

COLLEGE PARK - Friday could be marked a knockout on the scorecard, as the Bulldogs added

a commitment from Rivals100 running back Elijah Holyfield of Woodward Academy.

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Evander Holyfield, became the seventeenth commit of the 2016 The four-star ball carrier, son of former five time heavyweight boxing champion of the world, became the seventeenth commit of the 2016 Georgia recruiting class, and the first commit at the running back position.

"Last night was one of the hardest nights in my life, having to tell coaches

you are not coming to their school," Holyfield said at a ceremony in the

gymnasium of his school.

After thanking his mother, father, grandmother, aunt, myriad coaches,

Holyfield turned to some of his friends.

"I want to thank my teammates," Holyfield said. "You guys put up with me

every day. You don't treat me any different than anybody else on the team and we

have unfinished business we are going to handle tonight."

He was referring to Woodward Academy's upcoming contest with St. Pius X. Then

Holyfield asked for some special helpers.

"Before I announce, I need two of my friends who are outside to help me

announce," Holyfield said.

Holyfield then proceeded to bring in two bulldog puppies, named Chubbs and

Girly, into the gymnasium. He walked them over to the table set up for the

announcement and donned a hat with a Georgia power G logo.

"I am committed to the University of Georgia," Holyfield said to rousing

cheers of his teammates and classmates.

"More than anything, it's that in-state pride," Holyfield recently said of the potential of playing for Georgia. "You play with the guys you kind of grew up with and that you know a little bit. I would definitely say that's the coolest part about Georgia."

Ranked the nation's No. 99 overall prospect and the No. 3 running back, the 5-foot-10, 195 pound back brings a hard hitting, downhill style paired with enough burst to break a long touchdown.

Credit is due to Georgia running backs coach Thomas Brown who rekindled the Bulldog relationship with Holyfield upon his return to Athens from Wisconsin.

"I enjoyed it," Holyfield said after his last visit to Georgia. "They are the type of coaches I could see myself playing for."