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Saints running back Mark Ingram: 'I can do everything'

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New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram said he is a complete back who hopes to expand his role, reports Mike Triplett of ESPN.com.

In Friday's preseason game against the Tennessee Titans, Ingram caught a touchdown pass for the first time in his NFL career.

"I haven't caught a lot of passes in the NFL, but in high school I played receiver. If you look at my recruiting thing, it says 'athlete,'" Ingram said proudly. "And in college, I caught a lot of passes. I haven't done it a lot here, but I've always been confident in my ability to contribute out of the backfield running routes, line up out wide running routes. I'm comfortable doing all of that." 

"I know I'm an all-purpose back, a complete back. I can do everything." 

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Ingram, 24, rushed for 386 yards on 78 carries and caught 7 passes for 68 yards last season. The 5-10, 215-pound back could see more passes thrown his way in 2014 after Darren Sproles was traded to the Eagles in the offseason.

Ingram has recorded 11 rushing touchdowns and averaged 4.1 yards per carry and 39.5 yards per game over three seasons with New Orleans.

Ingram starred at Alabama, winning the Heisman Trophy and a national championship, and was selected in the first round of the 2011 draft.

- Chris Johnson