Inside The Panthers

Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda Snubbed from Doak Walker Finalists

Despite an outstanding season, Pitt Panthers star Israel Abanikanda was left off the list of Doak Walker Award finalists.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda Snubbed from Doak Walker Finalists
Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda Snubbed from Doak Walker Finalists /
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PITTSBURGH -- Despite missing a game and a half with injury, he's the nation's sixth most prolific rusher, the leader in rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns. Still, the Pitt Panthers' star tailback is not a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, given to the best running back in college football. 

Israel Abanikanda was outstanding season was good enough to earn him first-team All-ACC honors, but not a shot at the most prestigious distinction a college running back can earn. Little more than a week ago, he was named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, but has fallen short of the ultimate goal. 

Illinois Chase Brown, Michigan's Blake Corum and Texas' Bijan Robinson all made the cut ahead of Abanikanda. All of them out-rushed Abanikanda in terms of total output, but he took 18 carries fewer than Corum, 21 fewer than Robinson and 89 fewer than Brown. Robinson was the only one to rush for more yards per attempt than Abanikanda and he scored more touchdowns than all of three. 

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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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