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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020
Texas safety Caden Sterns shares college football bond with his brothers. By Myah Taylor @t_myah
f the Longhorns played Houston Baptist, Josh Sterns said he’d get open on his big brother Caden, Texas’ All-American safety. The freshman wide receiver’s confidence might come from playing backyard football with four older brothers who were all three times his size. Josh said they made him better. These days, he just listens to their advice. Ahead of Houston Baptists’ game against Texas Tech on Sept. 12, junior Caden’s message to Josh and Jerreth, his other brother who also plays for the Huskies, was simple. “He just told us to go out there
and do what we do normally,” Josh said. “He said, ‘We’re Sterns, and you know how we get down.’” The Sterns brothers answered the call. Josh and Jerreth combined for 339 receiving yards. Jerreth, a junior wide receiver, scored one touchdown. Josh scored two. Texas Tech was a 42-point favorite heading into the game, but the Red Raiders won by just two — in their home stadium. Houston Baptist put up 33 points. “(Caden) always tells me and Jerreth, ‘Even if they’re sleeping on you, don’t worry about it. Because you know what you’re capable of. You know your ability, so don’t let the haters or the people sleeping on you bring you down and stop you from being who you are and being the best you can be,’” Josh said. Josh caught his second touchdown pass before Jerreth did that night. The elder Stern said seeing his little brother thrive at the Division I level so early and being able to call him a teammate “is such a blessing.” Jordan, the oldest Stern brother between Caden, Josh and Jerreth, played at Oklahoma
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State and is a former Kansas City Chief. Jerreth said Jordan helped pave the way for all the siblings on the football field. He said Caden is making just as large of an impact at Texas. What makes Caden so great, Jerreth said, is his ability to always be around the football and
find ways to make plays. Then, just get to trade knowledge that there’s his leadership. we have with one another too, “It’s honestly amazing, but so it’s pretty cool.” he’s just showing the world what If Caden’s brothers played we already knew: that he’s the with him at Texas like he wishes, best safety in college football,” they’d get another shot at Texas Jerreth said. Tech with the Longhorns, who The two are the same age, but Josh said will definitely win the Jerreth still welcomes advice game on Saturday. from his Longhorn brother. The brothers support each He said Caden gave him other, but competition between the lowdown on Texas Tech’s them has always been a battle defensive backs ahead of the game. “He is really like a wise dude for our age, and he does drop knowledge to me just giving me little tips, like how to run my routes and how to get open because in the game he would have to guard me,” Jerreth said. Caden said he wishes JOSH STERNS his brothers could have left houston baptist freshman wide receiver Lubbock with a win, but he’s proud of them nevertheless. He said he learned from Josh and over who truly won, Jerreth said. Jerreth that Texas Tech’s defense The debate may never be setisn’t very good, though it won’t tled. Would Jerreth beat Caden affect him much as a safety. on a play? He’d rather keep his “(It’s) cool seeing my broththoughts to himself. ers reach their dream of play“I’m not going to say,” Jering DI football and then doing reth said. “We won’t speak what they did,” Caden said in on that. It would be a good a Tuesday teleconference. “We matchup though.”
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He said, ‘We’re Sterns, and you know how we get down.’”
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