Pittsburgh running back Israel Abanikanda breaks Tony Dorsett's single-game rushing yardage record

Pittsburgh running back Israel Abanikanda had a historic day against the Virginia Tech defense on Saturday and he broke the one of the most coveted records in Pitt Panther football history–Tony Dorsett’s single-game rushing yardage mark. He shredded the Hokie defense to the tune of 320 rushing yards on 36 carries (8.9 yards per carry) after it was all said and done. The talented tailback also punched in an ACC record six touchdowns. Norman Budd was the last man that scored six touchdowns for Pitt against the Ohio Bobcats in 1910.

Not only did he make ACC history today, but he also joined some rarified football company. The Pitt tailback joined LaDanian Tomlinson and Ricky Williams as the only players from current Power Five programs to rush for 300 yards and score six rushing touchdowns in the last 25 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

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Simply put, it was an incredible performance, and the Panthers rode his spectacular day to a 45-29 victory over the Hokies. To break one of Tony Dorsett’s records, it’s certainly one of the biggest accomplishments of Abanikanda’s career. Dorsett’s single-game rushing yardage mark was previously 303 yards, a mark he set against Notre Dame on November 15, 1975.

Abanikanda helped the Pitt Panthers (4-2, 1-1) rebound from a loss last week against Jeff Sims the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. In 2021, he led the Panthers in rushing yards (651) and rushing touchdowns (seven). The New York native was also the team’s top receiver out of the backfield, hauling in 24 catches for 197 receiving yards and a touchdown. There must be something about Virginia Tech that brings out the best in Abanikanda, as he rushed for a career-high 140 yards against them last year–the first 100-yard rushing game of his career.

A prolific running back coming out of Abraham Lincoln High School (Brooklyn, New York), Abanikanda was named the New York Gatorade Player of the Year after he led the Public Schools Athletic League in rushing and scoring as a senior–rushing for 1,350 yards and scoring 166 total points (25 touchdowns and eight two-point conversions). According to the On3 Consensus Rankings for the 2020 cycle, he was rated as a three-star prospect and the No. 47 running back prospect in America.