UGA football: Re-ranking the Bulldogs’ 2016 recruiting class
. Running back. Bulldogs . Elijah Holyfield. 6. player. 814
2016 national ranking: No. 162
2016 UGA class ranking: No. 9
Years at UGA: 2016-2018
Current team: Carolina Panthers
It took a lot of waiting and patients to see Elijah Holyfield in the spotlight, but when the spotlight shined on him in 2018, Holyfield delivered. Holyfield waited behind veterans Nick Chubb and Sony Michel early in his career, he made the most of his opportunities in 2017, serving as the “closing” running back.
Holyfield shared the starting job with D’Andre Swift in 2018 and he surpassed 1,000 yards becoming the 14th Bulldog running back to do so. In his career, Holyfield averaged an impressive 6.2 yards per carry and he ended his UGA football career with nine touchdowns.
Bulldogs . Riley Ridley. 5. player. 814. . Wide receiver
2016 national ranking: No. 248
2016 UGA class ranking: No. 11
Years at UGA: 2016-2018
Current team: Chicago Bears (NFL)
Riley Ridley had a lot to live up to when he signed with UGA football. His older brother Calvin Ridley was a superstar wideout at Alabama and despite Riley not even being a top-200 player, he was going to be unfairly judged because of his last name.
Ridley made the most of the situation to have a solid career in Athens. His career began with a couple of OK seasons as a freshman and sophomore. The highlight of those years was catching the should-have-been game-winning touchdown against Tennessee and leading the Georgia passing game in the national title game. Ridley parlayed that performance into a fantastic, 559-yard season as a junior in which he caught nine touchdown passes.
814. . Quarterback. Bulldogs . Jacob Eason. 4. player
2016 national ranking: No. 5
2016 UGA class ranking: No. 1
Years at UGA: 2016-2017
Current team: Indianapolis Colts (NFL)
What could have been with Jacob Eason in Athens? The gunslinger from Washington had 2,430 passing yards his freshman season and showed signs of future stardom with his game-winning pass against Missouri and the should-be game-winner against Tennessee.
An injury in the 2017 season opener gave the starting job to Jake Fromm and the newcomer never relinquished the spot. Eason transferred back home to Washington and sat out the 2018 season. Eason won the starting job for the 2019 season and had a fantastic season for the Huskies, completing 64.2-percent of his 405 pass attempts for 3,132 yards and 23 touchdowns.