"We run the ball at Pitt," Dave Wannstedt said upon being named head coach. I hope Pitt got its identity back today. We have its instantiation. He's Izzy Abanikanda.
Izzy today tied a school record with 6 rushing touchdowns, broke Tony Dorsett's school record for yardage in a game, 320, lugged the rock 36 times (he was "featured" today: all backs combined had 43 carries), and an 8.9 yard/carry average. Pause: I have to take back that Izzy had not been "featured" as I wrote in the previous post. He only had 8 carries against WVU, when I suspect he got hurt, and only 10 last week against Georgia Tech when he did get hurt. In the other four games he carried the ball 25, 31, 19, and today, 36 times. Unpause.
Abanikanda has speed--those were Division I, Power Five defensive backs he was outrunning like they were statues--he has quickness, he has pinball-ability, the ability to bounce off defenders, but a great running back is only as good as his O-line, right? Well...The line did do a marvelous job today opening holes and running lanes for Izzy, but what made me first notice him last season and now in this game was something I have never seen another back repeat: Izzy seemingly gets swallowed up at the line of scrimmage by the defense and then shoots up like a fishing bobber.
I don't know for sure why Narduzzi didn't use him in the WVU game and unless it is for injury I hope he never does it again. The kid is special.