Recruiting Update: A Brutal Hook

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Football Recruiting

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There’s something to be said about the concept of family pedigree in the world of sports. Oregon’s newest target on the recruiting trail has quite the strain of athleticism running through his roots, even if it’s not readily known on the gridiron. Running back Elijah Holyfield (4-Star/College Park, GA/Rivals250) may be the next in a long line of durable backs to find daylight at Oregon.

If his sir name sounds familiar, you’d be correct to instantly glue your eyes to the screen – check out the son of former heavyweight boxing champ Evander Holyfield. The younger Holyfield is not bashful about distancing himself from his proud father’s accomplishments in the ring, if not for good reason.

I know that what’s come to me is not for him, but for me,” said Elijah in a recent article featured in The Oregonian. “If people don’t want to believe it, that’s something they can think. When they watch me play, they can see it’s not his name that’s making me run fast or anything like that.”

A bruising 5’10, 195 lbs runner, Holyfield fits the mold of the Oregon Blur and would continue Mark Helrich’s reliance on power backs who aren’t afraid of the open field after contact. While only a junior, Holyfield intends to take a trip to Eugene in the near future and will likely escalate communication with running backs head man Gary Campbell this winter; stay tuned!

Across the ball, defensive coordinator Don Pellum appears to have plucked his latest diamond-in-the-rough in trench behemoth Tahji Williams (NR/Hayward, CA). A relative unknown, Williams recently clarified his recruiting rapport with the Ducks.

(Oregon is) on top of my list as of right now,” said Williams. “My high school coach said Oregon requested game film of my first few games and will be checking on my grades. If everything checks out they said I’ll be getting a scholarship offer.”

Listed at 6’5, 295 lbs, Williams is already an NFL-grade body that could mature immensely after running the gauntlet of Oregon’s strength and conditioning regimen [cue Coach Rad]. If all extraneous circumstances pan out, Williams is a lock to quack before the fall is out.

For up-to-the-minute recruiting news, please visit our friends at Duck Territory, who graciously provide FishDuck.com with in-depth analysis and player-generated material. Look for my latest recruiting update every Wednesday. WTD!!!

Top photo by Kevin Cline

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