2021 AWARDS AND HONORS
All-Star Games
-2022 East-West Shrine Bowl Invite Accepted (Dec. 6)
Conference USA
-Newcomer of the Year
-All-CUSA First Team
-Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 16)
Individual Awards (Season)
-Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist (Nov. 18)
-Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist (Nov. 15) – Watch List (Oct. 6)
Individual Awards (Weekly)
-2021-22 Associated Press All-Bowl Team (Jan. 6)
-Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Honorable Mention (Four times – Nov. 20, Oct. 23, Oct. 16, Sept. 2)
-Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll (Oct. 16)
Media Outlets
-FWAA All-American – Second Team
-Associated Press All-American – Second Team
-Associated Press All-American – Midseason
-The Athletic All-American – Second Team
-The Athletic All-Portal Team
-247Sports All-Transfer Team
-PFF College All-American – Third Team
-PFF College All-CUSA First Team
-Pro Football Network All-American – First Team
2021 (Jr.) | 14/14: Sterns became only the third FBS player since 2000 to earn the Receiving Triple Crown (joining Alabama’s DeVonta Smith in 2020 and Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree in 2007); leading the nation in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. His averages of 10.7 receptions and 135.9 yards per game led all FBS receivers by 2.2 and 12.4. His 150 receptions led the nation by 45; with the next-closest number being 105 receptions by Mississippi State’s Makai Polk. His 1,902 yards led the nation by 198; with the next-closest number being 1,704 by Utah State’s Deven Thompkins. His 17 touchdowns tied with Pitt’s Jordan Addison – who won the Biletnikoff Award – for most in FBS. Sterns' 150 receptions are the third-most in a single season in FBS history, trailing only East Carolina's Zay Jones’ 158 in 2016 and Bowling Green's Freddie Barnes’ 155 in 2009. Meanwhile, his 1,902 yards are the fifth-most in FBS history. Former WKU wide receiver Taywan Taylor previously set the program records with 98 receptions for 1,730 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2016. He had 221 yards at Old Dominion, becoming only the second Hilltopper to ever reach the 200-yard plateau. He recorded six games of 170+ yards and 10 games of 100+ yards. He now owns six of the top 21 single-game receiving performances in Hilltopper history. Coming into the season, all WKU receivers in program history had 13 games of 170+ yards.
Before WKU: Sterns went to Houston Baptist, where he set almost every receiving record imaginable. Had 220 receptions for 1,971 yards and 18 touchdowns in 27 career games over three seasons for the Huskies. His 220 receptions led all active FCS players, while his 1,971 ranked third. Boasts single-game bests of 18 receptions, 138 yards and three touchdowns. Has 10 double-digit catch performances and eight 100-yard games. In 11 games as a freshman in 2018, set HBU records with 68 receptions and 684 yards, while adding four touchdowns, and was named All-Southland Honorable Mention. In 12 games as a sophomore in 2019, re-set the HBU record with 105 receptions, with those going for 833 yards and nine touchdowns, and was named All-Southland Third Team. In four games as a junior in 2020, led the Huskies with 47 receptions for 454 yards and five touchdowns; his 11.8 receptions and 113.5 yards per game topped the FCS rankings. In his HBU career, also had 23 rushes for 56 yards and two touchdowns, 31 punt returns for 177 yards, and was 4-of-7 passing for 110 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. Earned Southland Conference Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll in both of his first two seasons, while he was named to the Southland Conference All-Academic Team as a sophomore.
HS/Misc.: Sterns was a four-year letterwinner at Waxahachie HS for head coach Jon Kitna. He played on both sides of the ball as a senior, scoring 18 total touchdowns on offense and making eight interceptions on defense. Earned Academic All-State honors and was an Academic All-District honoree all four years. Has six siblings, including brother Josh (also signed with WKU), brother Caden (plays at the University of Texas), brother Jamison (played at West Texas A&M) and brother Jordan (played for the Kansas City Chiefs after playing at Oklahoma State). His father, James, played basketball at Baylor.
