For the 2020 college football season there will be ample opportunity to take hold of a starting role. One of those players is sophomore safety Caden Sterns. Sterns was a highly recruited five star safety who came to Texas with teams like Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana State all interested. He looks to raise his game next year under new defensive coordinator Chris Ash.
While it wasn’t the sophomore year he was hoping for, Stern is definitely a ball hawk type safety. During his four years in high school, he picked off 11 passes turning four into touchdowns. Sterns also was honorable mention as a wide receiver in high school. As a freshman he picked off four passes for the Longhorns.
No question Caden Sterns is a player who will need to help this defense to take the next step under Ash. When at Ohio State, Ash’s defense had a top flight secondary that helped them to a National Championship. Sterns is looking to be the Longhorn’s version of Vonn Bell who snagged six picks that year. For Texas, they need the freshman version of Sterns to take the field in 2020. More than just the ball skills, Sterns has plenty of value for this defense.
Sterns is a rangy safety who can get sideline to sideline with ease. He will also lay the wood on ball carriers when given the opportunity. His closing speed makes him dangerous as a blitzer off the edge but can sometimes miss out on a play due to his aggressiveness. He has an opportunity to be the next great Texas safety to make the jump to the NFL much like Earl Thomas and Kenny Vaccaro.
With a strong junior campaign, Sterns can help this defense to take the next step. However, with that same strong campaign he is likely heading to the NFL after three years in Austin.
Caden Sterns will likely be one of the top Texas Longhorns in 2020 that has NFL scouts salivating at the opportunity to draft him.