University of Delaware Athletics
Tyron Herring: Successfully Tackling His Opportunities
3/7/2024 10:30:00 AM | Football
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware football defensive back Tyron Herring became known throughout the CAA as a shutdown corner as he earned all-conference honors in his first year with the Blue Hens in 2023. The graduate transfer from Dartmouth College certainly has made himself known for his impressive abilities on the field, but UD fans will likely be hearing his name a long time after he stops wearing the Blue & Gold. Whenever his days in football pads are over, Herring will trade his cleats and helmet to serve his community.
The Delray Beach, Florida native has always wanted a career that maximizes his ability to help people. While he considered taking the medicine route to become a doctor as a child, it was when a church friend took him to a school board meeting in middle school that sparked an interest for Herring. He began looking at career options either in the government or as a lawyer. However, during his senior year at Deerfield Beach High School, he took an AP Government class that cleared everything up for him.
“I realized that the government was interested in the entire wellbeing of an individual,” Herring said. “It’s interested in their economics, their jobs, their health, their education and every facet of their lives. That really interested me and helped pique my interest not just in this industry but several industries. Even just having this idea of wanting to serve always appealed to me as well.”
After earning All-Ivy League honors as a senior in 2022, Herring graduated from Dartmouth College last spring with a degree in government. Thanks to a redshirted freshman season and a missed year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he still had two years of eligibility left on the football field. He knew that he could use those two years of playing time to extend his education toward learning about careers in public service.
“Delaware was interested in me very early on, so it was definitely a football move, but also the MPA program that I am a part of now was another big decision that went into it. My mom was always telling me ‘use your athletic gift to pursue your education,’ and they had opportunities, so I wanted to make sure I got into a good master’s program and when looking at the schools that were recruiting me. The Biden School helps me get a lot of opportunities to learn public service.”
Herring enrolled in the UD’s Joseph R. Biden School of Public Policy and Administration and is currently in a two-year program pursuing a master’s degree in public administration. If attending one of the nation’s best public affairs schools, ranking 28th of 269 institutions, wasn’t compelling enough, Herring received another undeniable sign before making his decision to come to Delaware.
While still in the transfer portal and contemplating where he would next play football, Herring was working out at Dartmouth and noticed someone walking around the track surrounding the football field. Herring went up to introduce himself, and it turned out to be Delaware governor John Carney, a Dartmouth football alum who played with Herring’s head coach, Buddy Teevans. After Herring moved down to Newark for summer workouts, he and Carney reconnected via email.
“It was kind of crazy. I just happened to meet him and my coach just wanted to connect us. Then, I just happened to be going to Delaware. I take that as a sign from God honestly, in a funny way,” said Herring.
His relationship with Carney and his spot in the Biden School helped Herring secure an important internship this semester. Three times per week, he commutes to Dover, where he serves as a Legislative Fellow at the state capital. There, he can observe and participate in government functions that apply what he has learned at Dartmouth and Delaware.
“The MPA program and legislative fellows play a big part in demystifying the political law-making process. Dartmouth provided that foundation and that interest through the amount of papers and classes and professors. I took an American inequality class and it was one of my favorite classes, and I can now support that with the practicality that the MPA provides with experience.”
“A lot of Dartmouth classes were federally and internationally focused but at Delaware it’s very state-focused. I work on two committees and do research for the committees and staff the committees, so I’m in it.”
Everything came full circle for Herring at the beginning of February and he and a few teammates, including Dover, Delaware residents Elijah Sessoms and Bradly Anyanwu, visited the capital and sat in on a state budget meeting. They addressed the Joint Finance Committee as representatives of the University and the football program.
“I spoke on the opportunities I had been offered since coming to Delaware. A lot of that had to do with being a legislative fellow, that opportunity is not presented everywhere to work as an intern in state government the way that we do, so I talked about having that opportunity and also the MPA program.”
Herring certainly has recognized and made the most of every opportunity he has been given both on and off the football field. While he has the skill and talent to pursue a career in professional football, he knows a career of public service awaits in his future.
Yesterday, we went to our state capital to thank the legislators for their continued support of the university ?? pic.twitter.com/7iTJ0thquy
— Delaware Football (@Delaware_FB) February 2, 2024
“I definitely want to see how far football can go first and foremost. I’m not about knocking down opportunities; I take advantage of opportunities. If that opportunity presents itself to go pro, I want to take that route. If that’s not the path for me, I still want to go to law school. Eventually, my ultimate goal is to run for office one day and serve publicly, whether that be state, federal or local levels. Once again, whatever opportunities open up and present themselves I will make the most of it.”
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