Mark Ingram recalls Nick Saban's demands after he won Heisman Trophy

Four Alabama alumni can claim Heismany Trophies under Nick Saban. Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, DeVonta Smith and Bryce Young.

Ingram, having been the first of the group to achieve college football’s top individual prize, set the standard for what it meant to excel in Tuscaloosa. He was unstoppable on the field, totaling 1,542 rushing yards to go with 15 touchdowns and 30 reception for 322 yards and three more scores.

Alabama went undefeated during the 2009 regular season and went on to win its first SEC title since 1999. Between the conference title game and the national title game — the pressure that comes with Heisman buzz, and ultimately winning it — was a lot to handle while also preparing for a national championship game.

“I didn’t have even a chance to really enjoy [winning the Heisman],” Ingram told Colin Cowherd. “I remember leaving the hall in New York, Coach Saban ripped me like, ‘This is going to be changing everything, this is going to be different. You can’t let your approach change. You can’t let it change your preparation. We’ve still got to go to the national championship. You can’t let it affect you. There’s gonna be all these people reaching at you.’

“So he was like already on me like as soon as I left the Heisman ceremony, like he’s already on me. So I didn’t really have a chance to get comfortable because he always was thinking about what was next. … And now after winning the national championship, like, ‘Okay, you coming back next year. What are we gonna do next year? Everyone’s gonna be shooting for you.’ I think it’s about the people around you keeping you motivated, keeping you humble. It’s not about what you’ve done. It’s about what you’re gonna do.”

Ingram returned for the 2010 season, but after injuries hindered his production, he went on to be selected in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, 28th overall by the New Orleans Saints.

Over a decade later, Ingram is the franchise’s all-time leading rusher and has played in 146 career games with 97 starts, carrying 1,755 times for 7,878 yards with 64 touchdowns to go with 287 receptions for 2,057 yards with ten touchdowns. He’s also the second player in team Saints with at least 8,000 total yards from the line of scrimmage.

Ingram played in all but three of his 12 years in the NFL, spending two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2019, 2020) and Houston Texans (2021) before returning to New Orleans for the final two years of his career. He retired as a Saint in July but will be at the forefront of the college football debate this season, replacing fellow Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff.