Inside The Panthers

Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda Named Semifinalist for Doak Walker Award

The Pitt Panthers' star tailback is up for one of America's most prestigious award.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda Named Semifinalist for Doak Walker Award
Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda Named Semifinalist for Doak Walker Award /
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PITTSBURGH -- More prestigious accolades continue to roll in for the Pitt Panthers' star tailback, Israel Abanikanda, college football's leader in scoring average. Abanikanda has been named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker National Collegiate Running Back Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced. 

Pitt's leading rusher, Abanikanda is now a semifinalist for three national awards - the Maxwell and Walter Camp player of the year awards in addition to the Doak Walker award. 

Abanikanda has been one of the most productive running backs in college football this season, averaging 145.8 yards from scrimmage and 1.9 total touchdowns per game. He leads the ACC in rushing yards and the NCAA in total touchdowns scored. Abanikanda also ranks second nationally in total points scored and is the first Pitt player to be named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award since James Conner in 2014. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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