Israel Abanikanda

Israel “Izzy” Adewale Abanikanda, better known as Izzy, was born on October 5, 2002, and is professionally recognized as the running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Born in the United States, this skilled athlete has carved an impressive path in his football career, exhibiting his remarkable playing potential right from his early years.

In the initial phase of his life, he attended Abraham Lincoln High School, located in Brooklyn, New York. Here, his football prowess started to gain traction when his statistics as a senior reached an impressive 1,350 yards with 20 touchdowns, earning him the distinction of Gatorade Football Player of the Year for New York. Displaying immense potential, Izzy was ranked a three-star recruit during his senior year at high school, attracting scholarship offers from seventeen schools. Of these, he committed to the University of Pittsburgh on June 24, 2019, thereby setting the stage for his impressive career in college football.

During his debut as a true freshman at Pittsburgh in 2020, Abanikanda performed commendably in seven matches, rushing 28 times for 95 yards and delivering a single touchdown. Indicating his consistent progress, in his sophomore year of 2021, he engaged actively in all 13 games, beginning on six occasions. He rushed for 651 yards on 123 carries, giving seven touchdowns in total. Adding diversity to his playing style, he also returned seven kicks for an overall of 206 yards, averaging 29.4 yards every attempt.

Izzy’s talent started to get broader recognition when he was named in the Paul Hornung Award Preseason Watchlist in July 2022. He maintained his stature in the university team as a starter throughout 2022. However, the first Backyard Brawl match between Pitt and West Virginia marked a point of struggle for Izzy, where he could rush only sixteen yards on eight carries. But following Rodney Hammond’s injury, Izzy’s responsibilities expanded and he readily stepped up to the challenge.

September 10, 2022, marked a turning point in his career, when he delivered a 76-yard touchdown against Tennessee, which was Pitt’s longest rushing touchdown since 2018. Despite Pitt’s loss in overtime, he finished with a commendable total of 154 rushing yards. This remarkable performance won him the title of ACC Running Back of the Week.

Against Western Michigan, he gained 133 yards on 31 carries, and his performance was recognized when he was named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll.

Another commendable performance followed on September 24, 2022, when he rushed nineteen times for a total of 177 yards against the Rhode Island Rams. After this game, he had amassed a total of 479 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 83 carries for the season and was ranked second in the country for all-purpose yards, averaging an impressive 180.24 yards. By the end of Week 4, Izzy was leading the ACC in both rushing yards and all-purpose yards.

However, on October 1, 2022, Izzy suffered a setback when a shoulder Injury during the second quarter took him out of the game. After recovering, he made his comeback at Pitt’s homecoming game on October 8, where Pitt beat Virginia Tech with a score of 45-29.

During this comeback, he made history by rushing for 320 yards and breaking the school’s record of 303 yards set by Tony Dorsett in 1975. In addition to this, he scored six rushing touchdowns in one game, equalling the Pitt and ACC records.

By the end of the 2022 season, he had amassed 1,431 yards and 20 touchdowns and received the second-most number of votes for ACC Player of the Year. Izzy continued to perform impressively and he was invited to the (NFL) Scouting Combine in January the next year. Showcasing his capabilities and score stats, he attracted attention from the NFL teams, earning a spot in the New York Jets, who selected him in the fifth round of their 2023 NFL draft.

His first NFL match was in Week 11 against the Bills. Even as a rookie, he had played in six games, racking up 22 carries and 70 rushing yards, marking a promising start to his professional football career.

In line with his performances, Izzy’s journey channeled from his high school days to his breakthrough accomplishments in professional football, establishing him as an emerging star in the field of sports. With an aspiring start to his NFL career, Izzy continues to demonstrate his potential on the field, promising a great deal more for the future.