LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells added the final piece to his 2019 roster Tuesday evening as Ja’Marcus Ingram joined the Red Raider football program as a graduate transfer.
Ingram, who took part in his first practice as a Red Raider earlier this afternoon, will be immediately eligible after earning his degree from Utah State in only three years. He will have two years of eligibility remaining beginning with the 2019 campaign.
Ingram, a native of Dallas, started in 15 games the past two seasons at Utah State where he began his career as a walk-on student-athlete. He was a regular around the ball each of those two years, combining for 11 pass breakups while picking off one pass.
Ingram quickly earned a starting role as a redshirt freshman in 2017 as he totaled 42 tackles, which ranked eighth on the team and led the cornerbacks room. He started in 10 of 13 games that season en route to leading the Aggies to an appearance in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.
His 2018 campaign was unfortunately cut short, however, following a season-ending injury six games into his sophomore year. Ingram still managed to notch 19 tackles prior to the injury to go along with six pass breakups, which ended the year tied for third on the team.
Ingram becomes the sixth graduate transfer to arrive in Lubbock this summer, joining a group that already includes Zech McPhearson (Penn State), Evan Rambo (Cal), Armand Shyne (Utah), RJ Turner (Louisiana-Monroe) and Jackson Tyner (Rice). Of that group, the trio of McPhearson, Rambo and Ingram will all have two years of eligibility remaining.
The Red Raiders open the debut season under Wells in approximately 11 days when Tech hosts Montana State inside Jones AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. on Aug. 31 with coverage provided on FOX Sports Net and the Texas Tech Sports Network.
