The son of former undisputed world cruiserweight and heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will attempt to forge a career in the NFL after being signed by the Carolina Panthers, the club confirmed Monday. (photo by 247Sports)
Elijah Holyfield, a running back with the University of Georgia last season, was one of four undrafted free agents signed by the franchise.
The 20-year-old rushed for 1,000 yards for the Bulldogs last season but his draft stock plummeted when he could only manage a relatively sluggish 4.78sec for the 40-yard dash at the NFL Draft Combine.
Most running backs typically aim for a time below 4.50sec for the combine benchmark sprint. A total of 25 running backs were chosen in the draft, which wrapped up this weekend.
Nevertheless Holyfield earned a reputation as a solid ball carrier at Georgia, and will now seek to nail down a permanent spot on the Panthers roster alongside Christian McCaffrey.
Speaking before the draft last week, Holyfield told suitors he would be the "hardest-working guy in the room" if picked.
"I think I can help change the culture and add some toughness to the team," he said.
"If you want a guy that can do everything at the running back position, I'm your guy."