Narduzzi: Abanikanda, Camp to Return for Pitt vs. Notre Dame

Pitt running back Israel Abanikanda and defensive tackle Keyshon Camp are expected to suit up this Saturday against Notre Dame, head coach Pat Narduzzi said on Thursday.

Abanikanda did not travel with Pitt to Miami for its Week 6 game against the Hurricanes for undisclosed reasons. 

Against the Hurricanes, Pitt leaned more heavily on redshirt junior running back Todd Sibley, Jr., who led the Panthers with 23 yards on four carries. Senior A.J. Davis, who has also been working his way back from an injury, had 21 yards on seven carries.

A true freshman from Brooklyn, New York, Abanikanda had at least one touch in four of Pitt’s first five games. On the season, he has 23 carries for 80 yards, two catches for 11 yards and two total touchdowns.

Camp has missed each of Pitt’s last three games and most of a fourth with an injury suffered in Pitt’s Week 2 win over Syracuse.

The redshirt senior has dealt with injury issues throughout his career. He has just three tackles and a hurry this season and has been replaced by a rotation of players, including Devin Danielson, Calijah Kancey, Tyler Bentley and David Green. Green suffered a lower-body injury against Boston College and did not travel to Miami. His status for this Saturday is unknown.

Because of the injuries to both Camp and Green, Pitt pressed redshirt freshman DeAndre Jules into the lineup at tackle and also played usual end Deslin Alexandre at tackle, as well, giving some playing time to true freshman Dayon Hayes at end.