Mark Ingram played more games for more seasons in the NFL than any other Alabama running back. As the Grand Old Man of Crimson Tide ball-carriers, Ingram was asked to name the top five NFL running backs from Alabama of the past 20 years during an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show” on Thursday.

But the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner found it hard to narrow the field.

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“You got Derrick Henry, for sure. You got 2K rushing yards,” Ingram said. “You got Josh Jacobs, the reigning rushing champ. You got myself – 12 years, 10,000 scrimmage yards. You got the young buck, Najee Harris. You got Eddie Lacy was Offensive Rookie of the Year. You got Kenyan Drake. There’s so many, man.”

Told he had to order the running backs one through five, Ingram responded: “It’s me. Then you got King Henry. Then you go Josh Jacobs. Then you go – we’re going Najee Harris and then we’re going Kenyan Drake. …

“It is tough, man. I got to put Damien Harris in there. I got to put Eddie Lacy in there. I got to put all my dogs in there. We be eating. The list is too long, man.”

Ingram’s list omitted Shaun Alexander, who has more NFL rushing yards than any other former Alabama player. Ingram protested, citing the 20-year margin, but Alexander’s best season came in 2005, when he led the NFL in rushing yards, broke the league single-season record for touchdowns and won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award.

“Then I’m taking myself off and putting Shaun Alexander on,” Ingram said.

RELATED: ALABAMA’S TOP 10 NFL RUSHERS

Not including the Crimson Tide’s 2022 season, the most recent conference or postseason game for Alabama started by a running back who did not go on to carry the football in an NFL regular-season game occurred on Nov. 17, 2007. That day, Terry Grant served as the Tide’s starting running back in a 17-12 loss to Mississippi State.

Brian Robinson Jr. kept the streak going in the 2022 NFL season as a rookie with the Washington Commanders.

Robinson put his name on a list that includes Glen Coffee, Ingram, Trent Richardson, Lacy, T.J. Yeldon, Jalston Fowler, Henry, Drake, Bo Scarbrough, Damien Harris, Jacobs and Najee Harris.

In the 2023 NFL season, Jahmyr Gibbs will extend the streak. The Detroit Lions added the Alabama running back with the 12th choice in the NFL Draft on April 27.

After 12 seasons as an NFL running back, Ingram is returning to college football this year as a member of FOX Sports’ “Big Noon Kickoff” on-the-air team on Saturdays.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.