Watch above: the Saskatchewan Huskies have a history of success at safety
SASKATOON – In 2008, safety Dylan Barker was drafted first overall by the Hamilton Tigercats. Bryce McCall seamlessly took over for Barker and ended his career with the most interceptions in CIS history. When McCall graduated, Mark Ingram stepped in.
According to Huskies head coach Brian Towriss, the team might actually now be better than ever at the position.
“I would put Mark at the top of that list,” admits Towriss, “just his quickness and overall knowledge of the game. He has been outstanding.”
Replacing someone like Barker couldn’t have been easy for McCall.
The same sort of pressure was heaped onto the shoulders on Mark Ingram when he came to the Huskies after five years with the Regina Thunder.
“(McCall) gave me lots of help when I came here. It’s easier when you have a guy that wants you to succeed,” Ingram says of his predecessor.
“That just shows you what kind of guy (Bryce) is and hopefully I can do the same thing for the next guy, next year.”
In his second year with the Huskies, Ingram has established himself as one of the most dominate defensive players in the CIS. When Ingram came to the program last season, Brian Towriss knew he was good, but maybe not this good.
“We knew he was a good player, we didn’t know he was such a good leader and such a great competitor. I think he’s been one of the best players in the conference this year.”
Ingram’s numbers back up the high praise from his coach: six interceptions to lead the nation and 36.5 tackles, which is second most in the Canada West.
The Presidents’ Trophy for the Top Defensive Player in the CIS might be awaiting Ingram at the end of the season, although that’s not the hardware that concerns the Imperial, Sask. product.
“I’ve been playing this game a long time and I’ve never won anything as a team. I want to win the Hardy and go on to win the Vanier. That would be the pinnacle of everything when my football career is done.”
Ingram’s final CIS regular season game goes down Saturday against the UBC Thunderbirds, which will be followed by the Canada West Semi Finals Nov. 7 at Griffiths Stadium.
Comments