Mark Ingram has found the perfect home with Baltimore Ravens

After success in both Tuscaloosa and New Orleans, Ingram finds his way “home”

Some players just “feel” like Baltimore Ravens.

Tony Siragusa was one of those guys. Already an established player with the Indianapolis Colts, Siragusa just felt like he belonged in Baltimore when he came to town. The physicality. The swagger. The mouth. They all fit right in with that Ravens culture of the time — a culture that has only continued to grow throughout time.

Derrick Mason was like that. As was Shannon Sharpe, Anquan Boldin and Steve Smith, Sr. It didn’t matter where they started out, or what accomplishments they had in other locales, there was just something about those guys that felt natural when they put on the purple and black and started banging helmets with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Running back Mark Ingram is certainly one of those guys. Oh, make no mistake about it. Ingram fit in just fine at the University of Alabama, where he won a Heisman Trophy for his prowess on the field. And he was ingrained in New Orleans when he played for the Saints, performing well on the field and becoming a beloved figure to Saints fans. Remember when he signed with the Ravens in free agency this year? Saints fans flooded social media with well-wishes to Ingram, and took some shots at Saints management for letting him walk away.

Ingram and Alvin Kamara formed a terrific tandem for the Saints at the running back position, and it was evident watching the games how close the two of them were, on and off the field. It appeared from the outside to be a big brother-little brother dynamic, and the two played off each other without a whiff of jealousy over shared carries or recognition.

When the Ravens signed Ingram, most Ravens fans were happy. It was a reasonable price for a player with Ingram’s credentials, and he sounded enthusiastic about his new challenges in Baltimore. Gus Edwards would be able to keep Ingram’s load down on inside runs, and the general consensus was that the Ravens run game would be good-to-go this season, between them and quarterback Lamar Jackson.

But Ingram has been much more than just suitable. He has rushed for 963 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging five yards a carry. He’s also caught 24 passes for four more touchdowns, and proven to be an adequate blocker. He runs with passion and thunder, yet completely under control while he slides from side to side to find a hole before exploding through it with a controlled rage. The on-the-field part of Ingram has exceeded most people’s expectations.

But off the field? He has been a gem. A vocal champion of Jackson, the public face of the “Big Truss” movement and a constant bundle of enthusiasm and energy on the sidelines, Ingram has been a true leader on this 12-2 team. The Ravens have always been at their best when they have a little fire on the offensive side, and Ingram is Baltimore’s version of the Human Torch.

Mark Ingram did not make his name in Baltimore. Nor did he revive a moribund career with the Ravens. That would be selling him short on everything he’s been able to accomplish in his storied career.

But he’s here now. And he most certainly looks like he’s home.