Israel “Izzy” Abanikanda (RB) – Pittsburgh / Junior
5’11” / 215.0 (Unofficial)
2022 Stats: Rushing – 11 games, 239 rushes, 1431 yards, 6 yards per carry, 20 touchdowns. Receiving – 12 receptions, 146 yards, 12.2 yards per reception, 1 touchdown
{Reference: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/israel-abanikanda-1.html}
Awards: 2022 #1 ACC Rush Attempts (239), Rush Yards (1431). Led the ACC and NCAA in 2022 in Rush TDs (20).
Measurables: (AVAILABLE POST COMBINE/PRO DAY)
Games Watched: 2022 Vs. Tennessee, 2022 Vs. West Virginia
PRO’S
Israel “Izzy” Abanikanda is excellent at seeing space, putting a foot in the turf and taking off downhill. Very good contact balance. Strong presence on inside runs, gets behind his shoulder pads, lowers his pad level and knows how to churn his legs to move the pile. Smooth/Strong jump-cuts. Long speed, gets up field in a hurry when given space and separates from defenders quickly. Izzy will be 20 for most of his rookie campaign and does not have a massive amount of wear and tear on his tires. Abanikanda runs hard and is not a ball carrier you want to meet head on in the open field.
CON’S
Izzy tends to struggle a bit with pass protection and may miss time early on due to his inability to regularly protect the quarterback and his inexperience as a receiver out of the backfield (12 receptions in 2022). More smooth or sharp than he is quick footed. Eagerness to get downfield at times forces some missed cut-back lanes.
OVERALL
Any time a running back is mentioned in the same breath as Tony Dorsett, it is worth recognizing. Izzy broke Dorsett’s Pittsburgh Panther single game rushing record (303 yards) when he went for 320 yards against Virginia Tech in week 6 of the 2022 season. After the 2022 season, Abanikanda finished 2nd in voting for the ACC Player of the Year. Unlike some backs who like to set-up the outside run by starting inside, Izzy likes to attack the edge and then cut back inside strongly once space appears and LBs over run the play. High School track star who shows off his straight line speed and acceleration whenever given a chance.
Completed by: @coachschepps, 03/02/23
Reviewed & edited: J. Clark, 03/02/23
