| We're about to roll out a profile on @kyle_sterup, the pride of Osceola, NE. In HS, he competed in football, wrestling and baseball and even medaled at state in the pole vault. Check out the film on No. 7 – the First Team All-GPAC defensive lineman who lives in opponent… pic.twitter.com/V9o9adlnm5
— Concordia Bulldogs (@cunebulldogs) July 18, 2024
Back in his high school days when he barely weighed 200 pounds as a lanky teenager, Kyle Sterup did it all in his hometown Osceola, Neb., where fewer than 1,000 people reside. He starred in football, wrestling, baseball and, believe it or not, pole vaulting. Really, he would have done anything that offered him a chance to compete in an athletic capacity. Unmistakably energetic and outgoing, Sterup exudes a confident vibe and a swagger that surely rubs off on his teammates.
Behind the scenes, Sterup has earned about as much respect as anyone within the Concordia Football locker room. Unprompted, All-American receiver Austin Jablonski recently referred to Sterup as “one of the best D-linemen in the country.” For Sterup, the rise to stardom has been about more than physical talent.
Says Head Football Coach Patrick Daberkow, “What Kyle has that other people don’t really have is that drive to win. His is so strong. He’s such a competitor that it gives him an advantage in every matchup that he’s in. He was a dominant wrestler coming out of high school. He did like discus, hurdles and pole vault. He’s just a freak athlete. He has some physical gifts, but I think it’s his mindset that makes him who he is and fun to coach. He’s a no nonsense, great locker room guy. He leads by his actions and he’s a lot of fun to coach.”
Such competitive spirit helped fuel Sterup to a First Team All-GPAC season in 2023 as he ranked amongst the national leaders in tackles for loss with 19. Opposing offenses became all too accustomed to watching No. 7 blow up plays in the backfield. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive end dominated with a pair of sacks and three tackles for loss in the win at Jamestown and then racked up five stops behind the line of scrimmage in the dominant victory over Doane. In the season opener versus No. 1 Northwestern, Sterup jarred the ball loose for a turnover at the goal line while again showing a knack for the big play. He also blocked a punt in the win at Hastings and caught a pass for a first down on a fake field goal.
Sterup’s breakout season was the result of years of development and commitment. Sterup has added 50 pounds of good weight since he first arrived at Concordia via Osceola High School. Sterup had the frame, but not the bulk needed to play at an elite level while faced with the hog mollies of the GPAC. However, Sterup’s athleticism and unique skillset resulted in early playing time. After playing eight-man football in high school, Sterup found himself thrust onto the field against No. 1 Morningside in his very first college football game.
“I was undersized when I got here,” Sterup said. “I was 210 pounds my freshman year. I was small. That adjustment was the biggest. I had to get bigger. That’s kind of what I did. College football is big, fast and unforgiving. I played Morningside and we were struggling my freshman year, so they put me in. I saw what I needed to do to play against those guys. My freshman year that’s all I worked towards – getting bigger, faster and stronger and gaining weight. I set out to do that and that’s what I did. That adjustment was pretty tough, but I’m better for it. It’s worked out in the long run.”
By his sophomore year, Sterup earned a full-time starting role on the defensive line. He collected 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks that 2022 season in setting the stage for a monster 2023. Year-by-year, Sterup has gotten progressively better. All the while, he’s become an increasingly commanding presence within the locker room. Last season, Sterup served as one of four pregame team captains, alongside Michael Grindey, Austin Jablonski and DJ McGarvie.
Sterup is part of a 2024-25 senior class that Daberkow and his staff will have a difficult time letting go of. Daberkow insists that these seniors as a collective group have exhibited leadership qualities that go above and beyond the vast majority (if not all) classes he’s watched come through the program. Sterup has played a major role in it.
Says Daberkow, “When his class got ahold of the locker room, they really got ahold of it. They command the locker room. I don’t have to police a lot of things because those guys are respected and they do things the right way. We don’t have many issues because our upperclassmen set a standard that no one is going to step out of line. The leadership in the locker room won’t allow that. Kyle just sets the tone for all of that.”
The son of Don and Stephanie Sterup, Kyle traces his competitive fire and love for athletics all the way back to first grade. That’s about the time things became more serious for Sterup, who is the type of person who never seems to want to sit still. Sterup even briefly gave wrestling at Concordia a shot (competed at the Missouri Valley Invite in January 2023) before shifting focus back to football.
Even though Osceola barely had the necessary infrastructure for pole vaulting, Sterup discovered a passion for the discipline and dove into it with determination – the only way he knows how. He medaled in the event at the state meet and achieved a personal best of 13’ 6.” How many other football players can say that?! The facts show he was pretty good at whatever he tried.
“I wasn’t the fastest and I couldn’t jump the highest, so I picked up pole vault,” Sterup said. “We didn’t have a program so I kind of started it. I would drive two hours round trip to Jamestown, Kansas. They have an indoor facility. I just love the sport. I got addicted to it. I grew into my body, but I kept that athleticism. I have a big body and I could hang on.”
The sturdier, more muscle-bound version of Sterup has put his pole vault days behind him. Heading into his fourth and final year of college football, Sterup says he wants to become a better pass rusher and leave no doubt about his candidacy for 2024 NAIA All-America football selection. Of course, Sterup gives credit to those who surround him in helping him develop to the point where lofty goals feel within his grasp.
Sterup gives credit to his background as a multi-sport athlete and to the entire Concordia coaching staff, especially defensive line coach Ron Jackson, someone he says he can seek advice (football and otherwise) from at any time. And when it comes to the battles at the line of scrimmage, iron sharpens iron for experienced Bulldog units on both sides of the ball.
“I’ve been going against Blake Schlegel every day for these last two years,” Sterup said. “We do have our battles. Ultimately, it’s best for each other. We get in each other’s faces, but we know we’re trying to get the best out of each other. At the end of the day, we’re going to be goofing around and talking about what happened at practice. We’re just having a good time. The battles do get pretty fierce sometimes.”
Sterup is invigorated every day by those types of battles. He eats up that competition. For someone with this mindset, the reality that this will be his last college football season is going to hit hard. Yes, Sterup would like to see his name listed amongst the other All-Americans at season’s end, but he would certainly trade that recognition for a chance to lead Concordia back to the NAIA playoffs, something the program has not achieved since 2001. Because of leaders like Sterup, the belief that the Bulldogs can go from 5-5 to crashing the playoff party in late November is gaining steam.
Whatever the end result, Sterup will look back fondly on four truly important and formative years in his life. Before the history major (secondary education) moves onto a career with Sandhills Global, Sterup is going to soak everything up this fall.
“I’m just thankful that I came to Concordia not just because of football but because of the relationships I’ve built,” Sterup said. “I’ve met lifelong friends, guys who will be in my wedding. I’ve just had such great relationships and met my wonderful girlfriend here. I couldn’t imagine going anywhere else.”
Sterup will continue to leave his mark. As his senior year gets underway, Sterup can take pride in knowing he’s won over his coaches and teammates for life – and that’s no small thing. It’s plain to see how highly Daberkow regards No. 7, the pride of Osceola.
Says Daberkow, “He changed his body to be a college defensive lineman. That’s no easy task. He’s the ultimate football guy and the ultimate locker room guy. He’s very trustworthy. If he says he’s going to do something, I’m going to trust him.”