With Nick Chubb and Sony Michel no longer wreaking havoc in Georgia's backfield and with D'Andre Swift nursing a groin injury, junior running back Elijah Holyfield could be a star of Saturday afternoon's G-Day spring game inside Sanford Stadium.
The 5-foot-11, 213-pounder from the Atlanta suburb of College Park hasn't been ineffective to this point. He's just better known as the son of former heavyweight boxing champ Evander Holyfield and as a player who has thrived in mop-up duty.
"As I get the ball more, I think people will see what all I can do," Holyfield said this week in a news conference.
The Bulldogs held their 14th spring workout Thursday afternoon, which was their final practice before Saturday's G-Day contest. G-Day has a 4 p.m. start and will be televised by ESPN.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart told reporters after Thursday's practice that this year's team does not have an identity yet.
"I don't know what it's going to be right now," Smart said. "We didn't have an identity last year at this time. Nobody was singing our praises this time last year.
"We're certainly not where we want to be yet. We don't have enough guys executing at a high level."
In a Bulldogs backfield last season that included a pair of 1,000-yard rushers and the dazzling Swift, Holyfield made the most of his limited opportunities. He played in 13 of 15 games and rushed 50 times for 293 yards (5.9 per carry) and scored two touchdowns.
Holyfield rushed seven times for 51 yards in consecutive games against Tennessee and Vanderbilt, and his 39-yard touchdown run against Florida with 11:22 remaining put the Bulldogs up 42-0.
"That was great," he said. "Going in, I knew I might get some carries, but I wasn't sure. Breaking that one was really like a confidence-builder for me."
Holyfield has grown up with a recognized name but has tried to blaze his own path. He became a fan of football around age 6 or 7 and was never charged with a fumble throughout his entire varsity high school career.
As a Woodward Academy senior in 2015, Holyfield rushed 151 times for 1,069 yards (7.1) in earning four-star status from the major recruiting services.
"It's my last name, and I'm proud of my last name," he said. "There is not really a shadow. If there is, there is motivation to get out of it."
Though he boxed growing up, Holyfield admits he has no desire to go back to that sport.
"I've been out of it too long," he said, "and I wouldn't want to go back in there and get hit again. I don't want to get punched anymore."
Holyfield has gained respect from an effort standpoint, both on the field and in the weight room. He admits he is going after Chubb's weightlifting marks, adding that he can hang with his predecessor.
Smart sees improvement in Holyfield's pass protection.
"I think he's still gaining confidence as a player," Smart said. "He works really hard, and he's one of the guys who excites you because he works so hard."
When asked this week how much Chubb and Michel helped in his development, Holyfield said, "Way more than I thought. When they were here, you didn't really think about it."
Odds and ends
Smart said this year's G-Day game will feature more aggressiveness on special teams, including a punt rush. ... Swift's availability will be a game-time decision Saturday. ... Sophomore cornerback Mark Webb will miss G-Day with a torn meniscus, while senior strong safety Jarvis Wilson is questionable with a foot sprain. ... Walk-on sophomore quarterback Stetson Bennett will serve as backup to both Jake Fromm and Justin Fields.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.