CBS Honors Abanikanda, Kancey as First Team All-Americans
12/6/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Pitt football juniors Israel Abanikanda and Calijah Kancey were named to the 2022 CBS Sports/247Sports All-America Team as first-team selections on Tuesday.
Abanikanda garnered recognition as an all-purpose player, while Kancey was one of three defensive lineman named to CBS' first team this season.
Two of the nation's standout players in 2022, Abanikanda and Kancey are worthy candidates to be honored by multiple media outlets as All-Americans in the coming days.
Abanikanda leads the FBS in total touchdowns (21), rushing touchdowns (20) and scoring (11.6/game). He also ranks among the nation's leaders in rushing yards (1,431) and rushing yards per game (130.1). That combined with his all-purpose exploits landed him on CBS' first team. An elite kick returner and prominent pass catcher, Abanikanda ranks second nationally in all-purpose yards (164.1/game).
The 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year as well as a Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy finalist, Kancey's campaign continues to be recognized as one of the best in all of college football.
Despite facing constant double teams, Kancey finished with 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks while spearheading a Pitt defense that leads the country in sacks (3.75/game). The Panthers also rank seventh in run defense (95.5 yards/game) and 17th in total defense (319.7 yards/game).
Abanikanda (Brooklyn, N.Y./Abraham Lincoln) and Kancey (Miami, Fla./Miami Northwestern) amassed their impressive outputs despite each missing more than a game this season due to injury.
The Panthers (8-4, 5-3 ACC) will travel to El Paso, Texas to play in the historic Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on Friday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. EST against the No. 18 UCLA Bruins (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12).
CBS Sports will televise the contest nationally, with KDKA-TV airing the broadcast locally in Pittsburgh.
The Panthers enter the postseason as one of the hottest teams in all of college football.
Pitt outscored four conference opponents by a 126-58 margin during November and finished in second place in the ACC's Coastal Division in 2022, a year after winning an outright conference championship.
Following last season's 11-win campaign, the Panthers will be seeking a 20th victory in a two-season span for the first time in 40 years. Pitt last won 20 games over two years in 1981-82.
Fans can purchase tickets to the 2022 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl at this link.
Get more information by contacting the Pitt Athletics ticket office by calling 1-800-643-PITT (7488) or emailing tickets@athletics.pitt.edu.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Abanikanda garnered recognition as an all-purpose player, while Kancey was one of three defensive lineman named to CBS' first team this season.
Two of the nation's standout players in 2022, Abanikanda and Kancey are worthy candidates to be honored by multiple media outlets as All-Americans in the coming days.
Abanikanda leads the FBS in total touchdowns (21), rushing touchdowns (20) and scoring (11.6/game). He also ranks among the nation's leaders in rushing yards (1,431) and rushing yards per game (130.1). That combined with his all-purpose exploits landed him on CBS' first team. An elite kick returner and prominent pass catcher, Abanikanda ranks second nationally in all-purpose yards (164.1/game).
The 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year as well as a Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy finalist, Kancey's campaign continues to be recognized as one of the best in all of college football.
Despite facing constant double teams, Kancey finished with 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks while spearheading a Pitt defense that leads the country in sacks (3.75/game). The Panthers also rank seventh in run defense (95.5 yards/game) and 17th in total defense (319.7 yards/game).
Abanikanda (Brooklyn, N.Y./Abraham Lincoln) and Kancey (Miami, Fla./Miami Northwestern) amassed their impressive outputs despite each missing more than a game this season due to injury.
The Panthers (8-4, 5-3 ACC) will travel to El Paso, Texas to play in the historic Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on Friday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. EST against the No. 18 UCLA Bruins (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12).
CBS Sports will televise the contest nationally, with KDKA-TV airing the broadcast locally in Pittsburgh.
The Panthers enter the postseason as one of the hottest teams in all of college football.
Pitt outscored four conference opponents by a 126-58 margin during November and finished in second place in the ACC's Coastal Division in 2022, a year after winning an outright conference championship.
Following last season's 11-win campaign, the Panthers will be seeking a 20th victory in a two-season span for the first time in 40 years. Pitt last won 20 games over two years in 1981-82.
Fans can purchase tickets to the 2022 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl at this link.
Get more information by contacting the Pitt Athletics ticket office by calling 1-800-643-PITT (7488) or emailing tickets@athletics.pitt.edu.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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