Ingram Finalist For Camp Award

Alabama sophomore tailback Mark Ingram was considered by many to be the favorite for the Heisman Trophy prior to a sub-par game against Auburn. Ingram is still Heisman worthy, even if his status as a candidate has diminished. And his candidacy is not being dismissed by the Walter Camp Foundation.

Alabama sophomore running back Mark Ingram is one of five finalists for the 2009 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, presented by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Ingram is joined by Houston quarterback Case Keenum, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow as this year’s finalists. The winner will be announced during the 5 p.m.. (CST) edition of ESPN SportsCenter on Thursday, Dec. 10. The winner will receive the 2009 Walter Camp Trophy at the foundation’s annual banquet on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010.

Ingram is also a finalist for the Doak Walker Award and Maxwell Trophy. The Doak Walker award is presented the best running back in college football, while the Maxwell Trophy goes to the best player in college football.

In 12 games this season, Ingram has 221 rushing attempts for 1,429 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is second in the SEC and 11th nationally with 119.08 rushing yards per game this season. He also averages 6.5 yards per carry and had an incredible 7.1 yards per carry in the month of October against the likes of Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.

He has added 28 catches for 246 yards and three touchdowns and has accounted for 1,675 all-purpose yards this season, an average of 139.6 yards per game.

Ingram needs 43 yards to break Bobby Humphrey’s single-season record of 1,471 yards set during the 1986 season. Against top 25 teams, Ingram is averaging 178 yards per game in wins over Virginia Tech, Mississippi, South Carolina and LSU.

He was named SEC Player of the Week following wins over Virginia Tech and South Carolina.. In the win over the Gamecocks, Ingram set a Bryant-Denny Stadium record with 246 rushing yards in the 20-6 victory. He was also named a midseason All-American by The Sporting News.