The altruistic relationship of the Herring brothers
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (BVM) – Wanting to emulate your older siblings is something most kids go through. This was the case for Caleb Herring as he watched his brother Elijah consistently improve his play early on throughout his high school career.
This was enough motivation for Caleb to give football a shot during the fall of his eighth grade year.
“He was always good, but when he got to high school, that’s when his game took the next step,” Caleb said. “I was like, ‘Maybe I can be like him one day.’”
Now a few years later, both are big names throughout the high school football circuit in middle Tennessee.
Elijah just wrapped up his senior season and is now an early enrollee at the University of Tennessee, while Caleb ranks as the No. 1 player in the state for the 2023 class according to 247Sports.
— Elijah Herring (@ElijahHerring12) April 14, 2021
For the past few years, the brothers have wreaked havoc on the defensive side of the ball for Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
This past season, the two linebackers combined for 133 tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 12 sacks to lead the Warriors to a 10-2 record.
With Elijah already on campus in Knoxville, the upcoming spring will be an adjustment period for Caleb on the football field at Riverdale.
“It’s gonna be kind of weird at first,” Caleb said. “With the spring game that we’re having and even the practices are gonna be weird. I’d say by the season that I’m gonna be used to it.”
While Caleb tries to adapt in Murfreesboro, Elijah is beginning his time as a student-athlete three hours east of where he calls home.
“It’s been an adjustment,” Elijah said. “We’re getting way more work than we did in high school. We just have to be on top of everything, so it really makes you mature at a fast rate.”
As Elijah acclimates in the classroom, he is also getting used to the college game as spring practice has already begun for the Volunteers.
“You really have to be focused on what you’re doing,” Elijah said. “It’s way faster than anything I expected.”
With Elijah already having gone through the recruiting process, he has been a big help to Caleb, who has 32 collegiate offers and counting.
The decision to pick a school to maximize your ceiling as a player can be stressful, but Elijah has reminded Caleb to take a deep breath.
“I’d be stressed out and he’d come up to me and be like, ‘Don’t stress out on me,’” Caleb said. “‘Just be grateful and thankful because not too many people are in the position that you’re in right now. Just thank God.’”
With many expecting Elijah to be the Vols’ lead recruiter for Caleb, that is not necessarily the case. Elijah wants Caleb to prioritize the school that fits him best, whether it is Tennessee or another school.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on him,” Elijah said. “I’m not the one doing four years for him. I want him to enjoy wherever he’s at.”
https://twitter.com/CalebHerring19/status/1445869675326365699
Two of Caleb’s interests in a school are a family atmosphere and name, image and likeness opportunities. Both happen to be strengths of the University of Tennessee, but it will ultimately be Caleb’s decision.
Even if they do not play collegiate football together, they will always check and balance one another in order for them to both achieve all of their future goals.
“He’s always been that figure to keep my head straight,” Caleb said. “And I’ll keep his head straight.”
