The fear of the unknown pushed running back Elijah Holyfield into the NFL draft instead of returning for his senior season at Georgia.
His slow 40-yard times make that decision look like a risky gamble in this week’s draft.
Holyfield was timed at 4.78 seconds in the 40 at the NFL combine. He needed to improve that time at Georgia’s pro day last month but instead was even slower at 4.81 seconds.
Holyfield hopes the traits he inherited from his father, former four-time boxing champion Evander Holyfield — toughness, great balance, off-the-charts work ethic — will overcome the big negative that now overshadows his draft outlook.
