It's been pretty well known that the Texas Longhorns were high on the list of running back Keaontay Ingram. In fact, most felt like the Longhorns were the team to beat for the Carthage standout.
What wasn't known was when Ingram might sort through his options and make a decision. That happened on Tuesday afternoon, with Ingram posting a tweet that he was committing to the University of Texas. It turns out, the spur of the moment decision caught even Ingram by surprise.
"I told you it was going to catch everyone off guard," Ingram said. "I just woke up, felt like just being a Longhorn today. I just put that out there, went ahead and committed. To be honest with you, I didn't even know I was going to post that today."
Ingram, widely considered to be the best running back prospect in the state of Texas, said he told his family of his decision just before he posted his tweet. Even the Texas coaches were caught by surprise, he said.
"I shocked them today as well. I didn't even know I was going to put this out today," Ingram said. "I just got off the phone with them. They were going crazy. They even had some alarm going off in the background."
Ingram holds a long list of scholarship offers and had been considering a handful of other programs, including Oklahoma. He said his overall feel for the Texas program and relationship with the UT coaches was enough to push the Longhorns out in front.
"It's just the culture, the family culture, how outstanding the program is," Ingram said. "The coaches as well - the energy they bring, things like that. I'm excited."
Ranked No. 29 on the Lone Star Recruiting Top 100, Ingram is the highest-rated back in the state. The Texas coaches have told him he'll be the only running back they take in this class. Ingram said he's excited about his commitment, but knows there is still work to be done.
"It's good, but at the end of the day , you still have to work, still have to put it on, earn your stripes," Ingram said.
A 6-0, 190-pounder, Ingram said he may try to make it to Austin for a UT camp in June. He did say he will still listen to the sales pitches from other schools that continue to recruit him, but he feels he can be a valuable asset to the Texas running back position.
"I feel like they can use me in a lot of different ways - out of the backfield, between the tackles. I feel like I'm really, really versatile," Ingram said.
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Huge. Just talked to RB Keaontay Ingram.
Story coming, but he said he just woke up today and felt like committing. Caught everyone, including himself and the UT coaches, by surprise.
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