A college football recruit has decommitted from playing at a predominately white institution in order to attend an HBCU instead.
Daniel Ingram had signed a national letter of intent to play at the University of Cincinnati in February, but on Friday he announced via Twitter that he has instead committed to the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff.
I Am Now Decommitted From The University Of Cincinnati And Committed To The University Of Arkansas Pine Bluff???? @WithrowTigers
@kalijones1
@UAPBLionsRoar
pic.twitter.com/qzq4YW7YL0— Daniel Ingram (@Daniel6Qb) July 4, 2020
His high school coach, Kali Jones, told the Cincinnati Enquirer that Ingram was going to play running back for the University of Cincinnati. He was a preferred walk-on for the Bearcats in a recruiting class that coach Luke Fickell said was the best in the program’s history.
Fickell doesn’t seem to have any hard feelings about Ingram’s change of heart.
"I'm happy for him that he's got a place to play," Fickell said.
The recent high school graduate received a full scholarship to play for the Golden Lions, according to The Front Office News. It is unclear what position he will play for coach Doc Gamble.
While playing for Woodward High School in 2018, Ingram was named Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference Player of the Year after throwing 1,160 yards, running for 944 yards and completing 26 touchdowns.
Ingram’s announcement came hours after basketball star Makur Maker committed to play for Howard University. The 19-year-old had UCLA, Kentucky and Memphis on his final list but ultimately chose to take his talents to D.C., reports ESPN.
“I was the 1st to announce my visit to Howard & other started to dream 'what if'. I need to make the HBCU movement real so that others will follow,” he wrote on Twitter. “I hope I inspire guys like Mikey Williams to join me on this journey. I am committing to Howard U & coach Kenny Blakeney.”
I was the 1st to announce my visit to Howard & other started to dream “what if”. I need to make the HBCU movement real so that others will follow. I hope I inspire guys like Mikey Williams to join me on this journey. I am committing to Howard U & coach Kenny Blakeney #MakerMob
— Makur Maker (@MakurMaker) July 3, 2020
The Kenyan athlete visited Howard in the fall, and his guardian said he could see Maker as part of a community at the HBCU.
"A lot of people are comfortable with familiarity. Kids could say, 'I would feel welcome that I'm not just an athlete — I'm part of a community,'" Maker's guardian Ed Smith said. “Just for me on the outside looking in, he's part of the fabric. You're not just the athlete or the Black athlete."
Maker's decision makes him the highest-ranking college basketball prospect to commit to an HBCU since ESPN began tracking recruits in 2007.
Howard coach Kenny Blakeney said the possibility of receiving a five-star recruit weighs heavy.
"Wherever a five-star lands, we can't mess it up," Blakeney said. "If we mess it up, we may not have another opportunity to be able to do it."
Maker said he will further explain his decision to attend Howard in an appearance on ESPN on Thursday, which is also South Sudan Independence Day.