2023 NFL Draft: Israel Abanikanda Shines at Pitt Pro Day
Pittsburgh Running Back Israel Abanikanda shined at his Pro Day on Wednesday, running an unofficial 40-yard dash time below 4.40 and posting a vertical jump of 41".
The 20-year-old running back set a single-game program rushing record when he rushed for 320 yards against Virginia Tech, eclipsing Tony Dorsett's 303-yard performance that had served as the Panther standard for 47 years.
Measuring in at 5'11" and 216 lbs, Abanikanda provides a mix of size and speed that could be intriguing for teams picking in the middle to later rounds of the draft.
Abanikanda seems to be getting the most attention from teams out West, as the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Arizona Cardinals all reportedly met with Abanikanda the night before his Pro Day.
Abanikanda could be an interesting option for all three teams, serving as a potential plug-and-play backup to Christian McCaffrey in Kyle Shanahan's zone running scheme in San Francisco, as well as a potential change of pace option in Arizona to help supplement James Conner's powerful running style.
Perhaps the most intriguing of the three teams is Los Angeles, as Cam Akers, Kyren Williams, and Ronnie Rivers are the three running backs currently on the Rams' roster. Williams failed to take hold as a rookie. While Akers is currently in line to start with a reported improved relationship with the organization, he is only six months removed from a mid-season trade request.
Abanikanda could be a high upside option for Los Angeles in the middle rounds, with the potential to see his workload increase as the seasons wears on.
Regardless of where he winds up, Abanikanda is drawing increased interest from teams, and his Pro Day performance should only serve to help his draft stock.
