Alexandre, Abanikanda Watch Listed for National Awards
7/28/2022 1:00:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Five weeks from the Backyard Brawl, two more Pitt football players were named as preseason candidates for major national awards on Thursday.
Senior defensive end Deslin Alexandre was placed on the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy annually given to the community service champion of college football, while junior running back Israel Abanikanda was recognized on the watch list of the Hornung Award for versatility.
Alexandre (Pompano Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) will play his sixth season with Pitt's program and has been active in the Pittsburgh area community since he stepped on campus in 2017.
A 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive linemen with 11 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss across 49 games in his impactful collegiate career, Alexandre's leadership as a team captain last season helped the Panthers win their first outright conference championship in program history.
For several years, Alexandre has regularly been among the leaders in community service hours volunteered by all Pitt student-athletes – not just football players. His outreach has included serving food at local homeless shelters, visiting hospitalized veterans, donating his per diem to local youth football teams and raising funds for those in need in his native Haiti.
A two-time All-ACC Academic Team selection and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee who recently represented the Panthers at ACC Kickoff Media Day in Charlotte, Alexandre's impact on the field, in the locker room, in the classroom and in the community is felt daily within Pitt's championship football program and throughout the university campus and city.
Abanikanda (Brooklyn, N.Y./Abraham Lincoln) lands on the Hornung Award watch list as a versatile weapon for the Panthers feared as a rusher, receiver and returner.
The New York City area product led the defending ACC champions in rushing yards (651) and rushing touchdowns (seven) last season and was also a threat in the passing game with 24 catches for 197 yards and another score. Furthermore, Abanikanda emerged as a kickoff return specialist, averaging 29.4 yards per attempt with a 98-yard kick return touchdown against Virginia that earned him ACC Specialist of the Week honors and helped Pitt clinch the Coastal over the Cavaliers.
Recently ranked by ACC Network analyst Eric MacLain as one of the top five running backs in the league heading into the 2022 season, Abanikanda's role could be crucial in a Pitt offensive attack that many expect to be more balanced under new coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr.
Here is a full list of Panthers who have been named to national award watch lists ahead of the 2022 college football season:
Calijah Kancey, JR*, DT, #8
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Top Defensive Player)
Outland Trophy (Best Interior Lineman)
Lott IMPACT Trophy (Most Impactful Defensive Player)
Israel Abanikanda, JR, RB, #2
Paul Hornung Award (Most Versatile Player)
Deslin Alexandre, SR+, DE, #5
Wuerffel Trophy (Community Service Champion)
Gavin Bartholomew, SO, TE, #86
John Mackey Award (Best Tight End)
Brandon Hill, JR*, DB, #9
Jim Thorpe Award (Best Defensive Back)
Carter Warren, SR+, OT, #77
Outland Trophy (Best Interior Lineman)
Pat Narduzzi, Head Coach
Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year
Alexandre, Abanikanda and the Panthers open the 2022 campaign with the highly anticipated renewal of the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia on Sept. 1 at Acrisure Stadium. ESPN's College GameDay will provide coverage from one of the marquee contests of the first full week of the college football season.
Pitt football season tickets, which start at just $180, are currently on sale at PittsburghPanthers.com. For pricing, seating maps, season ticket holder benefits and more, click here or call (800) 643-7488.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Senior defensive end Deslin Alexandre was placed on the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy annually given to the community service champion of college football, while junior running back Israel Abanikanda was recognized on the watch list of the Hornung Award for versatility.
Alexandre (Pompano Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) will play his sixth season with Pitt's program and has been active in the Pittsburgh area community since he stepped on campus in 2017.
A 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive linemen with 11 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss across 49 games in his impactful collegiate career, Alexandre's leadership as a team captain last season helped the Panthers win their first outright conference championship in program history.
For several years, Alexandre has regularly been among the leaders in community service hours volunteered by all Pitt student-athletes – not just football players. His outreach has included serving food at local homeless shelters, visiting hospitalized veterans, donating his per diem to local youth football teams and raising funds for those in need in his native Haiti.
A two-time All-ACC Academic Team selection and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee who recently represented the Panthers at ACC Kickoff Media Day in Charlotte, Alexandre's impact on the field, in the locker room, in the classroom and in the community is felt daily within Pitt's championship football program and throughout the university campus and city.
Abanikanda (Brooklyn, N.Y./Abraham Lincoln) lands on the Hornung Award watch list as a versatile weapon for the Panthers feared as a rusher, receiver and returner.
The New York City area product led the defending ACC champions in rushing yards (651) and rushing touchdowns (seven) last season and was also a threat in the passing game with 24 catches for 197 yards and another score. Furthermore, Abanikanda emerged as a kickoff return specialist, averaging 29.4 yards per attempt with a 98-yard kick return touchdown against Virginia that earned him ACC Specialist of the Week honors and helped Pitt clinch the Coastal over the Cavaliers.
Recently ranked by ACC Network analyst Eric MacLain as one of the top five running backs in the league heading into the 2022 season, Abanikanda's role could be crucial in a Pitt offensive attack that many expect to be more balanced under new coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr.
Here is a full list of Panthers who have been named to national award watch lists ahead of the 2022 college football season:
Calijah Kancey, JR*, DT, #8
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Top Defensive Player)
Outland Trophy (Best Interior Lineman)
Lott IMPACT Trophy (Most Impactful Defensive Player)
Israel Abanikanda, JR, RB, #2
Paul Hornung Award (Most Versatile Player)
Deslin Alexandre, SR+, DE, #5
Wuerffel Trophy (Community Service Champion)
Gavin Bartholomew, SO, TE, #86
John Mackey Award (Best Tight End)
Brandon Hill, JR*, DB, #9
Jim Thorpe Award (Best Defensive Back)
Carter Warren, SR+, OT, #77
Outland Trophy (Best Interior Lineman)
Pat Narduzzi, Head Coach
Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year
Alexandre, Abanikanda and the Panthers open the 2022 campaign with the highly anticipated renewal of the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia on Sept. 1 at Acrisure Stadium. ESPN's College GameDay will provide coverage from one of the marquee contests of the first full week of the college football season.
Pitt football season tickets, which start at just $180, are currently on sale at PittsburghPanthers.com. For pricing, seating maps, season ticket holder benefits and more, click here or call (800) 643-7488.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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