The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Sterns declares for NFL Draft
11.30.2020 | Football
Texas junior defensive back Caden Sterns will forgo the remainder of the 2020 season, along with his senior season, and enter the NFL Draft.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas junior defensive back Caden Sterns will forgo the remainder of the 2020 season, along with his senior season, and enter the NFL Draft, he announced Monday.
Statement from Caden Sterns:
"Longhorn Nation, thank you for the unending support for the last three years both on and off the field, especially in 2020, which has been a difficult and trying time for us all. After much thought and prayer, I've arrived at the decision that it is time for me to follow my lifelong dream and declare for the 2021 NFL Draft. With that, I'll be forgoing the remainder of my eligibility, but I'll always look back at my time in Austin as some of the best years of my life, especially with my teammates who have become my brothers. I want to thank Coach Herman, Coach Ash and all of my coaches for guiding me in taking my game to the next level and all they've done for me throughout my career at UT. Above all, I want to thank my family for all of their support as I start this next chapter. I couldn't be more excited for what the future holds and will always be a Longhorn at heart. Hook 'em!"
Sterns, a Cibolo, Texas native, appeared in 29 games and made 28 starts during his three-year career on the Forty Acres. In that time, he registered a team-high 172 tackles (125 solo), eight pass breakups and five interceptions. Sterns made his presence known immediately as a true freshman, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors and being named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. He was also named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award in 2018. Sterns started all 13 games that he played in as a freshman, missing only the Allstate Sugar Bowl due to injury. He registered 62 total tackles, three tackles for loss, four interceptions and four pass breakups during that season. His four interceptions were tied for the most by a true freshman in school history. In 2019, Sterns played in nine games and was a key to the Longhorns' success when he was on the field. Texas held its opponents under 25 points in seven of the nine games he played in, including the last five of the season. Three times the Longhorns held their opponents under 15 points, highlighted by a 10-point defensive display against No. 11 Utah in the Valero Alamo Bowl. In 2020, Sterns was named a team captain and is one of four Longhorns to record at least 50 tackles to date (52 total/30 solo), in addition to notching three pass breakups and one interception. He recorded at least five tackles on 18 occasions during his career, and posted three games with double-digit tackles, including two in 2020. In his final collegiate game this past Friday, Sterns notched a career-high 13 tackles (7 solo) vs. Iowa State.
