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Israel Abanikanda Named ACC RB of the Week for the Second Time in 2022

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Pitt running back Israel Abanikanda earned ACC Running Back of the Week Honors for his performance against Rhode Island in Week 4.

In the 45-24 win over the Rams, he rushed 19 times for 177 yards and four touchdowns. This included a 67-yard rushing touchdown, his second longest of the season.

With his great showing against URI, he became the first Pitt running back to run for 100 yards or more in three consecutive games since Darrin Hall since 2017. He also became the first running back to get four rushing touchdowns since Hall, who did it against North Carolina in 2017.

This is the second time Abanikanda got ACC Running Back of the Week honors. His performance against Tennessee in Week 2 saw him run 25 times for 154 yards and a 76-yard rushing touchdown.

Currently, Abanikanda sits on top of the ACC and is sixth in the country with 479 rushing yards in his first four games.

It is even more impressive, considering he only rushed eight times for 15 yards in the season opener against West Virginia. Filling in for the injured sophomore running back Rodney Hammond Jr. Over these past three games, he is averaging around 155 yards per game on six yards per carry.

This is also the third consecutive week that a Pitt player earned ACC honors. Redshirt first-year quarterback Nate Yarnell filled in for both injured quarterbacks in starter, senior Kedon Slovis, and backup, redshirt senior Nick Patti, and led Pitt to a win over Western Michigan on the road. He earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors for his performance.

 

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
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