Texas Football: 5 former Longhorns finding success elsewhere in 2021

Keaontay Ingram, USC RB

Once he entered the transfer portal last offseason officially, the former blue-chip recruit and senior running back Keaontay Ingram became one of the most proven players available at his position group. That was an appealing aspect to any programs pursuing him out of the transfer portal. Ingram was one of the most productive running backs for the Longhorns from 2018-2020.

During his three years playing for Texas, Ingram registered just over 1,800 rushing yards (5.3 yards per carry), 11 rushing touchdowns, along with north of 2,300 total yards from scrimmage, and 17 total touchdowns. But the fit between Ingram and the Longhorns was clearly waning down the stretch last season.

Losing Ingram to the transfer portal just seemed bound to happen through about the last half of the 2020 season. And that is what ultimately happened early last offseason. The USC Trojans and former head coach Clay Helton nabbed Ingram out of the transfer portal. USC actually landed a good helping of Texas Exes out of the transfer portal last offseason.

Ingram joined the likes of former Longhorns in wide receiver Jake Smith and wide receiver/tight end Malcolm Epps in terms of the transfers to sign with USC last offseason.

Moreover, Ingram is having a really solid year for the Trojans as their top running back this fall. He’s leading the team, by a wide margin, with 911 rushing yards (5.8 yards per carry), five rushing touchdowns, and more than 1,050 total yards from scrimmage so far this season.

Ingram is also one of the 10 highest-graded running backs in the Power Five this season. He’s improved in the way of a blocking back too.

I’m definitely not saying that it was going to work out between Keaontay and the Longhorns. But it is noteworthy that he’s finding so much success at another struggling blue blood such as USC this season.