Happy Thursday, everyone. The biggest news of the day is Mark Ingram’s well deserved selection for the College Football Hall of Fame.
In 39 games at Alabama, Ingram had 3,261 rushing yards and 46 total
touchdowns.
Ingram won the Heisman in 2009, helping lead Alabama to a BCS National Championship with 1,658 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns.
Ingram’s 42 rushing touchdowns are third-most in Alabama history, and his 3,261 rushing yards are seventh-most by an Alabama back.
Ingram has been an uber-Gump since leaving school. He made waves when he said that the blowout loss to Georgia should have kept Alabama out of the playoff this year, but to me that was a function of his own disappointment in what he was seeing on the field. Nobody wants this program to succeed more than Mark.
Let’s reminisce about his signature Heisman moment for posterity’s sake, shall we?
In other CFB HOF news, a different certain Heisman winner didn’t make it and people are very angry about it.
Are first-ballot selections rare?
Well, they’re not common, but neither was Newton and his transcendent 2010 season.
A quick search found a list of relatively recent first-ballot picks.
Wisconsin running back Montee Ball got in on his first try last year. He was a two-time consensus All-American in 2011 and 2012. The 2012 Doak Walker Award winner was a great college running back.
He wasn’t Cam Newton.
This year’s class had a few first-timers get the call.
That includes Nebraska wrecking ball, Ndamukong Suh.
His 2009 season was up there with the best defensive linemen in memory. It was enough to earn an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York, where he finished fourth as Ingram won.
Mike calls it insane, I call it hilarious. To each his own and all that. But there are some insane people losing their minds about it.
And Newton will undoubtedly make it at some point.
The lines of scrimmage are still the main focus for Alabama.
The Crimson Tide has lost ten scholarship offensive linemen, whether to the NFL draft or to the transfer portal. Six of those players started in some capacity this past season.
Michael Carroll is the only returner from that main group of starters. The others set to return: Jackson Lloyd, William Sanders, Casey Poe and Mal Waldrep Jr. That’s five returning scholarship offensive linemen for a team that had 15 on scholarship in 2025.
Alabama has added some reinforcements already. Bryson Cooley, Chris Booker, Bear Fretwell and Tyrell Miller all joined in the signing class.
Plus, the Crimson Tide already secured Ty Haywood and Kaden Strayhorn via the transfer portal.
If there are no more departures, that puts Alabama at 11 scholarship offensive linemen. It needs more.
There was a short three-day dead period for the NCAA convention this week, but visits are back in full swing. Cal Poly center Racin Delgatty is scheduled to visit today, and Alabama seems to be very interested in his services. He is a two year starter out there with two years of eligiblity remaining, and holds several offers across the country.
Last, Alabama continues in hot pursuit of the top QB in the 2027 class.
Alabama is trending towards landing Elijah Haven in the 2027 class. He is currently ranked the No. 1 quarterback in the class and the No. 2 overall player in the nation by 247 Sports.
As of right now, 247 Sports has a crystal ball prediction for Haven to commit to the Crimson Tide.
Haven hails from Dunham School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He has already started receiving hype as a potential NFL quarterback down the road.
Andrew Ivins, the Director of Scouting for 247 Sports, has made it clear that he thinks professional football could be in Haven’s future if he reaches his ceiling.
“Must cut down on the mental lapses and keep progressing as a passer, but has the tools to emerge as a force multiplier on Saturdays and then potentially Sundays,” Ivins wrote.
Lane Kiffin and LSU boosters won’t let Haven get out of town without a fight.
That’s about it for now. Have a great day.
Roll Tide.
