Anonymous Heckler's Letter 'Doesn't Bother' 4-Star RB Elijah Holyfield
Many good football players are heckled on social media. Some even manage to get letters from anonymous haters.
When your name is Elijah Holyfield—and you're the son of the former world heavyweight boxing champion—dealing with hecklers and haters comes with the territory. But sometimes, the heckling toes the line way too close.
Wednesday afternoon, Holyfield tweeted a letter he received at Woodward Academy. The letter suggested that Spalding High School, Woodward's upcoming opponent in a Georgia AAAA second-round playoff game on Friday, will "KO Holyfield." The letter concluded by saying, "Take it to the bank."
"— Elijah Holyfield (@EH_taught_me) November 18, 2015"
To some, those are fighting words, no pun intended. To Holyfield, in his words, "it is what it is."
"It doesn't bother me too much," Holyfield told Bleacher Report. "I've had this treatment from people since I was young because of my name and that I'm good in football. I try to just use it as motivation. It's a part of it."
Perhaps the person who wrote the letter used it as an attempt on a play on words, as Holyfield's father is boxing legend Evander Holyfield. The 4-star Atlanta football prospect, the No. 5 running back in the 2016 class, didn't believe the letter was literal, but he did say he'll use it as additional enthusiasm and initiative for Friday's playoff.
Holyfield, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, and he also returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a score in a 48-7 first-round playoff win against North Oconee last week.
Worrying about anonymous letters is something Holyfield refuses to do. He'd rather put his focus on helping his team win a state championship—that, and worrying about his future. Holyfield committed to Georgia on Sept. 4 and is one of 17 commitments in the 2016 class.
Holyfield added that he's hoping commitment No. 18 will be a major Georgia target in 4-star Beaumont, Texas, standout Devwah Whaley, the nation's No. 4 running back. Whaley told Bleacher Report that he's down to Georgia, Arkansas and Texas in his recruiting race.
The idea of recreating a one-two punch alongside Whaley in the backfield similar to Nick Chubb and Sony Michel is something Holyfield said he is definitely welcoming.
"I would love it," Holyfield said of teaming up with Whaley. "I think we would have an early impact, and we could be special."
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles
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