Mark Ingram

Mark Ingram is a running back for the New Orleans Saints. He just completed his sixth season in the NFL, and for the first time surpassed the 1,000 yards rushing mark. He was a Heisman trophy winner at Alabama, and is the son of former NFL player Mark Ingram Sr.

 Childhood and Highschool

Ingram was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, but grew up in Michigan. He attended high school for three years in Grand Blanc, and spent his senior yea at Flint Southwestern Academy in Flint, Mich.  He was a two-way starter for four years in high school, and received many honors.  In his final two years he ran for 2,546 yards and 38 touchdowns.  He was also an all state performer in track, competing in the 100 and 200 meter dashes and the long jump.  He was listed as the No. 17 recruit nationally coming out of high school.

College

Ingram signed with Alabama, and was on the all-freshman SEC team for the 2008 season. As a sophomore he ran for 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns. He won the Heisman Trophy that year and helped Alabama to the national championship. While several sophomores the Heisman, Ingram is the youngest player, just less than 20 years old, to win the award as the nation's best football player.  Ingram was injured  for part of his junior year, but still ran for 903 yards and 13 touchdowns. He opted for the NFL draft, foregoing his senior season. On Jan. 7, 2010, Ingram led Alabama to the national championship by beating Texas 37-21. In that game he ran for 116 yards on 22 carries, scoring two touchdowns.  He was named the game's offensive MVP for his efforts. In his injury hampered junior year, he ran for 157 yards against Arkansas in week four, and did not pass the 100 yard mark again.

Alabama highlights

NFL Draft

Ingram was drafted in the first round by the New Orleans Saints, who chose him with the 28th pick.  His father was also the 28th pick of the draft, 24 years earlier. Ingram chose to wear the number 28 in the NFL for this reason. After two years he switched to the number 22, which he wore at Alabama.  Ingram impressed scouts at the NFL combine,  At the combine his 40 time was 4.34, and his 20-yard split was 2.58 seconds. His vertical leap was 31.5 inches.  His broad jump was nine feet, five inches. Once drafted, Ingram signed a four year contract worth $7.41 million and a $3.89 million signing bonus.  His contract included salary and a fifth-year option. 

As a rookie in 2011, Ingram rushed for 474 yards and five touchdowns. In 2014 he rushed for 964 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had 145 yards receiving.  Ingram's best game was in October of 2014, when he ran for 172 yards on 24 carries against the Green Bay Packers. 

2015 NFL Season

In 2015 Ingram got a lot more involved in the passing game. He rn for 769 yards, which was a bit lower than the previous year. He had 50 receptions for 405 yards, which was his most productive season to that point.  He had the longest run of his career that season, which was 70 yards. He also had a 59-yard reception, which was also a career long. His number of carries went down as his number  of receptions went up.

2016 NFL Season

Ingram has his most productive season in 2016. In week 12 he ran for 146 yards and a touchdown. He was named NFC player of the week. He had  1043 yards rushing, and he had 319 yards receiving. Ingram had 10 touchdowns. Four of those touchdowns came on receptions, and he had none before the season began.  He averaged 5.1 yards per  carry and that was also a career high. His yards per carry has gone up each year in the NFL.

NFL highlights

Personal Life

Ingram signed a contract extension in March of 2015. He has a daughter who was born in December of 2014. Ingram lists Flint, Michigan as his family home. His father spent time in prison for tax evasion and jumping bail. The elder Ingram jumped bail to watch his son play in the Sugar Bowl for the national championship. 

Ingram's twitter account is @markingam22

Ingram jersey information