2020 NY ATH Israel Abanikanda Talks Notre Dame & More

Notre Dame is in the preliminary stages of recruiting Israel Abanikanda‍, but several schools have already seen enough from the 2020 New York athlete.

The 6-foot, 195-pounder from Brooklyn currently has offers from Boston College, Syracuse, Temple, Buffalo and Fordham.

“It feels amazing,” he says of the early offers. “It feels like you’re ahead of time. I’m only a junior and I’m very lucky. I know some football athletes don’t really have offers at this time. I’m very lucky and it feels amazing.”

The Irish have been sending Abanikanda plenty of mail and he says he’s “very” interested in Notre Dame.

“It’s the environment there,” he says. “It’s a Catholic school. I knew Ishaq Williams, who went to Abraham Lincoln High School. I’ve been looking up to him since he went to my high school. He’s been telling me about that school and I really like it.”

The former Irish defensive end has schooled Lincoln’s newest gridiron standout on Notre Dame.

“He told me about the academics, how they have very high standards for academics and a great graduation rate and about the football team, how the coaches treat the players right and everything,” Abanikanda says of Williams.

The speedy New York prospect says he’d like to get to South Bend at some point.

“I would like to see the school first and then the football facility, the coaches and players and all,” he says while adding he’s hoping to see the interest from the Irish pick up.

Abanikanda, who has been clocked at sub-4.4 in the 40-yard dash, could play running back, slot receiver or safety.

“They like my speed, my strength, my vision and my footwork and how elusive I am,” he said of college coaches while noting he prefers offense or defense.

He had “great” visits to Syracuse and Boston College over the summer.

In addition to Notre Dame, he’s hoping to make a trip out to UConn soon.

Abanikanda would like to major in Computer Science or Computer Engineering in college and that will play a major role in his ultimate decision.

“It’s mostly academics for me. If they have the major I want and where I can feel I’m treated as family.”