Inside The Panthers

Israel Abanikanda Breaks Highlight Run at Jets Camp

Former Pitt Panther Israel Abanikanda wasted little time showing off his elite speed.
Stephen Thompson|
Israel Abanikanda Breaks Highlight Run at Jets Camp
Israel Abanikanda Breaks Highlight Run at Jets Camp

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Pittsburgh PanthersNew York Jets

PITTSBURGH -- If there is one thing everyone knew about Israel Abanikanda when he was coming out of school after a decorated final year as a Pitt Panther, it was that he's fast. The only question was how that speed would translate to the NFL, where the athletes are bigger, better and faster themselves. 

But the former Pitt star wasted little time showing that speed is speed at any level of football. Abanikanda ripped off a long touchdown run during his first week of training camp with the New York Jets in a fully-padded, 11-on-11 drill.

The next few weeks will be crucial for Abanikanda if he hopes to earn playing time for the Jets this fall. With starter Breece Hall in the Physically Unable to Perform list, he's engaged in a three-way battle with Zonovan Knight and Michael Carter for extra snaps. 

Whoever impresses more will hold the upper hand heading into the fall and Abanikanda has put his best foot forward to start.  

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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