Inside The Panthers

Pitt Offers Top FCS RB Transfer Bhayshul Tuten

The Pitt Panthers are looking for their Israel Abanikanda replacement.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Offers Top FCS RB Transfer Bhayshul Tuten
Pitt Offers Top FCS RB Transfer Bhayshul Tuten /
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PITTSBURGH -- Star running back Israel Abanikanda has announced that he will skip the Sun Bowl and declare for the NFL Draft and senior tailback Vincent Davis is expected to move on as well, leaving the Pitt Panthers' tailback situation somewhat precarious at the moment. 

Pitt has two strong runners still in the room - Rodney Hammond and C'Borius Flemister - but have been looking for added depth in the transfer portal. The Panthers would be adding more than just depth if they were to land North Carolina A&T transfer Bhayshul Tuten, who picked up a Pitt offer this week. 

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Tuten is a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given to the most outstanding player in the FCS, after rushing for 1,705 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns on 239 touches as a sophomore, helping A&T to the brink of a Big South Championship. He broke multiple school and conference records for consecutive 100-yard rushing games in a season in the process. 

There is stiff competition to land Tuten - Kansas State, Missouri, Georgia, Virginia Tech and Boston College have already extended offers. He will play at a Power 5 school next season, it's just a matter of where. 

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and so much more!

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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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