Honors & Awards
» Academic All-Big Ten (2012, 2013)
» Husker Pride Award (2015)
» Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Spring, 2012; Fall 2015)
Zach Sterup was a key contributor on the offensive line during his final three seasons in the Nebraska program, helping the Husker offense rank among the Big Ten’s best each of those years.
The 6-8, 320-pound Sterup spent the majority of his career at tackle, before moving inside to guard where he started the final four games of the 2015 season and helped Nebraska to a 3-1 finish. Sterup was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and earned his degree in economics/finance in December of 2015.
2015 (Senior)
Sterup played in nine games during his senior season and made six starts. Sterup started at right tackle against Minnesota and Northwestern when Nick Gates was slowed by an ankle injury. Following Gates’ return, Sterup slid inside to guard and started the final four games. His play helped Nebraska to strong offensive showings down the stretch, capped by rushing for 326 against UCLA in a Foster Farms Bowl victory.
2014 (Junior)
Sterup started 10 games at right tackle, missing the season opener against Florida Atlantic after minor knee surgery and sat out the final two games following another knee procedure. Sterup was a key part of an offensive line that helped senior running back Ameer Abdullah to a record-setting season, in which Abdullah became Nebraska’s career leader in all-purpose yardage. Abdullah had four 200-yard rushing games in 2014. Sterup and his offensive line teammates were also one of the Big Ten’s best units at protecting the quarterback.
2013 (Sophomore)
Sterup played in 11 games, seeing action both at offensive tackle and on the field goal and PAT units. He saw extensive action at tackle in the final five games when injuries ravaged the offensive line.
2012 (Redshirt Freshman)
Sterup was a reserve at tackle and appeared in Nebraska’s wins over Southern Miss, Arkansas State, Idaho State and Minnesota.
2011 (Redshirt)
Sterup redshirted in his first season and was a standout on the scout team line.
Before Nebraska (Hastings St. Cecilia HS)
Sterup was a standout for Coach Carl Tesmer at Hastings St. Cecilia High School, helping the Bluehawks to back-to-back state championships in 2009 and 2010. As a senior, Sterup led an offensive line that paved the way for more than 3,500 rushing yards en route to a 13-0 season. Sterup also saw time on defense and racked up 58 tackles and four sacks.
Sterup was a first-team All-Nebraska pick by the Omaha World-Herald and a Super-State selection according to the Lincoln Journal Star. He was the honorary captain of the C-2 all-state team by both newspapers. Sterup earned first-team defensive all-state honors in Class C-1 as a junior, helping St. Cecilia to a perfect campaign before it moved classes in 2010.
Sterup was regarded as one of the top 30 offensive tackle prospects in the country by Rivals.com, which also listed him as the top player in Nebraska. Sterup was among the tallest Husker recruits ever, with 6-8 offensive tackle Tom Punt (1988-90) the tallest known football letterwinner in school history before Sterup’s arrival.
Sterup was among the team leaders in scoring and rebounding in basketball and helped the Bluehawks to a 19-6 record. St. Cecilia captured three straight Class C-1 basketball titles from 2008 to 2010. Sterup only visited Nebraska but had numerous other offers, including Iowa, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Minnesota, Stanford and UCLA.
Personal
The son of Doug Sterup and Mary Sterup-Walsh, Zach was born on May 14, 1992. He has volunteered his time with Uplifting Athletes, Husker Hotline and team hospital visits.
Nebraska Career Stats
» Games Played– 34 (4 in 2012, 11 in 2013, 10 in 2014, 9 in 2015)
» Games Started– 16 (10 in 2014, 6 in 2015)