Tag: Keaontay Ingram

Rookie RB Keaontay Ingram likely to make NFL debut vs. Seahawks

At least one of the Cardinals’ running backs is expected to be out this week, opening the door for the sixth-round rookie.

Rookie running back Keaontay Ingram has been inactive for every game this season for the Arizona Cardinals. That is likely to change in Week 6 when the Cardinals travel to take on the Seattle Seahawks.

Because of injuries in the running back room, Ingram, drafted this year by the Cardinals in the sixth round, will likely make his NFL debut.

James Conner injured his ribs, Darrel Williams had a knee injury and Jonathan Ward injured his hamstring on Sunday. All three exited the game.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury indicated that Ward has a pulled hamstring, which essentially rules him out for the game on Sunday.

The status of the other two is unknown.

The Cardinals have had four running backs active every game so far this season. At minimum, Ingram should be active to play special teams.

Kingsbury is confident in Ingram.

“He’s very talented,” he told reporters Monday. “That’s why we kept five. You don’t see that a lot, but he was really impressive in the preseason and has been impressive on the scout team. Now it’s just about making sure he understands the game plan and executing at a high level if he gets called upon, but his natural gifts are pretty special we think.”

The Seahawks allowed more than 200 rushing yards in Week 5 to the New Orleans Saints in a 39-32 loss.

He will surely be excited for his opportunity and fans will be, too.

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30 days till the Cardinals’ 2022 season opener vs. Chiefs

Check out the Cardinals players that have worn No. 30 over the years.

The Arizona Cardinals kick off their preseason schedule tonight against the Cincinnati Bengals and they will kick off the regular season now in 30 days.

In 30 days, they will take the field at State Farm Stadium at home to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1.

Rookie running back Keaontay Ingram wears No. 30. He and many Cardinals players who wore No. 30 before him are below.

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Kliff Kingsbury names standouts from Red & White Practice

Kliff Kingsbury was impressed by two quarterbacks, a running back and two defensive linemen.

The Arizona Cardinals returned to the practice field on Monday for the first time since the Red & White Practice Saturday afternoon. With an off day on Sunday, head coach Kliff Kingsbury spoke to reporters for the first time since the practice.

He was asked about what players stood out with the crowd of approximately 18,000 fans.

Some of the names will surprise you and others should be expected.

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Rookie RB Keaontay Ingram more versatile than his size shows

The 6-0, 215-lb back can not only run up the middle but do things in the passing game.

The Arizona Cardinals drafted running back Keaontay Ingram in the sixth round of the NFL draft last month. He is a big back who played collegiately both at Texas and at USC.

Listed at 6-0 and 215 lbs, he has played much bigger.

Bigger backs are known for being punishing runners. Ingram believes he can be more.

“I’m not just a guy that can go in there and ram a defensive end or a linebacker, but also I’m a guy that can go out there and catch screens one-on-one with the linebackers,” he said as a guest on the Big Red Rage. “And I can play with the defense a little bit when I’m sitting in the gun five yards from the snap count and just go out my progressions. I feel like I’m a very versatile player and I showed that a little bit at SC.”

Ingram said that so far in rookie minicamp and OTAs, he has been used a little bit in the passing game.

He weighs about 216 right now and plans on playing at about 220. He got as big as 240 when he was at Texas because he was used more as a blocker.

He says he has good size and good feet.

Given the choice between running past or around a defensive back or running over him in the open field, what he would do is situational, although he did make it clear.

“I love laying the boom,” he said. “I love taking a person’s will over and over and over, over, over again.”

He knows he has to prove himself to the coaches and his teammates. But if he can earn playing time, a pairing of him with James Conner could be very hard for defenses to deal with over the course of an entire game.

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3 of Cardinals’ Day 3 picks sign rookie deals

Sixth-round picks Keaontay Ingram and Lecitus Smith and seventh-round pick Jessee Luketa all signed their rookie deals.

The Arizona Cardinals announced they signed three of their eight draft picks on Thursday. They signed their two sixth-round picks and one of their seventh-round picks — running back Keaontay Ingram, offensive lineman Lecitus Smith and linebacker Jesse Luketa.

They get four-year contracts. We will learn the details of the deals in the next days and weeks.

Ingram and Smith were drafted in the sixth round. Ingram was the 201st overall pick, drafted out of USC. Smith was pick No. 215, drafted out of Virginia Tech.

Luketa was the 256th selection in the draft and played collegiately at Penn State.

Below are the player bios from the team’s press release:

Ingram (6-0, 221) appeared in 42 games at Texas (2018-20) and USC (2021) and rushed for 2,722 yards and 16 touchdowns on 495 carries while adding 671 yards and six touchdowns on 89 receptions. He ran for 100+ yards in eight games in his college career and had 12 games with 100+ total scrimmage yards. Last year at USC, Ingram was the Trojans leading rusher after setting a career-high with 911 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games, earning All-Pac 12 honorable mention. A Carthage, TX native, Ingram spent his first three seasons in college at Texas and appeared in 32 games (18 starts) and was a two-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

Smith (luh-SEET-us) (6-3, 314) was a three-year starter at Virginia Tech and played in 45 games (38 starts), including starting in all 37 contests he played in to finish his collegiate career. A two-time All-ACC selection, Smith made 37 starts at left guard and one at left tackle during his career with the Hokies. He started all 11 games in each of the past two seasons, including in 2020 when he helped the Hokies lead the ACC in rushing (240.1 ypg) and run for 27 touchdowns. A Fitzgerald, GA native, Smith was a highly-recruited tight end coming out of high school and transitioned to the offensive line at Virginia Tech. 

Luketa (loo-KETT-uh) (6-3, 253) is an Ottawa, Ontario native who appeared in 46 games (18 starts) at Penn State and had 151 tackles, seven tackles for loss, a half sack, one interception (returned for a TD), eight passes defensed and a fumble recovery. As a senior in 2021, Luketa played in 12 games (eight starts) and earned third-team All-Big Ten honors after finishing the season with 61 tackles (27 solo) and 8.5 tackles for loss. He left Canada and attended high school at Mercyhurst Prep in Erie, PA prior to enrolling at Penn State.

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Cardinals select USC RB Keaontay Ingram with first 6th-round pick

The Cardinals get a running back with the first of five Day 3 selections.

The Arizona Cardinals had to wait a while on Day 3 to make their first selection. Without a fourth or a fifth-round selection, their first pick of the day wasn’t until No. 201 in the sixth round.

When that pick finally came around, they used it to select USC running back Keaontay Ingram.

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2022 NFL draft: Chargers 7-round mock draft update

With the 2022 NFL draft just days away, here is our second-to-last full mock draft update for the Los Angeles Chargers.

We are just a week away from finding out what general manager Tom Telesco, head coach Brandon Staley and the rest of the staff will do to complete the reconstruction of the Chargers ahead of the 2022 season.

With that, here is my second-to-last full mock draft update for Los Angeles.

NFL combine: Keaontay Ingram excited about zone scheme, working on route running

Talked to Ingram, who could be a day three target of the Browns if they are looking for a running back, about zone scheme and developing in the passing game:

It is an honor and a pleasure to get to cover the NFL combine live in Indianapolis. Getting to connect with teams, agents and fellow media members is a great way to gather information on the upcoming draft and free agency. More on that to come this weekend.

We shared a conversation with Alec Lindstrom Thursday where the interior offensive lineman talked about the details of the zone-blocking scheme and how it works for him. With the Cleveland Browns, and a lot of other teams, running that scheme, I asked questions around it for a reason.

With Nick Chubb leading the way, the Browns don’t have a big need for a running back but could be looking to add one later in the draft. D’Ernest Johnson could become a restricted free agent if Cleveland gives him a tender offer. Kareem Hunt is set to be a free agent after the 2022 season.

Demetric Felton was used more as a receiver than a running back but could be considered either depending on what the team wants to do.

Keaontay Ingram is a back that could fit that later-round pick for the Browns. Ingram has a history with the zone scheme and said he feels good about it:

With pass-catching becoming more and more important in the NFL, Ingram noted that he was very focused on his route running in the ramp-up to the NFL draft:

 

As I noted in the question, Ingram caught almost 100 passes in college and probably would have eclipsed that but the COVID limited season kept his numbers down.

In three years at Texas, Ingram rushed for over 1,800 yards with a 5.3 yards per carry average and 11 touchdowns. His one season at USC was his best with 911 yards, 5.8 yards per carry average and five touchdowns.

Ingram has a chance to improve his stock but The Draft Network currently has him slated as a sixth-round pick.

Former Texas RB Keaontay Ingram declares for the 2022 NFL draft

Keaontay Ingram will not return to USC.

Former Texas Longhorn and USC Trojan running back Keaontay Ingram officially announced that he will be declaring for the 2022 NFL draft.

The former four-star recruit out of Carthage, Texas began his college career as a Longhorn where he had three relatively successful seasons. After the emergence of star running back Bijan Robinson, and poorly timed fumbles in a couple games that lost some trust in the coaching staff, Ingram decided to transfer and take his talents to USC.

His time as a Trojan only lasted one season. Ingram announced via Twitter on Thursday that he will be declaring for the NFL draft, and forgoing his extra season of eligibility that he had available due to the pandemic.

While he made the official announcement on Thursday, Ingram was included as a part of one of the rosters of the NFLPA Bowl earlier in the month.

Ingram finished his college career with 495 rushing attempts for 2,722 and 16 touchdowns. He also added 89 career catches for 669 yards and six touchdowns.

Each player that Texas football added, subtracted via the transfer portal recently

A full list of each player that the Texas Longhorns have added or subtracted via the NCAA transfer portal recently.

The Texas Longhorns have been active in the NCAA transfer portal recently. Continue reading “Each player that Texas football added, subtracted via the transfer portal recently”