Will Herring was born August 23, 1983, to Ron and Libba Herring. He has an older sister, Laura (graduated in 1999 from Opelika), and a younger brother, Rusty (graduated in 2003 from Opelika)

As a child, Will grew up watching and playing sports. He loved basketball and baseball as a child and started playing both sports for the Opelika Parks and Recreation. He started playing football at a very young age and ironically did not like the sport. He stopped playing football in the 5^th and 6^th grade to start lifting weights for the late Bill Curry Sr., while continuing to play basketball and baseball.

In the 7^th and 8^th grade, Will started back playing football after Coach Mike McKee asked him to try out. McKee wanted Herring to play quarterback and that was the beginning of what would be a choice of a lifetime. Herring continued playing football in the 9th grade under Coach Chuck Barber. After the 9^th Grade schedule was complete, Herring was asked to dress with the Varsity. That was a huge move according to Herring, “It was a totally different environment. It was my first taste of what was big time 6A football was about. Coach McCracken was so intense you could feel the pressure.”

After the 9^th grade season, Will began to prepare for his 10^th grade year. Herring started the 1999 season opener against Vigor in Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile as sophomore. That game remains special to Herring. “We went out and played a great game pounding Vigor by 30 points, Corey Larkins was outstanding and I no longer was nervous about playing football.”

Will started for three years at OHS at quarterback, leading the Dawgs to three straight winning seasons, three straight playoff appearances; traveling to the 2^nd round twice, and the third round, once.

Herring said that playing in front of seven to eight thousand fans in Bulldog Stadium, including many people he knew personally, still sticks out in his mind. The other moments that stuck out was a Saturday afternoon victory over Central-Phenix City, 31-8, and a loss to Daphne in the play-offs when he made, what he called a bad pitch to running back D.D. Snipes that allowed the Trojans to recover and score the game winning touchdown on a halfback pass the ensuing play. One more highlight was a career record of 3-0 against Auburn.

Will accomplishments at Opelika consists of Opelika High School Offensive MVP for two consecutive years, Opelika-Auburn News Super 10, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Dandy Dozen, Prep Star All-Region, and was also ranked as one of the top 20 players in the state of Alabama by SuperPrep Magazine. Will also played baseball at Opelika and was a two-time all-area selection and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Will was successful at OHS and was recruited by Middle Tennessee State as a quarterback. After a visit to MSU, former Auburn assistant coach Joe Whitt paid a visit and offered Herring a scholarship as an “athlete”. Herring accepted the offer and started his collegiate career at Auburn after he graduated from OHS in 2002.

After being redshirted in 2002, Will moved to defense and played on special teams. During the 2003 preseason, Herring was listed 4^th on the depth chart at safety. This was a difficult time for Herring, who had been a starter ever since middle school.

During the A-Day game as a freshman, Will played free safety and on special teams. His performance earned Herring the Defensive MVP of the annual spring scrimmage.

During the fall of 2003, Herring was listed 2^nd on the depth chart. During Auburn’s second game of the year at Georgia Tech, starting safety Donnay Young was injured, opening the way for Herring to earn playing time. The following week, Herring got his first start at Auburn against Vanderbilt in Nashville. “I was totally jacked and pumped as ever,” recalled Herring. Auburn won the game and finished the 2003 season at 8-5.

During is tenor at Auburn played in 52 games career games and currently hold the record of the most consecutive games played at 49. Will also had 237 recorded tackles, seven interceptions, 2.0 sacks, four fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. During Will's senior year, Will moved from free safety to linebacker during spring drills. During his senior year alone, Will played in 12 games, registering 59 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Will graduated from Auburn with a degree in exercise science.

In 2007 Will entered the NFL draft and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks during the 24th pick of the 5th round (161st overall).   Herring just completed his second full season playing for Mike Holmgren in the National Football League. Herring is a starter on special teams and got a chance to start the last two games of the season against the New York Jets and the Arizona Cardinals.

Life in the NFL is more different than the differences from high school to college. The players are treated more like adults and have more freedom, but still as much responsibility on the field. He is proud to have such teammates as Running Back Shaun Alexander, Quarterback Matt Hasselback, and Defensive End Patrick Kerney.

Will also has had a personal life away from football. Last year, he married his college sweet heart, Ashley (Thompson) Herring. He met her at Auburn and married after three years of dating. Ashley is from Vestavia Hills and graduated from Auburn in Communications and works in Seattle as an interior designer.

Will give his success to several things. His beliefs in the Lord and his family values that he was raised to believe in. Herring also hasn’t forgotten where his roots are. He and former OHS Bulldog and teammate Sajason Finley wanted to give something back to the city of Opelika. Five years ago, the two decided to hold a youth football camp in the summer for young kids in Opelika. The camp is free, thanks to area businesses that sponsor the camp, and is held at Bulldog Stadium. Kids who sign up for the all-day event learn from Will, Sajason, and other OHS athletes about the game of football, life, and family values.