Mark Ingram Makes a Triumphant Return For Alabama

Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram made an indelible impression on the college football world last season, playing an integral role in the Crimson Tide's undefeated season and national championship.

Ingram missed Alabama's first two contests—wins against San Jose State and Penn State—due to a knee injury involving arthroscopic surgery at the end of August.

Tide coach Nick Saban has said repeatedly that Alabama was in no hurry to bring back Ingram, wanting him to recuperate from a semi-severe injury rather than be in a hurry to return to the ever-alluring gridiron.

Saban and the team doctors looked to be the smart ones today in Ingram's return to the field as Alabama won, 62-13, at Duke.

The Return

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 11: Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on from the sidelines against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 11, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Ingram returned today on the road against the lowly Duke Blue Devils.

How lowly?

62-13 lowly.

Ingram torched the Blue Devils defense whenever he was in the game and remains Bama's most viable option coming out of the backfield.

The Stats

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OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 10: Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs for yardage in their college football game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 10, 2009 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Dave Martin/Getty Images)

Ingram took his first carry of the game 48 yards, eclipsed the century mark two carries later, and finished with 151 yards on nine carries for an average of 16.8 yards per carry.

Of course, what return to form would be complete for a Heisman winner without a touchdown?

No. 22 thundered into the end zone on two occasions, a 17-yarder and a 1-yarder, both in the first quarter.

The Touchdowns

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ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 05: Running back Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide rushes upfield against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Georgia Dome on September 5, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty I

As mentioned previously, Ingram scored two touchdowns in the first quarter.

He also had 119 yards rushing at the end of the first quarter. Pretty decent...

Ingram's first score came on the end of a six-play, 77-yard drive.  He plunged into the end zone for his first score from the 1-yard line.

Ingram's second TD came on a 17-yard scramble with 4:52 left in the quarter.

The Controversy

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 11: Trent Richardson #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 11, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

What controversy?

In Ingram's absence, Trent Richardson has been an able substitute for Ingram, amassing 210 yards on 32 attempts to go with three touchdowns.

So who is the starter?

Unless Nick Saban is absolutely insane, the answer is obvious.

Go with Ingram until he lets you down—which the junior never has. Ingram deserves the touches until he demonstrates the inability to perform at a high level or whenever Saban wants to give him a rest.

Tough decision: returning Heisman winner or solid backup?

We'll take the sure thing in Ingram, Coach.

The Future

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NEW YORK - DECEMBER 12: The Heisman trophy awarded to Running back Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide at a press conference after he was named the 75th Heisman Trophy winner at the Marriott Marquis on December 12, 2009 in New York City. (Photo

Ingram can plant his name squarely back in the middle of the Heisman race this season with a solid game next week at Arkansas.

Two weeks off will be hard to come back from, but if anyone is going to be capable of it in today's NCAA, it is Ingram.

With Arkansas next week and two more ranked teams, Florida and South Carolina, following that, Ingram's chances of bursting back on the national scene remain great.

If he can perform well against those three opponents, Ingram will be in New York City come December as a candidate for more hardware.