Inside The Panthers

Pitt's Marcus Minor, Israel Abanikanda Earn Weekly ACC Honors

A dominant rushing performance against Virginia Tech earned two Pitt Panthers ACC Player of the Week honors.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt's Marcus Minor, Israel Abanikanda Earn Weekly ACC Honors
Pitt's Marcus Minor, Israel Abanikanda Earn Weekly ACC Honors /
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PITTSBURGH -- Conference officials noticed when Israel Abanikanda made school and Power 5 history by running over Virginia Tech, leading the Pitt Panthers to their first ACC win. Abanikanda earned ACC running back of the week for the third time this season and guard Marcus Minor, who helped pave the way for those gaudy rushing totals, was named offensive lineman of the week. 

Abanikanda's credentials are well-known by now. He rushed for 320 yards - breaking a single-game record at Pitt previously held by Tony Dorsett - and six touchdowns, which tied a 122-year-old school record held by Norman Budd. 

Minor, the highest-graded Panthers lineman of the game, was a key part of Abanikanda's outstanding afternoon. His blocking sprung three explosive rushes and he was no slouch in the passing game as well, allowing zero sacks and quarterback pressures. 

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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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