Eli Herring
Encyclopedia
Eli Herring is a former Brigham Young University
(BYU
) offensive tackle who decided not to play in the National Football League
for religious reasons involving working on the Sabbath and made his intention clear to all NFL teams prior to the 1995 NFL draft
. Nonetheless, the devout Mormon
was drafted in the 6th round by the Oakland Raiders
. He is one of few people to get drafted in the NFL after declaring an intention never to play. He now is married with seven children and works as a school teacher and assistant football coach at Mountain View High School
in Orem, Utah
.
he participated and lettered in football
, basketball
, wrestling
and track, earning All-Region and All-State honors in football and wrestling, and setting two state records in track and becoming the Utah state champion in the shot put and discus. He was the captain of the football team, and was a member of the 1985 team that won the state championship He was recruited to play football by BYU
, University of Utah
, Utah State University
, Stanford University
and the University of Washington
, but enrolled at BYU in 1987 because it was the only school that did not withdraw a scholarship offer when he announced his plans do a Mormon mission.
. For two years he proselytized in Salta, Argentina
. While he was there he read about Erroll Bennett
, a professional soccer player in Tahiti, who withrew from his team after joining the LDS church and deciding not to play on the Sabbath. Herring was impressed by Brother Bennett's commitment and dedication to what he viewed was right.
Herrings views on money were also affected by his time in Argentina
. When he arrived there one U.S. dollar was worth 15 Argentine australs, but by the time he left, a dollar was worth about 10,000 australs. This period of hyper-inflation. helped him realize he could not trust in money nor make decisions solely based on money.
during the 1987, and 1991-94 seasons, earning honorable mention All-WAC in 1993 and second team All-WAC honors in 1994. He was selected to the Hula Bowl squad during his senior season. He was also a member of the BYU
track team. In addition to football, Herring got married during his time at BYU
and he earned a bachelors degree in mathematics.
, and Raider senior assistant Bruce Allen flew to Provo and offered Herring a three-year, $1.5 million contract. Herring rejected it. His starting salary as a teacher at Mountain View High School
was around $22,000 a year. At that salary it would take Herring approximately 20 years teaching in the Utah public-school system to earn what the Raiders would have paid him in a single season.
, and they married in July 1992. They now have seven children. Parents are David and Lynn Herring. Younger brother Isaac also played on BYU
's offensive line from 1999-2002. He is now a school teacher and assistant football coach at Mountain View High School
in Orem, Utah
. Eli Christensen from Indiana was named after him.
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU
BYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
) offensive tackle who decided not to play in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for religious reasons involving working on the Sabbath and made his intention clear to all NFL teams prior to the 1995 NFL draft
1995 NFL Draft
The 1995 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1995 at the Paramount Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City...
. Nonetheless, the devout Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
was drafted in the 6th round by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He is one of few people to get drafted in the NFL after declaring an intention never to play. He now is married with seven children and works as a school teacher and assistant football coach at Mountain View High School
Mountain View High School (Utah)
Mountain View High School is a high school located in Orem, Utah and part of Utah County's Alpine School District. The school first opened its doors in the 1980-81 school year...
in Orem, Utah
Orem, Utah
Orem is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, in the north-central part of the state. It is adjacent to Provo, Lindon, and Vineyard and is about south of Salt Lake City. Orem is one of the principal cities of the Provo-Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Utah and...
.
High school
During his years at Springville High SchoolSpringville High School (Utah)
Springville High School is the only high school in Springville, Utah. Enrollment is 1,256-Mascot:Springville's mascot is the Red Devil. The origin of the mascot name dates back to the original construction of the school, when the Red Devil Cement Company assisted significantly in the building. This...
he participated and lettered in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
and track, earning All-Region and All-State honors in football and wrestling, and setting two state records in track and becoming the Utah state champion in the shot put and discus. He was the captain of the football team, and was a member of the 1985 team that won the state championship He was recruited to play football by BYU
BYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
, University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
, Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, but enrolled at BYU in 1987 because it was the only school that did not withdraw a scholarship offer when he announced his plans do a Mormon mission.
LDS Mission
Herring went on an LDS church mission (1988–1990) after his freshman year at BYUBYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
. For two years he proselytized in Salta, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. While he was there he read about Erroll Bennett
Erroll Bennett
Erroll Bennett was a Tahitian footballer, who spent most of his career with AS Central Sport. Bennett placed fifteenth in a 1999 poll by International Federation of Football History & Statistics to find the Player of the Century for Oceania....
, a professional soccer player in Tahiti, who withrew from his team after joining the LDS church and deciding not to play on the Sabbath. Herring was impressed by Brother Bennett's commitment and dedication to what he viewed was right.
Herrings views on money were also affected by his time in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. When he arrived there one U.S. dollar was worth 15 Argentine australs, but by the time he left, a dollar was worth about 10,000 australs. This period of hyper-inflation. helped him realize he could not trust in money nor make decisions solely based on money.
College
Unlike many returned missionaries, Herring came back from his two year mission stronger, faster, more coordinated, and even more ready to play football. By his Senior season he stood 6 feet 8 and weighed 330 pounds. Herring, who wore the number 76, played offensive tackle at BYUBYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
during the 1987, and 1991-94 seasons, earning honorable mention All-WAC in 1993 and second team All-WAC honors in 1994. He was selected to the Hula Bowl squad during his senior season. He was also a member of the BYU
BYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
track team. In addition to football, Herring got married during his time at BYU
BYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
and he earned a bachelors degree in mathematics.
Decision not to play professional football
Projected as a first to third round draft choice, Herring made the decision to forgo a professional career so he wouldn't have to work on the Sabbath, and wrote letters to each NFL team saying as much. He was still drafted in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL draft by the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Raider senior assistant Bruce Allen flew to Provo and offered Herring a three-year, $1.5 million contract. Herring rejected it. His starting salary as a teacher at Mountain View High School
Mountain View High School (Utah)
Mountain View High School is a high school located in Orem, Utah and part of Utah County's Alpine School District. The school first opened its doors in the 1980-81 school year...
was around $22,000 a year. At that salary it would take Herring approximately 20 years teaching in the Utah public-school system to earn what the Raiders would have paid him in a single season.
Personal
Eli met his wife, Jennifer Anderson, at church while at BYUBYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
, and they married in July 1992. They now have seven children. Parents are David and Lynn Herring. Younger brother Isaac also played on BYU
BYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
's offensive line from 1999-2002. He is now a school teacher and assistant football coach at Mountain View High School
Mountain View High School (Utah)
Mountain View High School is a high school located in Orem, Utah and part of Utah County's Alpine School District. The school first opened its doors in the 1980-81 school year...
in Orem, Utah
Orem, Utah
Orem is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, in the north-central part of the state. It is adjacent to Provo, Lindon, and Vineyard and is about south of Salt Lake City. Orem is one of the principal cities of the Provo-Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Utah and...
. Eli Christensen from Indiana was named after him.