[UPDATED, 9:50 p.m. CST]

Few players were as instrumental to their team's success in 2016 than Carthage junior running back Keaontay Ingram, who led the Bulldogs to their fifth state championship last month.

Division I colleges are taking notices, and on Wednesday, Ingram (6-0, 198) announced the news of three new FBS offers.

Texas Tech, Kansas and Oklahoma State each joined joined Baylor, Missouri, and TCU as schools aligned in Power Five conferences to offer Ingram.

Ingram now has six FBS offers, tying him with Marshall offensive lineman Chasen Hines and Arp ATH DeMarvion Overshown for the most among East Texans in the 2018 class.

The Carthage back also holds an FCS opportunity from Stephen F. Austin.

Ingram set the school's record for rushing yards by a junior last season by running for 2,225 yards and 31 touchdowns in 15 games. His 180-yard, two-touchdown performance propelled Carthage to a 31-17 win over Abilene Wylie in the 4A Division I title game, in which he was named Offensive MVP.

The talented runner was also instrumental in the passing game for Carthage. Ingram finished the year third on the team in receptions and yards with 46 catches for 475 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Texas Tech has been the home to several East Texas natives of late, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes (Whitehouse), receivers Dylan Cantrell (Whitehouse), KeKe Coutee (Lufkin) and Reginald Davis (Tenaha), defensive lineman Broderick Washington (Longview) and linebacker Pete Robertson (Longview).

Ingram is the first area recruit in the 2018 class to be targeted by the Red Raiders. Texas Tech does not have any 2017 high school commits from East Texas, but former local standouts -- quarterback McLane Carter (Gilmer) and defensive back Jaylon Lane (Nacogdoches) -- are transferring in from junior colleges.

Texas Tech is coming off a 5-7 campaign (3-6 in the Big 12) in 2016, its second losing season in four years under head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

Kansas is in rebuilding mode under coach David Beaty, whose second season with the Jayhawks resulted in a 2-10 record. However, Kansas snapped a 19-game losing streak in Big 12 play with a 24-21 overtime win over Texas on Nov. 19. It was the school's first win over the Longhorns since 1938.

The Jayhawks also offered Overshown on Wednesday.

Oklahoma State finished 10-3 last season, earning wins in eight of its last nine games, including a dominating 38-8 rout of Pac-12 South Division champion Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.

The Cowboys, under coach Mike Gundy, have appeared in bowl games every year since 2006.

Ingram is the first area player in the 2018 class to pick up an offer from Oklahoma State, which has a commitment from Gilmer 2017 receiver LaMarcus Morton, who has already enrolled on campus.

Ingram, like all college football prospects currently in their junior year of high school, will become eligible to sign with any program that offers him in February of 2018.

Carthage junior running back Keaontay Ingram takes questions at the postgame press conference podium after the Bulldogs' 31-17 win over Abilene Wylie in the Class 4A Division I championship game in Arlington on Dec. 16, 2016.
Carthage junior running back Keaontay Ingram takes questions at the postgame press conference podium after the Bulldogs' 31-17 win over Abilene Wylie in the Class 4A Division I championship game in Arlington on Dec. 16, 2016.
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2018 East Texas Football Players With Division I FBS Offers

  • Tre Allison, John Tyler, OLB, 6-0, 200 — offer from Mississippi State, SMU (2)
  • Dekalen Goodson, John Tyler, DE/OLB, 6-0, 215 — offer from Mississippi State (1)
  • Chasen Hines, Marshall, OL, 6-2, 326 — offers from Baylor, Louisiana Tech, Minnesota, North Texas, Texas, TCU (6)
  • Keaontay Ingram, Carthage, RB, 6-0, 198 — offers from Baylor, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, TCU (6)
  • DeMarvion Overshown, Arp, ATH, 6-4, 196 —offers from Kansas, SMU, Southerm Miss, TCU, Texas, UTSA (6)

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