Israel Abanikanda, RB, NYJ (1 Viewer)

[massraider]

Highlights

5'10, 215. High School sprinter. Led FBS in TD's of 10+ yards.

He's all leg. Looks high-waisted, like he's 6'1. That's usually not the shiftiest of guys, but he's big, and has track speed.

I am much more excited if he goes to a Zone team. One cut--go. MIke Sanahan would have put this kid in the Pro Bowl.

His Pro Day is coming up, if he nails the workouts, people will bump him up last minute.

 

[Faust]

Israel Abanikanda NFL Draft Scouting Report

Dorsett, McCoy, Conner: Israel Abanikanda Is Pitt’s Next NFL Running Back

Israel Abanikanda Draft and Combine Prospect Profile (NFL.com)

 

[Faust]

PFF College @PFF_College
Pittsburgh RB Israel Abanikanda has declared for the 2023 NFL Draft

He led the FBS w/ 13 RUSH TDs of 10+ yards

https://twitter.com/pff_college/status/1604884154705121280?s=21

 

[LawFitz]

No clue about passing game (only saw a couple screen in the OP highlight), but as a runner, this dude reminds me of Kamara - similar stature, burst, smooth cuts and then what really dials in the comp for me is their shared elite contact balance through traffic. Even tho both backs are only ~215, they are very difficult to tackle - arms alone don't do squat. Look out, Sean Payton, if Izzy can also pass block and catch like AK41.

 

[menobrown]

41" vertical at his pro day and all kinds of reported 40 times with some saying between 4.26-4.32 and others saying 4.41. All fast for sure.

 

[ericttspikes]

I like him more than most RBs going 3-10 in mocks. All will depend on where he goes.

 

[JohnnyU]

I need to learn more.

 

[eighsse2]

I need to learn more.

The first step is admitting that you have a problem.

(ETA: Please recognize that this is a joke.)

 

[JohnnyU]

I need to learn more.

The first step is admitting that you have a problem.

(ETA: Please recognize that this is a joke.)

I did for sure. Some good humor being thrown around today. Someone needs to come up with a 7 step program.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Some good humor being thrown around

My favorite: https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.42fc8b1ea5e5dbe195b2767d206010fe?rik=G8EUGWUV5hOlJg&pid=ImgRaw&r=0

 

[Faust]

Pittsburgh RB Israel Abanikanda lights it up at the Panthers’ pro day

What Are Israel Abanikanda’s 4 Best NFL Team Fits?

Rams met with Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda before outstanding pro day performance

 

[ZWK]

Fusue has his pro day 40 at 4.50.

 

[menobrown]

Fusue has his pro day 40 at 4.50.

Thanks for info, can you tell me again how does Fusue arrive at his times? Is he doing handheld based on video?

 

[Unwrittenlaw]

I really hope he goes in the 1st 3 rds in the NFL draft like James Conner did and not like Dion Lewis/Mike Davis. Makes a whole lot of difference in terms of career trajectory.

 

[IHEARTFF]

I like him. Worried he's moving up boards.

 

[ZWK]

Fusue has his pro day 40 at 4.50.

Thanks for info, can you tell me again how does Fusue arrive at his times? Is he doing handheld based on video?

Frame counting the video.

 

[jtd13]

Fusue has his pro day 40 at 4.50.

Thanks for info, can you tell me again how does Fusue arrive at his times? Is he doing handheld based on video?

Frame counting with a time stamp, from my understanding.
I believe his times over pro day times in general, but long for the day when we just have more sortable gps data of their speed and quickness in games so we can stop following the 40 so much.

 

[jtd13]

As far as I understand, you can't really fake the jumps, and those measurements can be taken at face value.
217 with a 41" vert and 4.5 even speed is plenty good.

 

[rockaction]

Fusue has been way over reported times this year.

 

[ZWK]

In 2021 (when there were only pro days) Fusue was about .02 slower than Draftscout on average.

I only know of 3 pro days have both a Fusue time and a Draftscout time so far this year, and the numbers are roughly in line with that.

-.04 Tyjae Spears: Fusue 4.50, Draftscout 4.54
+.05 Tank Bigsby: Fusue 4.50, Draftscout 4.45
+.03 Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Fusue 4.55, Draftscout 4.52

We'll probably have to wait a few days for Draftscout to have numbers for today's pro days
Israel Abanikanda: Fusue 4.50, Draftscout ???
Zach Evans: Fusue 4.58, Draftscout ???

Initial reports on Twitter, NBC Edge, PFF, etc. are generally faster than Draftscout times, occasionally much faster.

 

[ZWK]

Jumps were great, and Abanikanda's overall size+athleticism numbers are very good or better (depending on what 40 time you give him). My RB formula puts a lot of weight on that and has him as a top 2 RB in this class even at 4.50. That's probably going overboard but there's still a lot to like there; I had him at RB8 before his pro day and might move him up a bit once the info settles.

Part of my pre-combine take:

Pre-combine, my RB formula has this ranking:


Bijan Robinson

Israel Abanikanda, DeWayne McBride, Kendre Miller, Zach Charbonnet, Devon Achane

[...]

I like what I see from Kendre Miller & Zach Charbonnet more than Israel Abanikanda. Abanikanda has a great size-speed combo - he's one of the top contenders for best speed score in this class - but he mainly just wins with speed. My formula loves that, along with his rushing production. But Miller & Charbonnet have more complete skillsets, with better power, balance, and shiftiness.

 

[Boston]

Nightmare scenario if you like this kid:

49ers meet with Pittsburgh RB Israel Abanikanda prior to excellent Pro Day

The 49ers sure seem interested in one of the fastest running backs in the class.

www.ninersnation.com

 

[Jakey]

This guy was fun fun fun to watch. Missed a couple games and came out of a couple games last season though.

 

[rockaction]

I had this guy ranked really highly and his pro day is going to move him out of my mid-second-round range. Scouts didn't love him so much because of his contact balance and other things, but he looks shot out of a cannon.

 

[massraider]

Nightmare scenario if you like this kid:

49ers meet with Pittsburgh RB Israel Abanikanda prior to excellent Pro Day

The 49ers sure seem interested in one of the fastest running backs in the class.

www.ninersnation.com

Not me. That’s the system I want him in. He doesn’t have the vision of a truly special player.

this system made Olandis Gary a stud.

 

[barackdhouse]

I'll have to dig it up but I came across some metrics showing him as one of the more efficient pass catching backs in the class though nothing gaudy. Had 24 receptions as a sophomore. But along with age and others saying he had athleticism to spare, and because of my bias towards size, I've already picked him up in some bestballs and early FPC drafts. Now let's see him get drafted and take over a backfield (not SF though - eff that noise).

 

[Boston]

Nightmare scenario if you like this kid:

49ers meet with Pittsburgh RB Israel Abanikanda prior to excellent Pro Day

The 49ers sure seem interested in one of the fastest running backs in the class.

www.ninersnation.com

Not me. That’s the system I want him in. He doesn’t have the vision of a truly special player.

this system made Olandis Gary a stud.

Agree and disagree in a big way...agree it is a fantastic system for RBs...disagree because it is a disposable system and he drafts RBs every year so there is zero reliability...with the exception of Cmac who he didn't draft and obtained once he was established and now makes that backfield that much dicier for anyone new.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Nightmare scenario if you like this kid:

49ers meet with Pittsburgh RB Israel Abanikanda prior to excellent Pro Day

The 49ers sure seem interested in one of the fastest running backs in the class.

www.ninersnation.com

Not me. That’s the system I want him in. He doesn’t have the vision of a truly special player.

this system made Olandis Gary a stud.

CMC not exactly the picture of health over the last few seasons.

I love this kid. I’m unlikely to be in a position to draft him, but landing spot-wise SF is a fine location for him.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Nightmare scenario if you like this kid:

49ers meet with Pittsburgh RB Israel Abanikanda prior to excellent Pro Day

The 49ers sure seem interested in one of the fastest running backs in the class.

www.ninersnation.com

Not me. That’s the system I want him in. He doesn’t have the vision of a truly special player.

this system made Olandis Gary a stud.

Agree and disagree in a big way...agree it is a fantastic system for RBs...disagree because it is a disposable system and he drafts RBs every year so there is zero reliability...with the exception of Cmac who he didn't draft and obtained once he was established and now makes that backfield that much dicier for anyone new.

Don’t disagree here, but there’s a chance for a jackpot as well.

 

[Da Franchise]

A couple interesting tweets and film of the dash here. First post claims it was 4.34.

https://mobile.twitter.com/MattWaldman/status/1641230702703173636

 

[massraider]

Agree and disagree in a big way...agree it is a fantastic system for RBs...disagree because it is a disposable system and he drafts RBs every year so there is zero reliability...with the exception of Cmac who he didn't draft and obtained once he was established and now makes that backfield that much dicier for anyone new

There might be better options. Frankly, SF has whiffed of some of these backs. Maybe they would stop drafting them if they didn't all suck. SF front office has gotten a mulligan on the bad RB drafting.

A couple interesting tweets and film of the dash here. First post claims it was 4.34.

https://mobile.twitter.com/MattWaldman/status/1641230702703173636

I don't really care. He's fast.

 

[Da Franchise]

Agree and disagree in a big way...agree it is a fantastic system for RBs...disagree because it is a disposable system and he drafts RBs every year so there is zero reliability...with the exception of Cmac who he didn't draft and obtained once he was established and now makes that backfield that much dicier for anyone new

There might be better options. Frankly, SF has whiffed of some of these backs. Maybe they would stop drafting them if they didn't all suck. SF front office has gotten a mulligan on the bad RB drafting.

A couple interesting tweets and film of the dash here. First post claims it was 4.34.

https://mobile.twitter.com/MattWaldman/status/1641230702703173636

I don't really care. He's fast.

Agreed. He’s plenty fast regardless of whatever the time. Just adding info to the thread.

 

[massraider]

Agreed. He’s plenty fast regardless of whatever the time. Just adding info to the thread.

Sorry, that sounded less tool-ish in my head.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

There might be better options. Frankly, SF has whiffed of some of these backs. Maybe they would stop drafting them if they didn't all suck. SF front office has gotten a mulligan on the bad RB drafting.

Philly seems enamored with Sermon, which is interesting in this context.

Also Hasty looked really good a few times last year.

I like what I’ve seen from Mason as well.

 

[massraider]

There might be better options. Frankly, SF has whiffed of some of these backs. Maybe they would stop drafting them if they didn't all suck. SF front office has gotten a mulligan on the bad RB drafting.

Philly seems enamored with Sermon, which is interesting in this context.

Also Hasty looked really good a few times last year.

I like what I’ve seen from Mason as well.

You sound like MIna Kimes making excuses for Bryce Young.

 

[Boston]

Nightmare scenario if you like this kid:

49ers meet with Pittsburgh RB Israel Abanikanda prior to excellent Pro Day

The 49ers sure seem interested in one of the fastest running backs in the class.

www.ninersnation.com

Not me. That’s the system I want him in. He doesn’t have the vision of a truly special player.

this system made Olandis Gary a stud.

Agree and disagree in a big way...agree it is a fantastic system for RBs...disagree because it is a disposable system and he drafts RBs every year so there is zero reliability...with the exception of Cmac who he didn't draft and obtained once he was established and now makes that backfield that much dicier for anyone new.

Don’t disagree here, but there’s a chance for a jackpot as well.

Always is which is why it's a nice dice roll to draft one of them...and trade them as soon as they hit because it may not last long.

 

[massraider]

Always is which is why it's a nice dice roll to draft one of them...and trade them as soon as they hit because it may not last long.

This was actually a fantasy strategy I remember with the MIke Shanahan Broncos. Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary, if a DEN back went off, you TRADE them

 

[Mister CIA]

Always is which is why it's a nice dice roll to draft one of them...and trade them as soon as they hit because it may not last long.

This was actually a fantasy strategy I remember with the MIke Shanahan Broncos. Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary, if a DEN back went off, you TRADE them

Elijah Mitchell is on the block

 

[Boston]

Always is which is why it's a nice dice roll to draft one of them...and trade them as soon as they hit because it may not last long.

This was actually a fantasy strategy I remember with the MIke Shanahan Broncos. Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary, if a DEN back went off, you TRADE them

I still think Olandis Gary and Mike Anderson are the same person...and Tatum Bell is their little brother.

 

[Ilov80s]

Not me. That’s the system I want him in. He doesn’t have the vision of a truly special player.

this system made Olandis Gary a stud.

I agree, that is a dream landing spot. One cut and go. Those backs tend to get hurt and burnt out but there is a lot of production when they are on the field.

 

[massraider]

Full List of the San Francisco 49ers 2023 NFL Draft Picks

The San Francisco 49ers have received a league-high seven compensatory picks, totaling at 11 selections in the 2023 NFL Draft.

www.49ers.com

49ers were awarded 7 comp picks, but don't have a 1 or a 2.

This is a weird collection of picks they have. Three 3s, three 5s, and four 7s. Easy to imagine them taking a RB in the 3rd. CMC is in the back 9, Mason was a UDFA, Davis-Price.....well, if they take a back in the 3rd, you can probably just TDP.

 

[Faust]

NFL Rookie Watch @NFLRookieWatxh
Israel Abanikanda went OFF at Pitt’s Pro Day today. Abanikanda reportedly ran between a 4.26-4.32 in the 40-Yard Dash, which would’ve been 1st among RB’s at the combine. Abanikanda jumped 41” in the vertical jump, which would’ve been 1st among RB’s at the Combine. And Abanikanda jumped 10’8” in the broad jump, which would’ve been 1st among RB’s at the Combine. Not to mention he led all of college football in rushing TD’s last season with 20. The Pitt RB made himself some MONEY today

https://twitter.com/nflrookiewatxh/status/1641118947792633856?s=21

 

[Faust]

Kent Lee Platte @MathBomb

Israel Abanikanda is a RB prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.88 RAS out of a possible 10.00 after his pro day. This ranked 22 out of 1683 RB from 1987 to 2023. ras.football/ras-informatio… #RAS

https://twitter.com/mathbomb/status/1641239961860014080?s=21

 

[LawFitz]

Dude runs a 4.3

 

[pacman_fl]

I really hope he goes in the 1st 3 rds in the NFL draft like James Conner did and not like Dion Lewis/Mike Davis. Makes a whole lot of difference in terms of career trajectory.

With this RB class, "when" may not be as important as "with who". Since there is nice depth, teams may let some backs slide if there are similar grades. I am more curious where he goes in relation to other backs than what round he goes per se. For the most part, only first round (and seconds to a point) picks are "guaranteed" roster spots beyond their performance.

 

[massraider]

Dude runs a 4.3

Dude jumped 41 inches




And skipped the agility drills--he knew they were gonna be average at best. That's fine, he's one kind of back, not this other kind of back.

Reminds me of Joey Porter Jr. He needs to be outside, press coverage. Don't put him in the slot. As long as this guy goes somewhere where they play him like that, great.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Christopher Carter
@CarterCritiques

Made the Breece Hall comparison for Israel Abanikanda in yesterday's analysis on #Pitt's pro day.
Really think he turned himself from a fringe day 2 pick into a solid second round prospect.

Successful pro day could lead to Pitt's largest NFL draft class since 1990
----------------------------------
Jolene (Mock Draft SZN)
@ugandasjoy01
Thanks to @MathBomb for the comparison feature!
If you liked Breece Hall last year... check out Izzy this year! #NFLDraft2023

LINK to chart

 

[massraider]

Israel Abanikanda is a RB prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 9.61 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 69 out of 1722 RB from 1987 to 2023

 

[rockaction]

Christopher Carter
@CarterCritiques

Made the Breece Hall comparison for Israel Abanikanda in yesterday's analysis on #Pitt's pro day.
Really think he turned himself from a fringe day 2 pick into a solid second round prospect.

Successful pro day could lead to Pitt's largest NFL draft class since 1990
----------------------------------
Jolene (Mock Draft SZN)
@ugandasjoy01
Thanks to @MathBomb for the comparison feature!
If you liked Breece Hall last year... check out Izzy this year! #NFLDraft2023

Dude, are you serious? These are random tweets from randos. They're dumb. At least they're better than the random OL tweets from randos in the dynasty 2023 thread. Jeez.

Keep those comin', big Poppa.

/sarcasm

 

[rockaction]

Bracie, in all serious, your Twitter rando thing doesn't really help threads. It just mucks them up.