New York Jets Draft Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda

The Pitt Panthers' leading rusher is officially off to the NFL.

PITTSBURGH -- Another Pitt Panther is off the board after the New York Jets drafted running back Israel Abanikanda with the 143rd overall pick in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. 

Abanikanda is the third Panther off the board after defensive lineman Calijah Kancey was picked 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He joins his Pitt teammate Carter Warren, who was drafted the round before him by the Jets, in New York. 

After taking a backseat to older players and more pass-heavy schemes for his first two seasons at Pitt, Abanikanda burst onto to the scene in 2022 and used his electrifying speed to fuel a 1,577-total yard, 21-total touchdown campaign that earned him First-Team All-American honors from CBS and ESPN. He also received more votes to the 2022 All-ACC First-Team than any other player, finished second in ACC Player of the Year voting and was a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award. 

He set a single-game rushing record that was held by Tony Dorsett for 47 years and a 112-year-old single-game touchdown record held by Normal Bill Budd when he rushed for 320 yards and six touchdowns against Virginia Tech. Abanikanda led the country in total touchdowns and was second nationally in all-purpose yards per game. His 11.6 points scored per game also lead college football. 

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