Alabama’s Nick Saban visits Barry Sanders, says he believes Mark Ingram will go pro

Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Crimson Tide recruiting coordinator Curt Cignetti visited Heritage Hall in Oklahoma City on Wednesday. They wanted to reassure Barry Sanders that the Tide are extremely interested. “It was cool of him to do that,” Sanders said. “He seemed nice, and he just said it would be great to have me.” Saban met with Sanders in the cafeteria area as part of a tour of the Heritage Hall campus. Sanders told The Oklahoman that Saban told him that he believes ‘Bama running back Mark Ingram is going to forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL Draft. Saban said Ingram, who won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore, will make his decision Friday. “It’s going to be at least a few more weeks,” said Sanders, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Oklahoma State star Barry Sanders. “I’m hoping to start walking again in February, and then we’ll see. I’m just going to follow the doctors’ orders. If I can play baseball, I will.” Sanders listed Alabama among his four favorites from the schools that have offered an athletic scholarship. Oklahoma State, UCLA and Florida State are currently in the running. Sanders has not made any college visits recently. — Oklahoman