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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Pittsburgh

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11/12/22 - M.J. Devonshire, rSr/2024, Pittsburgh + More +

M.J. Devonshire and Marquis Williams returned interceptions for touchdowns on the first two plays from scrimmage and Pittsburgh reached bowl eligibility with a 37-7 victory at Virginia on Saturday. Devonshire's interception of Brennan Armstrong and 29-yard return gave the Panthers (6-4, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) a 7-0 lead after just 5 seconds. After a touchback, Armstrong tried to throw deeper, but Williams intercepted and went 39 yard for the TD. The Cavaliers (3-6, 1-6), who needed a victory to remain in contention for a bowl berth, trailed 28-0 by the end of the first quarter. Many in the sparse crowd that booed them as they left the field at halftime then seemingly also left on a sunny, warm fall afternoon.

Israel Abanikanda added to his nation-leading touchdown total with a 1-yard run on Pitts' first offensive possession, and Kedon Slovis hit Jared Wayne with a 31-yard scoring pass on the next, putting the Panthers ahead 28-0 with 2:33 left in the opening quarter. Ben Sauls kicked three second-half field goals and the outcome was never in doubt as Pitt won for the sixth time in the last seven meetings with the Cavaliers. The Panthers outgained Virginia 397-144 and held the home team to minus 8 rushing yards. Armstrong, playing without his top three receivers for the second week in a row, hit Malachi Fields from nine yards for the Cavaliers' lone score late in the third quarter. - Pittsburgh/AP College Football

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CB M.J. Devonshire, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh/AP College Football
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11/11/22 - Todd Hill, rSr/2024, Pittsburgh + More +

OCT 31 NEC FOOTBALL PRIME PERFORMER: Todd Hill, DUQ (LB, Jr.),...Hill boosted his league-best sacks total to 9.0 after registering 2.0 in Duquense's double overtime loss to LIU. The junior linebacker added eight tackles (six solo), 3.0 tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry. - NEC Football

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ILB Todd Hill, Pittsburgh
News Source: NEC Football
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11/07/22 - Deslin Alexandre, rSr/2023, Pittsburgh + More +

NOV 7 ACC DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: Deslin Alexandre, Pitt, DE, Pompano Beach, Fla.,...Led a dominant defensive effort in Pitt's 19-9 win over No. 22 Syracuse, compiling seven tackles, 2.5 quarterback sacks and a pass breakup ... Iced the game when he sacked Orange QB Carlos Del Rio-Wilson in the end zone for a safety, giving Pitt a two-score advantage with 1:35 left ... The Panthers limited Syracuse to 145 total yards, including a mere 25 on the ground. - ACC Football

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DE Deslin Alexandre, Pittsburgh
News Source: ACC Football
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11/07/22 - Keye Thompson, rSr/2025, Pittsburgh + More +

NOV 7 MAC EAST DIVISION DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Keye Thompson, Ohio, LB, R-Sr., Barberton, Ohio (Barberton),...Thompson played an integral part in holding the Buffalo defense to just 24 points in the Bobcats' victory over the Bulls last Tuesday. With 11 tackles, three of which were solo, the redshirt senior led the defense. He also recorded 0.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and two quarterback hurries. On the season, Thompson leads the Ohio defense with 75 total tackles. - MAC Football

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ILB Keye Thompson, Pittsburgh
News Source: MAC Football
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11/05/22 - Rodney Hammond Jr., Sr/2025, Pittsburgh + More +

Rodney Hammond ran for a career-high 124 yards and a touchdown while filling in for injured Israel Abanikanda and Pittsburgh shut down No. 22 Syracuse 17-9 on Saturday to end a two-game losing streak. The Panthers (5-4, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) relied heavily on Hammond and a defense that kept Orange freshman quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson in check in his first career start. Pitt sacked Del Rio-Wilson six times and limited the Orange (6-3, 3-2) to 145 total yards in beating Syracuse for the 18th time in the past 21 meetings of the longtime rivals.

C'Bo Flemister added a short touchdown run for Pitt as the defending ACC champions righted themselves after three losses in four games essentially ended any shot of them earning a second straight trip to the conference title game. Though quarterback Kedon Slovis failed to throw a touchdown pass for a fourth straight game - the USC transfer completed 16 of 23 for 178 yards and an ill-advised heave into the end zone in the first quarter that ended as an interception - Hammond and Flemister made up for it while doing a pretty solid Abanikanda impersonation. Hammond began the season expecting to split carries with Abanikanda only to get hurt during the season opener against West Virginia. Abanikanda took firm hold of the starting job in Hammond's absence, becoming the ACC's leading rusher in the process. - Pittsburgh/AP College Football

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RB Rodney Hammond Jr., Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh/AP College Football
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10/19/22 - Carter Warren, rSr/2023, Pittsburgh + More +

The news emerging from Pitt's off week couldn't have been worse for a coach who loves developing and sustaining a solid ground game. Pat Narduzzi announced Monday that senior offensive tackle Carter Warren, who has appeared in 40 games (39 starts) since 2019 while anchoring the left side of the line, is lost for the season with an unspecified injury. Warren, one of four team captains, left the Rhode Island game Sept. 24 and did not play in subsequent games against Georgia Tech or Virginia Tech.

Narduzzi said Warren (6-foot-5, 325 pounds) has tried to recover in time to get back on the field this season. "This guy wants to play bad," the coach said. "And I really feel bad. We've done everything in our power as trainers and doctors to try to get him as close as he could and try to get him back on the field to play. And, again, his future is important, as well. "I can't thank him enough for all the efforts he's made. It's sad to think that he's played his last ball game in that Pitt uniform. I don't even want to think about it. He didn't want to think about it. "That's why he's tried so hard. He's tried to rehab it, tried to get back. It doesn't feel good enough. And we need to get him prepared for his next journey in the NFL. It's only fair for him to be able to do that." - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

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OT Carter Warren, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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10/14/22 - Todd Hill, rSr/2024, Pittsburgh + More +

OCT 3 NEC PRIME PERFORMER: Todd Hill, DUQ (LB, Jr.),...Hill finished with six tackles - all solo - and had three tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry. Pushing Stonehill back 13 yards with two sacks, he has registered sacks in four of five games this season and has recorded 2.0 in back-to-back outings. - NEC Football

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ILB Todd Hill, Pittsburgh
News Source: NEC Football
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10/14/22 - Todd Hill, rSr/2024, Pittsburgh + More +

SEP 19 NEC PRIME PERFORMER: Todd Hill, DUQ (LB, Jr.),...Hill anchored a Duquesne defense that held FBS opponent Hawaii to just 91 rushing yards and 93 passing yards Sunday morning. Registering five tackles (3 solo), including 2.0 tackles for a loss of 13.0 yards, the junior linebacker added one forced fumble and one quarterback hurry. - NEC Football

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ILB Todd Hill, Pittsburgh
News Source: NEC Football
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10/11/22 - Jeff Yurk, Jr/2025, Pittsburgh + More +

SEPT 12 CAA FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jeff Yurk, So., P, Elon (Southern Pines, N.C./Pinecrest),...Yurk averaged 44.0 yards on five punts to help Elon record a 26-0 win at Wofford. The sophomore pinned Wofford inside the 15-yard line three times as the Phoenix posted its first shutout in five years. All five of Yurk's punts traveled at least 41 yards and none of them were returned. - Colonial Athletic Association Football

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P Jeff Yurk, Pittsburgh
News Source: Colonial Athletic Association Football
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10/10/22 - *Israel Abanikanda, Jr/2023, Pittsburgh + More +

OCT 10 ACC RUNNING BACK OF THE WEEK: Israel Abanikanda, Pitt, RB, Brooklyn, N.Y.,...Had a historic day in earning ACC Running Back of the Week honors for the third time this season, rushing for 320 yards and six touchdowns on 36 carries in the Panthers' 45-29 win over Virginia Tech ... With the fourth-most rushing yards by a player in a game in ACC history, Abanikanda broke the legendary Tony Dorsett's Pitt single-game rushing record of 303 yards set against Notre Dame on Nov. 15, 1975 ... Abanikanda also tied the 122-year-old school record for rushing touchdowns in a game, initially set by Norman Budd against Ohio on Oct. 29, 1910 ... Per ESPN Stats & Info, Abanikanda is the first Power 5/BCS player to top 300 rush yards with six rushing TDs in a game since Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams (Texas) in 1998 ... Also named the Walter Camp National Player of the Week, Abanikanda rushed for 100+ yards for the fourth time this year. - ACC Football

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RB *Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
News Source: ACC Football
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10/10/22 - Marcus Minor, rSr/2023, Pittsburgh + More +

OCT 10 ACC OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: Marcus Minor, Pitt, OG, Lanham, Md.,...Pitt's highest-graded offensive lineman in the Panthers' 45-29 win over Virginia Tech, helping pave the way for Israel Abanikanda's historic rushing day (320 yards and six TDs) ... Minor helped spring three of Abanikanda's biggest runs while allowing zero quarterback pressures and zero sacks ... The Panthers piled up 326 rushing yards and 170 through the air (496 total). - ACC Football

rSr/2023

OG Marcus Minor, Pittsburgh
News Source: ACC Football
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10/10/22 - *Israel Abanikanda, Jr/2023, Pittsburgh + More +

Israel Abanikanda of Pittsburgh became the first 300-yard rusher since 2020 when he went for a school-record 320 on 36 carries against Virginia Tech. Abanikanda beat the previous Pitt record of 303 yards by Tony Dorsett in 1975 against Notre Dame. Abanikanda's six touchdowns tied the school and Atlantic Coast Conference records. His big outing came a week after he left the game against Georgia Tech in the second quarter because of a shoulder injury. The previous Bowl Subdivision player to go over 300 was Ohio State's Trey Sermon, who had 331 on 29 carries against Northwestern in 2020. - AP College Football

Jr/2023

RB *Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
News Source: AP College Football
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10/09/22 - *Israel Abanikanda, Jr/2023, Pittsburgh + More +

OCT 9 WALTER CAMP NATIONAL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: ISRAEL ABANIKANDA, PITTSBURGH, Junior, Running Back, Brooklyn, NY/Abraham Lincoln HS,...Israel Abanikanda set a Pittsburgh school single-game record with 320 rushing yards (on 36 attempts) and tied a school and Atlantic Coast Conference record with six touchdowns as the Panthers defeated Virginia Tech, 45-29. Abanikanda broke former Walter Camp Player of Year Tony Dorsett's previous school record of 303 yards (set on Nov. 15, 1975 vs. Notre Dame). Abanikanda scored on runs of 38, 17, 29, 5, 10 and 80 yards as Pittsburgh improved to 4-2, 1-1 in the ACC. Notes: Israel Abankianda is the eighth Pittsburgh player to earn Walter Camp National Player of Week honors since 2004 and the first since former Panther running back Darrin Hall (Nov. 5, 2018). - Walter Camp Football Foundation

Jr/2023

RB *Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
News Source: Walter Camp Football Foundation
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10/08/22 - *Israel Abanikanda, Jr/2023, Pittsburgh + More +

Israel Abanikanda ran for 320 yards to break Tony Dorsett's Pittsburgh record and scored six touchdowns in the Panthers' 45-29 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday. Dorsett ran for 303 yards in 1975 against Notre Dame. Abanikanda broke the rushing record with a 6-yard carry in the fourth quarter. Abanikanda also tied the school and Atlantic Coast Conference records for touchdowns. Norman Budd scored six touchdowns for Pitt against Ohio in 1910. Abanikanda helped Pitt (1-1, 4-2) rebound from an ugly home loss last week against a Georgia Tech team that fired its head coach earlier in the week. Abanikanda, the ACC's leading rusher, had his arm in a sling at the end of last week's game against Georgia Tech. Grant Wells completed 25 passes for 277 yards with a touchdown and interception for Virginia Tech, which was coming off of back-to-back blowout losses against North Carolina and West Virginia. Virginia Tech (1-2, 2-4) scored 29 points after putting up 20 points total in its two previous contests, the Hokies' worst stretch since 1989.

The Hokies jumped out to an early 16-7 lead, but an offensive lull allowed the Panthers to score the next 24 points. After a second-quarter touchdown, the Hokies punted five times - including four three-and-outs - and threw an interception on their next six drives. Pitt led 17-16 at halftime and Abanikanda extended the advantage on the Panthers' second drive of the second half. Abanikanda scored his third touchdown of the game, this one a 29-yard run along the left side to give the Panthers a 24-16 lead. Abanikanda scored his fourth touchdown on the Panthers' next drive, capping a seven-play, 56-yard series, putting Pitt in front, 31-16. - Pittsburgh/AP College Football

Jr/2023

RB *Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh/AP College Football
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10/01/22 - Phil Jurkovec, rSr/2024, Pittsburgh + More +

Phil Jurkovec threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns and scrambled for a 33-yard run that set up the game-winning field goal on Saturday as Boston College knocked Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham out of the game and beat the Cardinals 34-33. Cunningham ran for three touchdowns and threw for another before finishing the game on the sideline. He was taken out for one play in the third quarter following a hit to the head; he came back for two full series before backup Brock Domann handled the last two possessions of the game. The second, after Connor Lytton's 26-yard field goal gave BC the lead with 1:56 left, ended where it started after four straight incompletions.

Boston College then ran out the clock - or tried to. With 2 seconds left for the fourth down play, Jurkovec took several steps back before kneeling and the time showed 0:00. But after the teams left their benches for the postgame handshakes - and some BC fans joined them - the officials put 1 second back on the clock and gave Louisville a final play. Domann's pass was intercepted at the 8 yard line by Kam Arnold. Zay Flowers caught five passes for 151 yards - including touchdowns of 57 and 69 yards - and Alex Broome ran for a 40-yard score for BC (2-3, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). Cunningham threw for 186 yards and ran for 53 more for Louisville (2-3, 0-3). - Boston College/AP College Football

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