Skyview football: Ingram tackling a new position

“That kid’s amazing. He’s a kid you have to plan for, offensively and defensively. He’s one of the best all-around players in the league, that’s for sure. The kid’s the real deal.”

–4A GSHL Coach, on Skyview RB/LB Blake Ingram

Blake Ingram will always consider himself a linebacker first.

He is, after all, a defensive standout for the Skyview Storm, a returning first-team all-leaguer. He is the guy whose name was called over and over again, over the public address system at Kiggins Bowl when a big tackle was recorded.

Only, he also made quite a name for himself with his new position last season.

He got a couple of carries on offense in Week 2 last season. In Week 3, he had his first 100-yard game and scored two touchdowns.

Later, he had a three-touchdown, 200-yard game.

Blake Ingram the linebacker can run the ball, too.

“It’s more fun for me as a linebacker, just hitting people, the excitement, the rush, the adrenaline,” Ingram said. “As running back, though, you can excite the team. You’re kind of The Entertainer. You get the opportunity to get the morale of the team up. It’s a cool experience.”

Last year, a coach suggested he give offense a try.

“Sure,” Ingram said. “I’ve never played running back in my life.”

So last year’s success — he finished with 11 touchdowns and averaged 6.6 yards a carry — was based on talent, instinct, work ethic.

This offseason, he focused on learning the position.

“Just to make sure I know each of my plays, each of my assignments,” Ingram said. “Don’t get me wrong, I still studied on defense, too.”

Of course, that means Ingram could be on the field 95 percent of the time for the Storm. A beast at linebacker and clutch at running back. Sound familiar, Skyview?

Yes, one of his coaches said Ingram is the closest thing to Parker Henry since Parker Henry graduated. (Henry, the 2011 All-Region player of the year, is now on scholarship at Washington State.)

“It’s going to be hard. It’s going to be very difficult,” Ingram said. “You look at great past players from Skyview. Parker Henry played offense, defense, special teams. I want to be like him. He’s a big icon at Skyview. He’s a phenomenal player and person.”

In fact, Skyview coach Steve Kizer praises Ingram just like he did Henry back in the day.

“It’s nice when one of your best payers is also one of the hardest workers. He’s not satisfied with where he is. He wants to get better,” Kizer said. “He’s definitely a scholarship-level guy.”

Ingram said he learned the value of work through football, and he believes football will lead him to bigger things, too. An education. A career.

“You have to have a love for football to have an understanding of it, and the brotherhood behind it, all of us working for the same goal,” Ingram said.

The Storm have finished third in the 4A GSHL the past two seasons, yet the goal remains the same at Skyview: Win a league title, go on a long playoff run.

Ingram said winning the 4A GSHL would be almost as impressive as playing in December for a state title.

“The Greater St. Helens League is one of the very best leagues in the entire state,” he said. “It’s a stacked league.”

To win the title, teams need to bring their very best at every position, week in and week out.

At Skyview, the Storm have one of the best running backs and one of the best linebackers in the region — all in one.