Pitt’s Abanikanda Named Walter Camp Award Semifinalist
11/16/2022 1:15:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Pitt running back Israel Abanikanda, the nation's scoring leader with an average of 12 points per game, has been named a semifinalist for Walter Camp Football Foundation's Player of the Year award.
Abanikanda is one of 22 semifinalists for the honor, which is voted on by the 131 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors.
Five finalists for Walter Camp Player of the Year will be announced on Nov. 30. The winner will be announced on ESPN's live telecast of The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 8.
The Panthers boast three prior winners of the Walter Camp Award: running back Tony Dorsett (1976), defensive end Hugh Green (1980) and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (2003). Quarterback Kenny Pickett was a 2021 finalist.
Abanikanda (Brooklyn, N.Y./Abraham Lincoln) is producing at an All-America pace, ranking among the most productive running backs in the country. In nine games played this season (he missed the Nov. 5 Syracuse contest due to injury), he has rushed for 1,207 yards and 17 touchdowns on 207 carries (5.8 avg.).
Abanikanda currently leads the country in scoring per game (12.0) and total touchdowns (18). He ranks second nationally in all-purpose yards per game (172.44), rushing touchdowns (17) and total points (108).
He ranks sixth in rushing yards per game (134.1), while his 1,207 total rushing yards rank seventh.
Abanikanda made history in Pitt's 45-29 victory over Virginia Tech (Oct. 8), rushing for 320 yards and six touchdowns on 36 carries (8.9 avg.). His rushing yardage and rushing TDs are the most by an FBS player in a game this season.
He broke Dorsett's school single-game rushing record of 303 yards set against Notre Dame on Nov. 15, 1975. Abanikanda also tied the 112-year-old school record for rushing touchdowns in a game, set by Norman Budd against Ohio on Oct. 29, 1910.
Per ESPN Stats & Info, Abanikanda joined LaDainian Tomlinson and Ricky Williams as the only players from current Power 5 programs to rush for 300 yards and score six rush TDs in a game over the last 25 seasons.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Abanikanda is one of 22 semifinalists for the honor, which is voted on by the 131 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors.
Five finalists for Walter Camp Player of the Year will be announced on Nov. 30. The winner will be announced on ESPN's live telecast of The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 8.
The Panthers boast three prior winners of the Walter Camp Award: running back Tony Dorsett (1976), defensive end Hugh Green (1980) and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (2003). Quarterback Kenny Pickett was a 2021 finalist.
Abanikanda (Brooklyn, N.Y./Abraham Lincoln) is producing at an All-America pace, ranking among the most productive running backs in the country. In nine games played this season (he missed the Nov. 5 Syracuse contest due to injury), he has rushed for 1,207 yards and 17 touchdowns on 207 carries (5.8 avg.).
Abanikanda currently leads the country in scoring per game (12.0) and total touchdowns (18). He ranks second nationally in all-purpose yards per game (172.44), rushing touchdowns (17) and total points (108).
He ranks sixth in rushing yards per game (134.1), while his 1,207 total rushing yards rank seventh.
Abanikanda made history in Pitt's 45-29 victory over Virginia Tech (Oct. 8), rushing for 320 yards and six touchdowns on 36 carries (8.9 avg.). His rushing yardage and rushing TDs are the most by an FBS player in a game this season.
He broke Dorsett's school single-game rushing record of 303 yards set against Notre Dame on Nov. 15, 1975. Abanikanda also tied the 112-year-old school record for rushing touchdowns in a game, set by Norman Budd against Ohio on Oct. 29, 1910.
Per ESPN Stats & Info, Abanikanda joined LaDainian Tomlinson and Ricky Williams as the only players from current Power 5 programs to rush for 300 yards and score six rush TDs in a game over the last 25 seasons.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Players Mentioned
RB
/ FootballPitt Football | Postgame vs. West Virginia | 9.13.25
Sunday, September 14
Postgame vs. West Virginia | 9.13.25
Saturday, September 13
Pitt Football | WVU Hype | "Pressure" Narrated by Kyle Louis
Friday, September 12
Pitt Football | WVU Hype | "September"
Thursday, September 11