Sterns notched four interceptions at the head of the team (tying the school record for freshman interceptions) with a total of 62 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, four break-ups and a blocked kick in its early stages. Expectations for Sterns heading into 2019 were that he would continue to climb to a cap that would one day see him start early in the NFL Draft, but a nagging knee injury limited him to just nine games.

Sterns had 58 tackles, four loss tackles, one sack and one pass break in his second season on the program. Even though his second campaign didn’t go as planned, Sterns had a resurgent performance in the Alamo Bowl with eight tackles (six solos) in a 38-10 win over Utah.



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