In the last 25 years only two running backs from the University of Alabama have made a dramatic impact in the National Football League.
One of those would be Bobby Humphrey, a former NFL Rookie of the Year and All-Pro with the Denver Broncos, and the other would be Shaun Alexander, a former MVP with the Seattle Seahawks.
Glen Coffee, a rookie with the San Francisco 49ers, could become the third. But if Coffee doesn’t fill the bill, then there’s another Crimson Tide back on the way.
In a few years, Mark Ingram will be giving NFL defenses fits.
Anyone who saw what Ingram did Saturday night against South Carolina can attest that he is a pro back in the making. The 5-foot-10, 212-pound sophomore from Flint, Mich., rushed for a career-high 246 yards, the most ever for an Alabama player at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and scored a touchdown in the Tide’s 20-6 victory.
Only Alexander and Humphrey have rushed for more yards in a game for the Tide. Alexander holds the single-game record with 291 yards at LSU in 1996. Humphrey ran for 284 yards at Mississippi State in 1986.
Now, the Tide’s workhorse is Ingram, the son of the former New York Giants receiver Mark Ingram, who was sentenced last year to more than seven years in prison for federal money-laundering and bank-fraud charges.
On a night when the Alabama’s passing attack was non-existent, Ingram carried the Tide on his back, shoulder and legs. He had eight carries of at least 10 yards (his 30 this season leads the nation) and was responsible for 269 of Alabama's 356 total yards. Understandably he was named the Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
What he did on the Tide’s only offensive scoring drive in the fourth quarter is the stuff of legends. Lining up the “Wildcat” formation for all but the final play, he carried the ball six times for 68 yards. He scored Alabama’s clinching touchdown on a 4-yard run after taking a pitch from quarterback Greg McElroy.
Ingram was exhausted as he went back to the sideline, but his extraordinary effort had ensured the Tide would remain unbeaten.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban was effusive in his praise for Ingram.
“Mark did as fine a job as anybody I’ve ever been around, and that includes Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown and some really good ones,” Saban said. “He was fantastic. The offensive line must’ve been doing a pretty good job too against a pretty good defense, but the guy ran with tremendous passion and heart.”
Ingram is the total package. He has toughness – most of his yards come after contact; he has great vision, reading blocks and finding daylight; he has that quick burst to get into the open field; and he catches the ball out of the backfield (he has 14 receptions for 147 yards and three touchdowns). He leads the SEC in rushing, averaging 129.3 yards per game, and has 11 total touchdowns.
If he continues to come up big as he did against a solid South Carolina defense, Ingram will become a serious contender for the Heisman Trophy.
Alabama has never had a Heisman Trophy winner. Ingram could become the first, if not this year, then perhaps 2010 or 2011 – unless he leaves early for the NFL, where he undoubtedly will become the next impact back from Alabama.
Glen Coffee, a rookie with the San Francisco 49ers, could become the third. But if Coffee doesn’t fill the bill, then there’s another Crimson Tide back on the way.
In a few years, Mark Ingram will be giving NFL defenses fits.
Anyone who saw what Ingram did Saturday night against South Carolina can attest that he is a pro back in the making. The 5-foot-10, 212-pound sophomore from Flint, Mich., rushed for a career-high 246 yards, the most ever for an Alabama player at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and scored a touchdown in the Tide’s 20-6 victory.
Only Alexander and Humphrey have rushed for more yards in a game for the Tide. Alexander holds the single-game record with 291 yards at LSU in 1996. Humphrey ran for 284 yards at Mississippi State in 1986.
Now, the Tide’s workhorse is Ingram, the son of the former New York Giants receiver Mark Ingram, who was sentenced last year to more than seven years in prison for federal money-laundering and bank-fraud charges.
On a night when the Alabama’s passing attack was non-existent, Ingram carried the Tide on his back, shoulder and legs. He had eight carries of at least 10 yards (his 30 this season leads the nation) and was responsible for 269 of Alabama's 356 total yards. Understandably he was named the Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
What he did on the Tide’s only offensive scoring drive in the fourth quarter is the stuff of legends. Lining up the “Wildcat” formation for all but the final play, he carried the ball six times for 68 yards. He scored Alabama’s clinching touchdown on a 4-yard run after taking a pitch from quarterback Greg McElroy.
Ingram was exhausted as he went back to the sideline, but his extraordinary effort had ensured the Tide would remain unbeaten.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban was effusive in his praise for Ingram.
“Mark did as fine a job as anybody I’ve ever been around, and that includes Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown and some really good ones,” Saban said. “He was fantastic. The offensive line must’ve been doing a pretty good job too against a pretty good defense, but the guy ran with tremendous passion and heart.”
Ingram is the total package. He has toughness – most of his yards come after contact; he has great vision, reading blocks and finding daylight; he has that quick burst to get into the open field; and he catches the ball out of the backfield (he has 14 receptions for 147 yards and three touchdowns). He leads the SEC in rushing, averaging 129.3 yards per game, and has 11 total touchdowns.
If he continues to come up big as he did against a solid South Carolina defense, Ingram will become a serious contender for the Heisman Trophy.
Alabama has never had a Heisman Trophy winner. Ingram could become the first, if not this year, then perhaps 2010 or 2011 – unless he leaves early for the NFL, where he undoubtedly will become the next impact back from Alabama.
