Photo by Mickey Welsh-USA Today Sports

Height	Weight	Arm Length	Hand Size
5'10"	216 lbs.	32"	8 1/4"

40 Yard Dash	Bench Press	Vertical Jump	Broad Jump	3-Cone Drill	20 Yard Shuttle
4.35 Sec	N/A	41"	10'8"	N/A	N/A

​Games	Rush Attempts	Rush Yards	Avg. per carry	Rush Touchdowns	Receptions	Receiving yards	Receiving Touchdowns
30	390	2177	5.6	28	38	354	3

Pros

• Elite athlete that has shown an ability to scorch defenses routinely.

• One-cut back that can knife through defenses when he has daylight.

 

• 0-60 like a Tesla Model S.

 

• Can run up the middle as well as take a pitch and break-off home runs.

 

• Very few defenders, if any, can catch him once he breaks loose downfield.

 

• Slippery runner that can make defenders miss in tight spaces.

 

• Has more than enough power in frame to run though tacklers and break away.

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• Doesn't shy away from contact but more importantly doesn't seek it out, likely lengthening his longevity in the NFL.

 

• Attacks the line of scrimmage 100 MPH that can often result in home runs.

 

• Great spin move out trouble that has lead to plenty of big cutback runs.

 

• Low mileage and wear/tear for running back.

 

• Clearly best player on Pitt offense in 2022. 

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• Destroyed Virginia Tech defense for 320 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Cons

• Pass protection skills are very much a work in progress. 

• Struggles with staying in front blitzer.

 

• More straight-line speed than quickness.

 

• Attacks the rush lane too hard at times without allowing his blocks to develop.

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• Receiving skills are currently limited to just dump-off passes and the screen game with questionable potential beyond these phases.

• Questionable capabilities to take on contact and pick up tough yardage.

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• Not overly creative in the open for someone of his capabilities

Overview

Israel "Izzy" Abanikanda is the best one-cut homerun backs in the draft whose ability to take a sliver of daylight in the line and take it to the house made him one of the most dangerous running backs in college football in 2022. He's an elite athlete on tape and pro day performance backed up what scouts saw in him Pitt and if team is in need of change-of-pace back with potential to be a bell cow then Izzy should be high on your board. He hasn't quite developed into a reliable pass protector yet and still has a ways to go as a receiving threat but the traits to do so certainly very evident. A good running backs coach can turn this prospect into a deadly weapon and if allowed to play relatively sparingly, an offense will likely get the most out of him early and late in his career.