Kevin Ingram, #5

Bio

PROFILE: Kevin Ingram, one of the Arena Football League's premier two-way players, returns for this fifth season as one of the Avengers' primary offensive weapons and defensive standouts. Last season, he was selected as the AFL's "U.S. Army Ironman of the Year," after having an outstanding season in all phases of the game. On offense, Ingram led the team with 88 receptions for 1,052 yards and 23 touchdowns. Defensively, he led the Avengers with six interceptions and was second on the club with 68 tackles. In addition, Ingram led the team in kickoff returns and averaged a team-high 104.1 all-purpose yards per game. After that stellar performance, it was no surprise that he was named to the league's All-Arena first team and All-Ironman squads for the second consecutive season. Ingram was named the "U.S. Army Ironman of the Game" six times during the 2005. His most memorable game occurred on May 7, 2005, when he returned one of his three interceptions for a touchdown with 35 seconds remaining to lift the Avengers to a 54-42 victory at San Jose, which put Los Angeles in position to capture its first Western Division title. In 2004, Ingram was also a strong candidate for "U.S. Army Ironman of the Year" honors after catching 67 passes for 848 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also led the Avengers in kickoff returns (50 for 956 yards) and tackles (76.5). In addition, Ingram tied for the team lead in interceptions with four and also broke up seven pass plays. He was voted the "Ironman of the Game" five times in 2004, and was selected by the AFL as the "ADT Defensive Player of the Week" after deflecting a pass with no time remaining to preserve a 62-55 victory over the Las Vegas Gladiators on Feb. 14, 2004. Ingram was also a strong candidate for All-Arena and All-Ironman honors in 2003, before a fractured fibula cost him the final three games of the season. He wound up the 2003 campaign with 35 receptions for 355 yards and 10 touchdowns. Ingram also was second on the team with four interceptions and third in tackles with 43.5. He was voted the "Ironman of the Game" four times in 2003, and selected by the AFL as "Ironman of the Week" after he caught two touchdown passes, had an interception, a fumble recovery and five tackles in a victory over the Grand Rapids Rampage on March 23. Ingram started 13 games for the Avengers in 2002, finishing with 36 receptions for 389 yards and six touchdowns (third on the team in all three categories). On the defensive side of the football, Ingram tied Greg Hopkins (who won the AFL "Ironman of the Year" award that year) for the team lead in interceptions with five. He had a breakout game and earned game "M.V.P." honors on the road against the Toronto Phantoms on June 27, 2002, catching a team-high five passes for 92 yards and a touchdown, while also intercepting a pass in the last minute and returning it 49 yards for the game-winning score. As a rookie with the Indiana Firebirds in 2001, Ingram got caught in the shuffle behind two of the best receivers in league history ("Touchdown" Eddie Brown and Greg Hopkins). He was acquired by the Avengers in a trade on Dec. 10, 2001. Prior to the start of the 2003 season, Ingram signed a new three-year contract that will keep him with the club through the current season.

COLLEGE: A two-time (1998-99) Associated Press "Little" All-America selection at West Chester (Pa.) University, Ingram holds the all-time school records for catches (235) and receiving yards (3,159). He is also second all-time in touchdown receptions (45) and points scored (278), and fifth in all-purpose yardage (3,507) for the Golden Rams.

HIGH SCHOOL: Ingram was a three-sport standout at Harry S. Truman High School (Levittown, Pa.). In football, he was a two-time All-League performer at wide receiver and defensive back. Ingram also earned All-League honors twice in basketball and once in baseball.

PERSONAL: Born in Flemington, N.J. ... currently resides in Morrisville, Pa. ... has a son named Jaiden ... earned a degree in kinesiology and physical fitness at West Chester ... runs a jewelry business and invests in real estate ... serves as a counselor at various basketball camps in the summer and coaches YMCA basketball ... participated in the filming of the upcoming movie "Invincible," along with Avenger teammates Brian Mann and Tony Locke.