Former Alabama blue-chip running back Altee Tenpenny died in a car accident Tuesday, the Mississippi Highway Patrol confirmed to al.com Wednesday morning.
According to the MHP Department of Public Affairs' Tony Dunn, Tenpenny was ejected from his car after being involved in a single-vehicle accident outside Glen Allan, Miss., at approximately 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. Tenpenny died from his injuries at Delta Regional Medical Center in Greenville, Miss.
Tenpenny was reportedly traveling back to his native Arkansas after his dismissal from Nicholls State (located in Thibodaux, La.) when the accident occurred.
Online reports regarding Tenpenny first surfaced Tuesday night, with several Alabama players mourning his loss on Twitter.
I hate that I lost contact with my brother. We really lost a good one. Fly high homie R.I.P. Altee Tenpenny
— Kenyan Drake™ (@KDx17) October 21, 2015
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Altee and his family," Nick Saban told reporters Wednesday morning. "This is obviously a tragedy."
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema had this to say on Twitter:
My thoughts & prayers go out to the family & friends of Altee Tenpenny with his passing.His smile and personality I will never forget.
— Bret Bielema (@BretBielema) October 21, 2015
A four-star, top-100 overall prospect in the class of 2013 out of Arkansas' North Little Rock High School, Tenpenny signed with the Tide and saw limited actions in two seasons in Tuscaloosa. He transferred to UNLV this past summer.
Tenpenny was then dismissed from UNLV in August for reportedly breaking team rules, landing at FCS Nicholls State before his Sunday arrest on a felony weapons charge. Colonels coach Tim Rebowe told the Houma Courier this week the team was "moving on" without Tenpenny.
