Like most of Alabama’s summer enrollees, Braylen Ingraham has spent the last several months trying to stay in shape and making sure he’s well-conditioned before joining the Crimson Tide program.

But the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native was happier to be back in the weight room and working out than the other incoming freshmen after he had surgery on a torn labrum. His shoulder is “doing well, really well” three days before moving to Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Ingraham is excited to start a new journey.

“I just want to get my body right, just tone up my body and just get ready to play and get familiar with the system that goes on at Alabama,” Ingraham told BamaOnLine in an exclusive interview. “Be physically prepared and mentally prepared to go out there and do well this season.”

The 6-foot-4 defensive end said he currently weighs 290 pounds but will probably slim down to around 283 during his freshman season at Alabama. He estimated he played at 275 pounds as a senior and 4-star prospect last year at powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) High School.

If that weight holds up when he moves in Monday, May 27, Ingraham will have a shot to make an immediate impact as a true freshman. And that’s one of his early goals before arriving on campus.

Alabama signee Braylen Ingraham

“Just come in ready to play,” Ingraham said. “I’m going to try to get to know the plays and work extremely hard to try to get a spot and help the team out and win this year.”

The nation’s No. 10 strong-side defensive end, the No. 22 player from the state of Florida and the No. 164 overall prospect in the 2019 recruiting cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite, Ingraham will be learning under new defensive line coach Brian Baker, who he has met twice. The pupil said the coach is intense on the field but laid-back off of it, which is something he appreciates.

“I really need that, though,” Ingraham said. “I need a coach that will be on me to help me get better.”

Along with a stern position coach, Ingraham is also intrigued by what he saw from one of his fellow freshmen this spring, as DJ Dale worked with the first-team defense at nose tackle and enters the summer and preseason camp as a projected starter along the Tide’s defensive line.

“That really motivated me,” Ingraham said of Dale. “I saw he came in, took care of business and was able to be in the starting lineup. I feel like I can go in there and do the same thing. I’m working extremely hard now to try to get to that spot.”

Ingraham said he hopes to bring a lot of energy to the team and provide a source of motivation for his soon-to-be teammates. He expects to share a room with high school teammate Jordan Battle, but he is eager to experience a new environment in Tuscaloosa as a college student-athlete.

As for what he hopes to accomplish in 2019, Ingraham didn’t hesitate in rattling off his own list.

“I want to go out and win, get revenge on Clemson and I want to make an impact this year,” Ingraham said. “Make Freshman All-American, that’s what I want to accomplish. As a team, I want to go out there and win every game, go undefeated and win the national championship this year.”

Not only did Clemson provide inspiration for the returning players this spring and throughout the remainder of the offseason, but the Tigers are also on the minds of the Crimson Tide’s incoming players, especially Ingram, who brought up the reigning champs without them being mentioned.

“That will be like our motivation this year, to get back,” Ingraham said. “We really got embarrassed, and that never happens to Alabama. So, we want to go out and get our revenge and make that statement that we didn’t fall off. It was just a slip-up game for us.”

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

*** Take advantage of 30% OFF our Annual VIP Pass for the first year ***