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Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
Finding something Mark Ingram can’t do on a football field is almost as difficult as trying to tackle him.
The Alabama sophomore running back can run, catch, block and even says he can throw, which might be a warning of sorts to the Ole Miss defense to be on the lookout Saturday for the halfback pass.
The 5-10, 212-pound Ingram has defined the kind of football player Nick Saban is looking for and the kind he’s brought into the Alabama program with regularity the last couple of years. Ingram is tough, versatile, smart and willing to play any role.
He leads Alabama in rushing with 487 yards and is averaging 5.9 yards per carry. He’s tied for the team receiving lead with 14 catches for 147 yards and has scored nine touchdowns, six rushing and three receiving.
Ingram has scored a touchdown in 14 of his 19 games with the Crimson Tide and already has 21 for his career. If Ingram stays healthy and sticks around for four years, he could challenge the Alabama career touchdown record. Shaun Alexander scored 50 from 1996-99. Alexander also has the Alabama season record with 24, set in 1999.
The only thing harder than keeping Ingram out of the end zone is trying to get the ball away from him.
He hasn’t lost a fumble in 226 career rushing attempts and 21 career receptions for a total of 247 touches. He’s only put the ball on the ground one time (at LSU in 2008), but Alabama recovered.
Easily one of the best all-around players in the league, Ingram took some time this week to chat about what makes him go and an Alabama team that heads to Ole Miss unbeaten and ranked No. 3 nationally:
What’s it been like to play in an offense as diverse as the one you guys have put on the field this season?
Mark Ingram: The balance has been the big thing. The defense really doesn’t know what’s coming. If they load the box against us, our receivers have had big games. And because of that, teams are backing off to respect our receivers and we’ve had a lot of running room.
Have you been surprised by how well Greg McElroy has played at quarterback?
MI: I knew Greg was good, but he’s really surpassed my expectations for him. He’s doing such a great job of managing the offense, making good decisions and controlling the game. I have a lot of respect for him and am real happy for him that he’s playing this well. He just controls that huddle, keeps everybody level-headed and is probably at his best when things go wrong. I’m glad we’ve got him.
How much pride do you take in your blocking?
MI: I think the way you block shows your character. A lot of running backs, when they don’t get the ball, are mad or take the play off. But I’ve never looked at it that way. When the receivers block down the field for me, I owe it to them to pick up pass protection so Greg can get the ball to them. It’s just being a team player and being the best player you can be as an overall back.
Does Alabama have enough talent now that no matter how many players you lose the year before that you’re going to keep on rolling?
MI: It just shows you the type of program coach [Nick] Saban is building here. We have great players on our two-deep, but each year when we lose a player, there’s going to be another player that’s real talented and just waiting for an opportunity. We lost some great players last year on our line, but we had three offensive linemen who were just waiting on an opportunity. They’re stepping in and taking advantage of that opportunity. The more coach Saban and the rest of the coaches keep recruiting, the more that’s going to keep happening.
Do you look at it like you got your sluggish start as a team out of the way last week against Kentucky?
MI: You can’t afford that kind of start against anybody in the SEC. Even in that game, there were critical points and critical calls that could have gone either way, just like that 99-yard drive we had. That got us out of a hole. But you can’t afford that kind of start against anybody. We got away with it against Kentucky, but we won’t again.
What kind of emotional state do you expect to find Ole Miss in?
MI: Ole Miss has had this game circled on their calendar since they walked off our field last year. We’re going to get their best shot, and they know this is their chance to get their season going after that loss to South Carolina. They’re going to hit us in the mouth, but we have to counter that. You do that by starting out fast and finishing strong.
How nice is it to be so deep at running back?
MI: It’s nothing but an advantage for all of us to have three or four running backs who can go out there and make plays. There’s always a fresh pair of legs coming at you, and we all can make plays and all can make things happen. When that other person’s on the field, we’re rooting for them and telling them what we see from the sideline. Nobody’s selfish in our backfield, and that’s what makes us such a great group. We compete, but we all want the best for each other.
You and Julio Jones are tight. How’s he dealing with his numbers and touches being down this season?
MI: Julio’s not worried about that at all. He’s having such an impact on what the offense is doing. They’re putting two guys on him, and every time he comes into motion or he’s out there, there are four eyes on him. The corner and the safety are looking at him, maybe even the linebacker. Just the impact he’s having on the offense is enough for him, and as long as we’re winning, he’s not going to worry about that at all.
Did you model your game after any running back?
MI: I never really modeled it after one guy. I always wanted to be a complete back, to be able to run with power and run with speed, make big runs, come out of the backfield and catch the ball, pass protect, throw the ball if they needed me to. I just wanted to be the most complete player I could be.
What’s a side of Saban that not everybody sees?
MI: Everybody sees coach Saban when he’s yelling or when he’s mad. But coach Saban really just wants the best for you, not only as a football player, but as a person. He wants you to be successful in whatever you’re doing, and he’s like that with all his players no matter where you are on the depth chart or how much you’ve played. A lot of people just see that intense side, but he’s a real good person.
How tough was it for you not knowing this preseason if you were going to be able to play while waiting on the ruling from the NCAA?
MI: I just tried not to focus on it. I was more focused on being a better player and helping the team be better. I just threw all my focus on Virginia Tech and didn’t let any of that other stuff affect me.
You burst onto the scene pretty quickly last season as a freshman. How fast has all this happened for you?
MI: I think back to my sophomore year in high school and how quickly that all went. Now here I am in college as a sophomore, and I just want to take advantage of this opportunity. We had a great opportunity as a team last year, and we do again this year. You don’t want to look back and say, ‘What could I have done different?’ That’s why you take each day and make the most you can out of it.
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