“Too skinny. Too short. No. No. No.”
Ja’Marcus Ingram is no stranger to the word “no.” Stuck on junior varsity until his senior year of high school, a walk-on in college, going undrafted in the NFL Draft. But no matter how many times Ingram has heard the word “no,” he’s always chosen to bet on himself no matter what.
Ingram, now a cornerback for the Houston Texans, visited the school on April 24 to speak to the school’s football team and interact with the school’s community, taking pictures with students in the cafeteria and giving away signed copies of his children’s book “The Lil’ Player That Could.”
“Even though I didn’t know it during high school, my key word was [persistence],” Ingram said. “I haven’t always looked like a [Division I] player or an NFL-caliber player, so my mindset was to get there no matter how it looked or what it took. Every day, I had it on my mind that I wanted to make it to the league. So I’ve always been a dreamer, dreaming beyond what my own two eyes could see.”
At South Oak Cliff High School, Ingram did not make the varsity team until his senior year as a wide receiver, mostly due to his smaller frame, at 5’10 and 140 lbs.
“Football always presented a different challenge for me, especially physically because I was a late bloomer,” Ingram said. “I was always told that I wasn’t big enough, I was too skinny, I wasn’t tall enough. But every time I walked into a room, even though I wasn’t the biggest, fastest or strongest, I knew I could still compete with [anybody].”
After graduating high school, Ingram walked on to Utah State University, where he played for two years before transferring to Texas Tech University and later the University at Buffalo.
“My path to the NFL has been more of an underdog story,” Ingram said. “It’s just been grinding it out and overcoming obstacles to get to where I’m at right now. It’s been a journey, to say the least. I’ve just been working with a purpose to get to the top of the mountain. And I’m at the top of the mountain, but I’m not done yet.”
After playing his fifth year (due to COVID-19 making him eligible for another year of playing) in college, Ingram declared for the NFL Draft, now a little larger at 6’1, 185 lbs. He went undrafted, but quickly signed with the Buffalo Bills after the draft’s conclusion. He spent four years with Buffalo, being a veteran on the 53-man roster for the final two years.
“Leadership, top-down, is key to anything; leadership from [executives], leadership from coaches and leadership from players because we’re the ones going out there and making plays,” Ingram said. “The way we lead our team and govern ourselves contributes to our success.”
Buffalo released Ingram on Dec. 3, 2025, and the very next day, he was signed by the Houston Texans, in his home state.
“Nobody really understands what the process [of switching teams] is like,” Ingram said. “In a matter of less than 48 hours, I got a call [from the Texans] and got on a flight [to Houston]. It was an emotional process leaving Buffalo because they’re still family to me, but being able to
come back to Texas was a perfect opportunity.”
Ingram was soon named a starter on Houston’s top-ranked defense, where he immediately made an impact, even intercepting a throw from New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
“Going into year five with a new defense and new team puts me in a new role,” Ingram said. “This year, I want to continue to learn, continue to grow and win the Super Bowl.”
Ingram was re-signed to the Texans on March 3, and will remain with Houston next season.
“Southern hospitality is something I missed the most when I was [in Buffalo],” Ingram said. “Houston is very diverse; there’s so many things to do and so many opportunities to get involved in the community and touch others. I want to touch the [Houston] community and let my light shine on those who need it.”
