Georgia Bulldogs: What will be Elijah Holyfield’s role?

The Georgia Bulldogs are heading into the season not knowing if their top two running backs will be healthy to start. Nick Chubb is coming off a knee injury and Sony Michel injured himself less than a month ago. What are their plans going forward?

With less than 50 days until the start of the season, the Georgia Bulldogs are still unsure of what running backs will start against North Carolina. Although they have some depth, most of them are new. The Georgia Bulldogs have some young players that they will be counting on to start the season.

One of those newcomers is freshman running back Elijah Holyfield. If that last name looks familiar, you probably remember Evander Holyfield, the boxing champion. Well, Elijah is his son. Like his father, Elijah is a tough athlete. When it comes to running the football, Elijah is a special talent.

Downhill Runner

Holyfield played his high school ball at Woodward Academy, near Atlanta. He dominated the competition every week rushing for over 100 yards in most games. His downfield running is impressive and he can also catch the ball out of the backfield well.

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Last year at Woodward, Holyfield ran for 1,069 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also averaged about seven yards per carry. Those numbers show how he was one of the better running backs in the nation.

Production Level

From a production level, the Georgia Bulldogs will need Holyfield to have a great fall camp leading up to the season. They will also need him to get all of the reps he can with the first team in practice. With the uncertainty of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, Holyfield may be asked to contribute immediately.

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Holyfield also provides value by being able to catch the ball out of the backfield. This is one of the strengths of his game. The Georgia Bulldogs will also need him to learn how to block and protect the quarterback, especially if it is Jacob Eason. If everything comes together, Holyfield has all of the tools to have a great freshman year.

Final Thoughts

New running backs coach Dell McGee has inherited a stable of great backs. He can coach Holyfield and make him a better player. If Holyfield does get into game action this year, he will have a veteran offensive line with three of the five starters coming back from last year for the Georgia Bulldogs.

Next: Atlanta Braves: The Julio Teheran question

Holyfield has the chance to play an important role in the offense this year for the Georgia Bulldogs. If he can stay healthy, he can show why he was such a highly recruited player. What better way to start your career than under the Georgia Dome lights wearing the red and black.