With the 220th pick in the 2015 NFL draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select Neal Sterling, wide receiver from Monmouth University. On May 2nd, 2015, former Hawks wide-out Neal Sterling made history, becoming only the second player from Monmouth University to be drafted by an NFL team, with the first being former Monmouth tight end John Nalbone in 2009.
With his selection by the Jaguars, Neal joined an exclusive list of former Monmouth athletes to make it to the pros for their individual sport. Christie Rampone, a member of the United States national women’s soccer team that won the FIFA Women’s World Cup this past year, attended Monmouth. Current Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brad Brach is one of the greatest Hawks baseball players of all time. Several former Monmouth football players have also made it into the NFL, with several currently on active rosters. Neal is now one of three former Hawk receivers on an NFL roster, with the other two being Miles Austin of the Philadelphia Eagles and Chris Hogan of the Buffalo Bills. So Neal is now among elite company.
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Neal was born on Jan.14, 1993 in Belmar, New Jersey, which is less than ten miles from Monmouth. Growing up, Neal was very passionate about both football and basketball, playing both in high school. When asked who his favorite athletes were while he was growing up, Neal immediately responded Kobe Bryant for basketball and both Randy Moss and Terrell Owens, two all-time great wide receivers in the NFL.
Neal started his four year career at Monmouth in 2011, where he would go on to be a four-year starter and a health and physical education major. Neal said his favorite part about being at Monmouth was the atmosphere and simply being around the team. He really enjoyed building bonds with his teammates over his four years, and referred to them as his brothers on several occasions when I had the opportunity to interview him. Celebrating with his brothers after a win just added to the team bonding.
When asked if any of his former Monmouth teammates had any funny nicknames, Neal laughed and said, “Wow, I have to think. There were so many good ones." There were two nicknames that stuck out in particular though. First was current Hawks defensive lineman, Andrew Jurczynski, who Sterling says earned the nickname “Cat Daddy." Then there was Sterling’s fellow wide receiver, Lamar Davenport, who was referred to as “Snoop” by teammates.
Neal’s four years with the Hawks were one of the most successful of any individual player on the field. In his senior season, Neal passed Miles Austin to become the Hawks' all-time leader in career receptions. Throughout his four years, he caught 202 passes for 2615 receiving yards, with 22 of those passes going for a touchdown.
These statistics helped Neal become the second Hawk to be drafted in the NFL Draft. While Neal was hindered by a hamstring injury throughout training camp, he made it to the final cuts. The injury led Neal to be cut at the end of camp, but the Jaguars quickly signed him to the practice squad. On Oct. 20th, Neal was promoted to the Jaguars active roster, where he remains today.
During my interview with Neal, I asked him what the biggest adjustment was going from college to the pros. Neal’s immediate response was, “knowledge of the game and preparation." Neal went on to explain he has to spend a lot more time in the film room in Jacksonville compared to when he was in Long Branch. In the pros Neal has found that he needs to study his opponent more than he did while at Monmouth.
It was only last year Neal was in Long Branch, New Jersey, catching passes here at Monmouth and could be seen around campus. Now he can be found on the television screen on Sundays along with his Jaguars teammates. This just goes to show how Neal is the latest Hawks athlete to make it big, and he has truly gone from Long Branch to the big time. Best of luck to Neal on the rest of the season and the rest of your career. Everyone here at Monmouth will be pulling for you every Sunday.
