Just don’t ask him about “summer vacation.”

There hasn’t been much vacation for Herring in the last few months. In fact, he’s stayed fairly busy ever since April, when he was a fifth-round selection in the National Football League draft.

Almost immediately, Herring began a series of minicamps and “organized team activities” with the Seattle Seahawks, who drafted him. Those concluded in mid-June, but Herring is still working out, keeping busy and planning for training camp, which begins July 26.

He recently found enough time to sign a four-year contract.

According to Scout.com, Herring’s four-year contract will pay him league-minimum salaries all four years. The contract came with a six-figure signing bonus; the bonus is usually the only part of an NFL deal that is guaranteed. To see the rest of the contract, Herring will have to make the team in training camp.

He’s already made some believers in the Pacific Northwest. Defensive coordinator John Marshall is one.

“He almost comes through you on the phone,” Marshall told Seattle media when Herring was drafted. “He almost got upset when I asked him whether he was a hitter: ‘Yeah, I can hit, Coach. Haven’t you seen the film?’”

Herring is currently listed as the team’s third-string weakside linebacker, though Seattle coaches have said they also expect him to contribute on special teams.

The starting weakside linebacker, Julian Peterson, is a former All-Pro who signed a big free-agent contract with Seattle in 2006. The seven-year NFL veteran was the team’s fourth-leading tackler last year; as his backup’s backup, Herring might not see much time on defense.

That makes special teams very important. And Herring is ready for that.

On draft day, Marshall compared Herring to former Seattle linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski. A fourth-round pick, Kacyvenski began his career as a special teams ace before moving into the starting lineup. Now with the Oakland Raiders, Kacyvenski has played in 100 NFL games.

“I really hesitate on ever comparing people, but he has a plain approach to the game, his attitude and approach to the game of football is much like Isaiah Kacyvenski’s,” Marshall said. “I mean, (Herring) is going all of the time.”

Wherever he goes, Herring seems to impress defensive coordinators. Auburn coordinator Will Muschamp only coached Herring as a senior, when the three-year starter moved from safety to linebacker.

But Herring’s production, maturity and leadership in that one season made a huge impression on Muschamp.

“He’s what Auburn is about,” Muschamp said of Herring last season. “He’s a great person. He’s great in the classroom, great off the field.

“He’s a guy that, if your son ends up like him, you consider yourself a successful parent.”

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