Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Former NYC PSAL standout Izzy Abanikanda Signs Rookie Deal with Hometown Team
Brooklyn product Israel Abanikanda officially has himself a professional football contract.
The former New York City PSAL star, who was selected by the New York Jets at No. Overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, signed a rookie deal with his hometown team. The organization announced the transaction on Friday as rookie minicamp got underway.
Before enrolling at Pittsburgh, Abanikanda established himself as a standout football player and sprinter for the famed Lincoln High School. The 5-foot-10 running back was the 2019 New York State Gatorade Player of the Year on the gridiron and a Mayor’s Cup 100-meter dash champion on the track.
Now, he’s back in the New York metropolitan area as an NFL player.
"It’s actually a dream come true; a dream come true," said Abanikanda. "I always wanted to stay home, stay close to family. Just for that happening, it’s an unreal experience."
While out in the Steel City, Abanikanda led the nation in touchdowns (21) during the 2022 NCAA FBS season. Gaining 1,431 yards on the ground, the Bedford-Stuyvesant native won the Atlantic Coast Conference rushing title despite missing 1.5 games due to injury.
Abanikanda, who hit the 100-yard rushing mark in nine of 11 appearances last fall, broke Tony Dorsett’s single-game Pitt rushing record against Virginia Tech. He carried 36 times for an eye-popping 320 yards and six scores in a 45-29 win over the Hokies.
“Izzy is a home run threat with size, speed, and production,” said Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas.
The Brooklyn kid joins a running backs’ room that features draft picks from the past two years. The Jets selected Breece Hall in 2022 and Michael Carter in 2021. Zonovan Knight, a 2022 UDFA, is also in the mix. Gang Green also added rookie Travis Dye, who went undrafted out of Southern California.
With quarterback Zach Wilson having dibs on No. 2 (his number at Pitt), Abanikanda will wear No. 25 with the Jets.
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