Senior Lucas Ingram has spent the past eight weeks getting ready for Monday, March 29, the first day of spring football practice at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

The Union City High School product enters spring practice in quest of landing a starting position on the Skyhawks defense. "I feel like I am in the best shape in my life," Ingram said. "I have lots of energy and can't wait for practice to start."

For the past eight weeks, Ingram has listened and carried out orders as prescribed by Skyhawk second-year head coach Matt Griffin. He started Phase 1, the winter workouts, at 190 pounds.

"I have put on some weight and gained some much-needed strength," Ingram said. I needed both to help me make an impact on the field."

During this week of testing, Ingram was clocked at 4.81 in the 40-yard dash. In the weight room he showed a five-pound increase in his bench press from 265 to 270. He showed his biggest improvement in the squat where he started the winter workouts at 335. He maxed out at 430 earlier this week. Ingram played in 10 games this past season and recorded five solo tackles and four assisted tackles. He had two tackles for a loss of 12 yards and he had one fumble recovery. He helped the Skyhawks to a 2-10 season, and played a key role in the Skyhawks' overtime win over Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee Tech. The victory over Tech was the first conference win for the Skyhawks in 42 tries.

The stats are a far cry from what Ingram piled up at Union City High School where he played for UT Martin alumnus Randy Barnes from 1997-2000.

In 2000, Ingram helped lead the Golden Tornadoes to the Class 2A state championship game against Alcoa. Ingram saw action on offense and defense at Union City.

Griffin said Ingram could see action in the fall at either inside linebacker or outside linebacker. "He's so physical he can play inside and hit people all day long. Then again, he's so athletic he could play outside. He offers us some flexibility."

The Skyhawk defense was fourth in sacks this past season and was sixth in the league in stopping the pass.

"Lucas Ingram is a pure solider," Griffin said. "He's improved academically, athletically and socially. He's in the fox hole with us."

The Skyhawks open spring practice at 4 p.m. Monday. They have about five weeks to get in 15 days of practice. The first intersquad scrimmage is set for 9 a.m., Saturday, April 3 at Hardy Graham Stadium.

Spring practice will conclude with the annual Blue and Orange Game set for 12:30 p.m., Saturday, April 24.