Israel Abanikanda was already very well-known in the ACC entering the Virginia Tech game this weekend, and after his performance against VT, he’s been noticed on the national scale.
Abanikanda put Pitt on his back with a 320-yard, six-touchdown performance against Virginia Tech Saturday, and he’s been named the Walter Camp FBS National Player of the Week for his efforts.
Abanikanda’s 320 yards on the ground broke Tony Dorsett’s school record for rushing yards in a game, set way back in 1975. And his six touchdowns tied Norman Budd’s school record for rushing touchdowns in a game, set way, way, way back in 1910. It was a performance that set the standard for how a Pitt running back plays the position.
With 830 yards and 12 touchdowns on 129 carries (6.4 yards per carry), Abanikanda is second in college football in rushing yards, first in all-purpose yards, first in rushing touchdowns and first in total touchdowns.
The performance against Virginia Tech was Abanikanda’s fourth 100-yard game and second four-plus touchdown outing of the season.
Pitt has a bye week this week before traveling to Louisville in two weeks to kick off the second half of the season — which is six straight ACC matchups.
