Neal Sterling to the Jacksonville Jaguars: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

The Jacksonville Jaguars have selected Monmouth receiver Neal Sterling with the third pick of the seventh round (220th pick overall). This breaks the trend of selecting players from top college programs, but Sterling himself breaks a lot of trends.

Sterling was a three-year starter for the Hawks and was the driving force of their offense. His 2014 season was definitely his most impressive, and he totaled 55 catches, 905 yards and six touchdowns.

After looking at his stats, it becomes apparent that Sterling has made big strides in his game. After a redshirt freshman season, he totaled 677 yards receiving in 2011. After taking a step back with 386 yards receiving in his 2012 season, he fired back with 647 yards receiving in 2013.

This finally culminated in his impressive senior season. He led the team in every single receiving stat, including average yards per game, with 90.5. He worked hard in school, and he's just continuing to get better.

Sterling dominated his peers at Monmouth, but does he have a place with the Jaguars? I'd think so, and that's due to his incredible progression throughout his college career and his overall size. 

His 6'3", 238-pound body is impressive for any receiver, and he matches that size with a 4.62 40-yard dash time at Monmouth's pro day. Sterling isn't the fastest, but he's quick enough to create enough space to dominate corners with his body.

Sterling is a bit of an unknown prospect for most people and, until recently, includes me. However, his stats and his overall athleticism are impressive. He's dominated his competition, and he has the athletic foundation to succeed.

The selection of Sterling will provide even more competition for a crowded group of receivers. Sterling's size gives him an advantage, and I would say that his unknown nature helps as well.

Sure, the Jaguars have scouted Sterling and know his game, but you won't know how he shapes up until he arrives. As for the other receivers, the Jaguars already know their ability, so he will get a bit more leeway than they might.

I'm not saying that he's getting a pass, though. In fact, he can most definitely compete with the lower half of the Jaguars wide receivers. If he's got the high ceiling that he's projecting with his improvement in college, Sterling will have a lot to offer now and down the road. 

At this point in the draft, the risks become marginalized, and the Jaguars have a lot more to gain than lose. General manager Dave Caldwell may be planning a full youth takeover at receiver, and Sterling is just the latest addition.

To conclude, the selection of Sterling can really go anywhere. He seems to be improving and with great potential, but he could just as easily be cut this summer. It will all depend on how he answers the call of playing in Jacksonville.

Overall Grade: B

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All stats were provided by ESPN.com unless otherwise stated.

Evan Reier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.