6. Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
The 2021 season was one for the ages with Pitt football. As Kenny Pickett rewrote record books and dazzled with his aerial talents, the Panthers featured a balanced backfield. The leader of that group, though, was Israel Abanikanda.
Abanikanda wasn’t a high-volume rusher; he averaged 9.5 carries per game. However, the Brooklyn product averaged 5.3 yards per carry and ripped off seven rushing touchdowns. Abanikanda posted 23 carries of 10+ yards — 18.7 percent of his total carries.