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Israel Abanikanda

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Israel Abanikanda
Personal information
Born: (2002-10-05) October 5, 2002 (age 22)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:216 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:Abraham Lincoln (Brooklyn, New York)
College:Pittsburgh (2020–2022)
Position:Running back
NFL draft:2023 / round: 5 / pick: 143
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 4, 2024
Rushing yards:70
Rushing average:3.2
Receptions:7
Receiving yards:43
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Israel "Izzy" Adewale Abanikanda (born October 5, 2002) is an American professional football running back. He played college football at Pittsburgh. Abanikanda set the Pitt single game rushing record of 320 yards in a game against Virginia Tech in Week 6 of 2022, breaking the record of 303 yards set by Tony Dorsett in 1975. In the same game, he tied a school and ACC record of 6 rushing touchdowns in a game.[1]

Early life

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Abanikanda attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, New York. As a senior, he was the Gatorade Football Player of the Year for New York after rushing for 1,350 yards with 20 touchdowns.[2] As he entered his senior season of high school, Abanikanda was ranked a three star recruit and received scholarship offers from seventeen schools.[3] On June 24, 2019, Abanikanda committed to the University of Pittsburgh to play college football.[3][4]

College career

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As a true freshman at Pittsburgh in 2020, Abanikanda played in seven games, rushing 28 times for 95 yards and one touchdown.[5] As a sophomore in 2021, he played in all 13 games with six starts and rushed for 651 yards on 123 carries with seven touchdowns.[6][7] Abanikanda also returned seven kicks for 206 yards, averaging 29.4 yards per attempt.[8]

In July 2022, Abanikanda was named to the Paul Hornung Award Preseason Watchlist.[8] Abanikanda returned to Pittsburgh as a starter in 2022.[9] In Week 1 of the 2022 season, at the first Backyard Brawl between Pitt and West Virginia since 2011, Abanikanda rushed only sixteen yards on eight carries.[10] Following Rodney Hammond's injury at the game, Abanikanda stepped into a larger role.[9][10] On September 10, 2022, against Tennessee, Abanikanda rushed a 76-yard touchdown, Pitt's longest rushing touchdown since 2018.[9][11] Abanikanda finished the game with a total of 154 rushing yards despite Pitt losing in overtime, 34–27.[9][12] Abanikanda was named ACC Running Back of the Week for his performance in the game.[11] Against Western Michigan, Abanikanda gained 133 yards on 31 carries and was named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll.[9][13]

On September 24, 2022, Abanikanda rushed nineteen times for a total of 177 yards against the Rhode Island Rams.[12] Following the game, Abanikanda had earned a total of 479 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 83 carries for the season and was ranked second in the nation for all-purpose yards with an average of 180.24 yards.[12] At the end of Week 4, Abanikanda also led the ACC in both rushing yards and all-purpose yards.[12] For his performance against Rhode Island, he was named ACC Running Back of the Week for the second time of the 2022 season.[12]

On October 1, 2022, Abanikanda suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter and had to watch the remainder of the game from the sideline with his shoulder in a sling.[1] Abanikanda recovered in time for the next game, and at Pitt's homecoming game on October 8, 2022, Pitt beat Virginia Tech with a score of 45–29.[1] During the game, Abanikanda rushed for 320 yards, breaking the school record of 303 yards set by Tony Dorsett in 1975.[1] In the same game, Abanikanda garnered six rushing touchdowns, tying the ACC conference single-game record set in 1981 and the Pitt single-game record set in 1910.[1] Abanikanda received five honors for his performance in the game, including Doak Walker Running Back of the Week, Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week, Pro Football Focus National Offensive Player of the Week, ESPN College Football Final "Helmet Sticker", and his third ACC Running Back of the Week in the 2022 season.[14]

Abanikanda finished the 2022 season with 1,431 yards and 20 touchdowns.[15] He received the second most votes for ACC Player of the Year.[15]

In January 2023, Abanikanda was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.[15]

Statistics

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Season Games Rushing Receiving Kick Returns
GP GS Att Yards Avg TD Rec Yards Avg TD Ret Yards Avg TD
Pittsburgh Panthers
2020 7 0 28 95 3.4 1 2 11 5.5 1 0 0 0.0 0
2021 13 6 123 651 5.3 7 24 197 8.2 1 7 206 29.4 1
2022 11 11 239 1,431 6.0 20 12 146 12.2 1 12 228 19.0 0
Career 26 12 280 1,576 5.6 28 30 267 8.9 3 19 434 22.8 1

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
5 ft 10+1⁄8 in
(1.78 m) 		216 lb
(98 kg) 		32 in
(0.81 m) 		8+1⁄4 in
(0.21 m)		 4.45 s 1.50 s 2.53 s 4.32 s 7.14 s 41.0 in
(1.04 m)		 10 ft 8 in
(3.25 m)
Sources:[16][17]

Abanikanda was drafted by the New York Jets in the fifth round (143rd overall) of the 2023 NFL draft.[18] He made his NFL debut in Week 11 against the Bills. As a rookie, he appeared in six games and had 22 carries for 70 rushing yards.[19]

On December 2, 2024, Abanikanda was waived by the Jets.[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Adelson, Andrea (October 9, 2022). "Abanikanda's 320 yards breaks Pitt rushing mark". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  2. ^ "Israel Abanikanda 2019 – 2020 NEW YORK FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR". Gatorade.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Dipaola, Jerry (June 24, 2019). "Pitt lands Brooklyn, N.Y., running back Israel Abanikanda". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  4. ^ McGonigal, John (December 19, 2019). "'Born fast': 2020 early enrollee Israel Abanikanda eyes instant impact at Pitt". Post-Gazette.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Dipaola, Jerry (August 10, 2021). "Pitt running back Izzy Abanikanda finally 'buying in'". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  6. ^ Carter, Christopher (August 23, 2022). "Israel Abanikanda is set for a big year, but Pitt's running backs will be a committee". Post-Gazette.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  7. ^ McGonigal, John (August 10, 2021). "'He's going to be a problem': Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda eyeing breakout season". Post-Gazette.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Ludwig, Karl (July 28, 2022). "Israel Abanikanda Named to 2022 Hornung Award Preseason Watchlist". Pittsburgh Sports Now. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d e Hathhorn, Jeff (September 21, 2022). "Abanikanda establishing self, while another looks for more chances". Audacy.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Guerriero, Justin (September 10, 2022). "Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda's heroics go for naught in overtime loss to Tennessee". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Ludwig, Karl (September 12, 2022). "Israel Abanikanda Named ACC Running Back of the Week". Pittsburgh Sports Now. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d e Obrien, Ed (September 26, 2022). "Pitt running back Israel Abanikanda earns his second ACC running back of the Week honor". 247sports.com. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  13. ^ Lentz, Zach (September 20, 2022). "Shipley Named to Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  14. ^ Thompson, Stephen (October 11, 2022). "Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda Named Doak Walker Player of the Week". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  15. ^ a b c Thompson, Stephen (January 27, 2023). "Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda Invited to NFL Combine". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  16. ^ "Israel Abanikanda Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  17. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Israel Abanikanda College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  18. ^ Allen, Eric (April 29, 2023). "Jets Select RB Israel Abanikanda in Round 5". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  19. ^ "Israel Abanikanda 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  20. ^ Pullano, John. "Jets Sign RB Kene Nwangwu to the Active Roster". newyorkjets.com. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
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