Former Shore Stars Neal Sterling, Rick Lovato, Jack Tabb Headed to the NFL

Monmouth University star wide receiver Neal Sterling, a Manasquan graduate, achieved a rare feat on Saturday by becoming just the second player in Hawks' history to be selected in the NFL Draft.

(Photo via Monmouth University football/Twitter)

Former Middletown South star Rick Lovato, a long-snapper at Old Dominion, and former Red Bank Catholic standout Jack Tabb, a tight end at North Carolina, also will have a chance to realize their NFL dreams. Lovato signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent on Saturday, while Tabb signed with the Saints.

Sterling, who holds multiple school records at Monmouth, was taken with the third pick of the seventh round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, the 220th overall selection. He joins former Monmouth star tight end John Nalbone, who was drafted in the fifth round by the Miami Dolphins in 2009, as the only Hawks to be drafted in the 22-year history of Monmouth's program.

Neal Sterling was a first-team All-Shore talent at wide receiver in his Manasquan days. (Photo by Bill Normile)

Sterling earned first-team All-Big South honors in Monmouth's first year in the conference this past fall. He led the conference in yards per catch (16.9) and was second with 905 receiving yards while also finishing second in receptions per game and touchdown catches. He is Monmouth's all-time leader in receptions and is in the top three in numerous school receiving categories. The Hawks' star also was the only former Shore Conference talent taken in this year's NFL Draft.

Lovato is the second former Middletown South standout to sign with an NFL team in two years, as former tight end Scott Simonson signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent out of Assumption College last year. If Lovato makes the Bears' roster, that could make three former Eagles in the NFL along with running back Knowshon Moreno, who played for the Dolphins last year but is currently a free agent.

Rick Lovato was also a standout defensive lineman during his time at Middletown South. (Photo by Cliff Lavelle)

Lovato was a four-year starter at Old Dominion, earning FCS All-America accolades as a sophomore and being named Conference USA honorable mention this past season. He looks to follow in the footsteps of former Southern Regional and Rutgers star Clark Harris, who is entering his seventh season as the Cincinnati Bengals' long-snapper.

Former Red Bank Catholic star Jack Tabb, seen in his high school days here, is headed to the New Orleans Saints after wrapping up his career as a tight end for North Carolina. (Photo by Bill Normile)

Tabb caught 21 passes for 206 yards as a senior for the Tar Heels this past season, starting all 12 games. He appeared in 44 games in his career, seeing action immediately as a freshman and also played some linebacker as a junior. He said he will be heading to New Orleans after taking his final exam at North Carolina on Monday.