16 years after his illustrious college career came to an end, Alabama football legend Mark Ingram is being afforded the highest honor the sport has to offer: an induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Discussing how it feels to be given such an honor a generation removed from winning the Heisman in Tuscaloosa on Big Noon Kickoff, Ingram called it a blessing, noting he's proud to have made such a lasting impact in his adoptive home.
“Man, what an honor, what a blessing,” Ingram said. “You always dream of being able to leave an impact everywhere you go, and fortunately, I was able to leave a nice little impact down there at Tuscaloosa. So Roll Tide, baby!”
While Ingram's impact on the football field is undeniable both at Alabama and as a pro with teams like the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Ravens, his return to the college football landscape as a pundit has gone over well too, with The Athletic's Bruce Feldman giving him props for being such a valuable addition to Fox's presentation while retweeting his special moment.
“Alabama legend Mark Ingram has been such an awesome addition for us at Fox,” Feldman wrote on social media. “In addition to having been a great player, he’s a true joy to be around and makes everyone better.”
After turning in one of the best running back seasons in college football history as a sophomore in 2009, eclipsing nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards on 303 touches on the way to a Heisman Trophy win, Ingram was drafted 28th overall by the Saints, where he finished off a decade-spanning career with three Pro Bowls and 8,111 total rushing yards. Now retired, it's clear Ingram's on-field impact won't go away any time soon, especially as his second career as a talking head takes off.