25 best NFL careers from Heisman Trophy winners

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 11: Quarterback Cam Newton of the Auburn University Tigers speaks after being named the 76th Heisman Memorial Trophy Award winner at the Best Buy Theater on December 11, 2010 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: Photographer approval needed for all Commercial License requests. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Getty Images for The Heisman) /

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 22: New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) runs against Atlanta Falcons on November 22, 2018 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

23. Mark Ingram Jr., RB, Alabama (2009)

One of many in a long line of Alabama Crimson Tide running backs to be workhorses that ran their way into the history books, Mark Ingram was a beast under the watch of Nick Saban. Though he had three seasons of double-digit touchdowns, it was his sophomore campaign that earned him the Heisman. In that 2009 season, Ingram rushed for 1,658 yards on 271 carries and found the end zone 17 times, also adding 334 receiving yards and three additional touchdowns.

The New Orleans Saints eventually took Ingram with the 28th-overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and he’s been a key cog in their offense since. Though early parts of his career were slightly derailed due to injury, the Alabama product still managed to find production at the start of his career. It was in the 2014 season, though, when Ingram started to truly dig in his heels.

In that year, in which he was named to the Pro Bowl, Ingram played in 13 games and rushed for 964 yards and nine touchdowns. Over the next three seasons, even with the emergence of Alvin Kamara in 2017, Ingram still amassed 2,946 yards and 24 touchdowns along with 1,140 yards and four touchdowns as a pass-catcher.

No one is going to mistake Ingram for the best back in the NFL at any point in his career. Having said that, he has been a consistent piece in a prolific offense and, when healthy, quite reliable. Considering how many winners of the award have busted, that’s enough to earn him a spot.

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