Ingram hits stride in win
Sophomore back aids comeback, makes case for more carries
AUSTIN — Keaontay Ingram is someone Jerry Seinfeld would call a “low talker.”
The sophomore running back speaks with a soothing softness, like he’s telling a bedtime story to a heavy eyed toddler. His gentle voice stands in stark contrast to how the Longhorns’ lead back played against Kansas State.
Ingram ran with rage in his legs last Saturday. He ran like the weight of a crumbling season was harnessed to his back, determined not to let 19th-ranked Texas (6-2, 4-2 Big 12) fall any further. He ran, senior center Zach Shackelford said, “like a madman.”
Maybe most importantly, Ingram moved about seemingly unencumbered by a nagging knee injury. He indicated as much while chatting with reporters Tuesday, and coach Tom Herman sensed it throughout a performance that helped save the Longhorns’ season.
“The dude is pushing 230 pounds right now, squatting more than he ever has in his life, and power cleaning more than he ever has in his life,” Herman said Monday. “When you can do that, you’re going to see an added burst.
“And I think the nagging part of that knee deal is finally subsided to the point where he feels pretty fresh.”
Texas needed every one of Ingram’s career-high 139 rushing yards to dig out of a 14-0 hole against the Wildcats. It needed his two touchdowns, the first an elusive 34-yard scamper off a backfield pitch from quarterback Sam Ehlinger. It needed his explosiveness, which resulted in five runs of 10-plus yards and a career-best average of 8.7 yards per carry.
That Texas managed to escape from a dire situation by feeding Ingram shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
The Longhorns are just better when the former Carthage star gets going.
Since Ingram’s debut as a true freshman in last year’s season opener, Texas has posted a 10-1 record when he accrues at least 90 yards from scrimmage. Problem is, Ingram has at times vanished — 18 yards on 11 attempts against West Virginia, 9 yards on two totes in a loss to Oklahoma, 2.9 yards per carry in a home defeat to LSU.
Those in-game disappearances have been frustrating to Texas fans. They’ve been far more maddening for Ingram, who critiques himself with all the energy of Gordon Ramsey lambasting hapless chefs.
“He is very hard on himself, and sometimes he doesn’t need to be as critical as he is,” Ehlinger said Tuesday. “But it definitely drives his focus and his energy. And that in turn makes him work very hard.”
Ingram was an unstoppable force at Carthage. He had over 5,000 career yards, back-to-back 2,000 yard seasons, 76 career touchdowns and All-America status.
And even though he shared a backfield with talented graduate transfer Tre Watson last season, Ingram expected more. Maybe there was a vision rattling around his head of making an immediate mark, like Cedric Benson or Jamaal Charles did while he was still playing peewee football — not entirely outlandish, given his prep pedigree.
Converted quarterback Roschon Johnson served as a terrific complement to Ingram against K-State. And ballyhooed true freshman Jordan Whittington has finally been cleared to play.
Ingram is happy to have both in the fold, along with redshirt senior Kirk Johnson and junior Daniel Young, two veterans he said have helped with the mental aspect of the game.
But Ingram, at least from the outside, looked like he was trying to stake a claim to this backfield for himself against the Wildcats. Not that’d he’d ever admit it.
“Nah, I was just going out there and playing Texas football,” Ingram said. “Playing up to the standard that we’re supposed to. Just executing and doing my job.”
Texas might need Ingram to be every bit as imposing this Saturday. Playing on Iowa State’s turf is always a tall task, especially in nearfreezing conditions, as are expected for the 2:30 p.m. kickoff.
But all Ingram said about the coming matchup is how patient he needs to be while looking for space against the Big 12’s No. 2 rushing defense. He’s not exactly a chalkboard material kind of guy, nor does he care to be.