PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Much like with Pitt offensive tackle and New Jersey native Carter Warren, Brooklyn native Israel Abanikanda is going home. The star Pitt tailback selected by the Jets in the fifth round.
Abanikanda native named Third-Team All-American, First Team All-ACC and a semifinalist for the Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards. The 5’11”, 215 pound running back finished with 2,177 career yards and 28 touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. He also broke Tony Dorsett’s single-game rushing record with 320 yards and six touchdowns in a game last season against Virginia Tech.
The 20-year-old also caught 38 passes for 354 yards and three more touchdowns. He seemingly helped himself at the Pitt Pro Day with a 41-inch vertical jump and ran a 40-yard dash that was clocked anywhere from 4.29 to 4.4 depending on who’s watch you believe (NFL scouts do not release the official number).
“Throughout the three years I grew a lot,” Abanikanda said after the Pitt Pro Day last month. “Learned a lot of pass protection, who to pick up on assignments, how to block. I didn’t learn that in high school, I was getting the ball.”
“Now, I’m a complete back. I can do anything. I can do special teams. I’m a complete man and a complete back.”
Qadree Ollison was the last Pitt tailback drafted, also a New York native, going to the Falcons in 2019.