NFL 2012 Draft Profile: Mark Ingram Alabama Running Back

Only a sophomore, Alabama running back Mark Ingram has solidly stamped his name to the top of the 2012 NFL Draft Class, with an impressive display of running in Alabama's 20-6 victory over South Carolina in the 7^th game of the 2009 season. Ingram, who did a fair share of his running out of Alabama's wildcat formation, compiled 246 yards on 24 carries to help carry undefeated Alabama to their 7^th straight win of the season. Included in Ingram's impressive display of running prowess were the over 100 yards that he gained after contact, a tribute to the fact that the Alabama sensation is more than just a speed back.

A highly recruited prep star out of Southwestern Academy in Flint Michigan, Ingram enjoyed a tremendous senior season in which he gained 1,700 yards rushing, scoring 24 touchdowns along the way. The impressive runner would field offers from such college powerhouses as the University of Florida, Tennessee and Wisconsin, before settling on Alabama.

Playing as a true freshman for the Crimson Tide in 2009, Ingram would rush for 728 yards on 148 carries and score 12 touchdowns in his maiden season. Though he never carried the ball over 17 times in a game that season, Ingram still had a +100 yard day against Arkansas State (12 carries, 113 yards), and 3 games in which he scored a pair of touchdowns. However, back to back season ending losses to Florida and Utah, would keep the blossoming back from gaining a lot of pre-season notoriety prior to the 2009 season.

Yet in the span of a three game stretch, in which he would rush for 140, 172 and 246 yards against Kentucky, Mississippi and South Carolina, Ingram would establish himself as a Heisman Trophy contender and a possible future first round draft pick in the NFL.

At 5-10, and 215 lbs, Ingram has the prototypical built of an NFL running back, and the speed (4.4 for the 40) that can one day place him among the game's elite. The fact that he is the son of a former NFL player (Mark Ingram who played 10 years in the league) also provides him with a football IQ that most of his peers do not have.

If he stays injury free, there is little that would keep Ingram from going in the first day of the NFL Entry Draft. The only question that remains is whether or not he will bolt for the NFL early or stay in Alabama through the 2011 season.

Sources:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college/2009/10/alabama-rb-mark-ingram-heisman-trophy.html

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/players/

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/271005-the-tides-a-rollin-mark-ingrams-carrying-the-load