Eli Herring

Eli Herring (born 1969) is an American college athlete and high school sports coach.

He played football for Brigham Young University (BYU) as an offensive tackle. Though Herring was widely expected to turn professional after college, he gained notoriety for declining to play in the National Football League (NFL) for religious reasons involving working on the Sundays and made his intention clear to all NFL teams prior to the 1995 NFL draft. Nonetheless, the devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) 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.

Herring is married with seven children and works as a math teacher and assistant football coach at Mountain View High School in Orem, Utah.

High school During his years at Springville High School, Herring participated and lettered in football, basketball, wrestling and track. He earned All-Region and All-State honors in football and wrestling, while also 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, the University of Utah, Utah State University, Stanford University, and the University of Washington. In 1987, he chose BYU because it was the only school that did not withdraw a scholarship offer when he announced his plans to serve an LDS Church mission for two years aged about 19 to 21.

College Unlike some returned missionaries who lose their athletic edge when coming back to college sports, 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 played offensive tackle at BYU 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 play in the Hula Bowl during his senior season. He was also a member of the BYU track team. Herring made the decision to forgo a professional career so he wouldn't have to work on Sundays. He wrote letters to each NFL team to inform them of this decision. He was still drafted in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders, and Raider senior assistant Bruce Allen flew to Provo and offered Herring a three-year, $1.5 million contract. Herring rejected Allen's offer, and also politely declined after Raiders assistant coach Fred Whittingham, also LDS, discussed the matter with him. with an additional smaller stipend from football coaching. He previously served as a bishop for seven years.