Former Carthage football standout and now Super Bowl champion Keaontay Ingram returned to his alma mater on Sunday for a meet and greet. (Meredith Shamburger/Panola Watchman)

Former Carthage football standout and now Super Bowl champion Keaontay Ingram returned to his alma mater on Sunday for a meet and greet.

Ingram spent most of the time hugging old teachers and coaches, and signing footballs, jerseys and more for the fans who have been supporting him since he first put on a jersey.

“I get this is me, but it’s not just me,” he said, noting all of the hometown support he got growing up and still gets today. “Y’all have a piece of that regardless of who you are.”

Ingram is currently on the Kansas City Chiefs roster as a running back and previously played for the Arizona Cardinals. In college, he played for both the University of Texas and University of Southern California.

While playing at Carthage, the Bulldogs went to the state championship and won twice, in 2016 and 2017. Ingram was a finalist for the Mr. Texas Football High School Player of the Year award.

Coach Scott Surratt, in speaking about Ingram on Sunday, remembered the star football player was constantly trying to improve himself. Surratt called Ingram an overachiever, a warrior and the ultimate competitor. 

“I’ll never forget I pulled over — he didn’t see me and my truck on the field behind this building here. It was 106 degrees right before we started practicing late July, and I just pulled over — and I still got it on video— he is working those hills like crazy up and down.”

Ingram said all that hard work came from his family, from his mom waking up early and working three jobs to his grandparents putting in work too.

“I feel like it’s just ingrained you know, watching my grandma and watching my grandpa come in their house tired you know, and still wake up and do it again. Then do it again and do it again,” he said.

He said Sunday his high school days were the most fun he’s had in football, because he was doing it and succeeding with his classmates who he grew up with. But, he said with a laugh, business-wise he likes the NFL a little bit more.

“But the most memorable, funniest moment I will say you don’t have to be my senior in high school when I won the state championship,” he said.

“I had to pry it out of you!” Surratt yelled back.

Ingram agreed, noting Surratt’s coaching and focus on getting the job done was how special things happened.

Surratt said Ingram deserves everything he’s getting.

“Just can’t say enough about his character,” Surratt said. “He’s a godly man that you know, great family. And we did a lot of great things with him. He helped us build this place.”