Today’s news of former Alabama running back Altee Tenpenny’s death in an automobile accident has rattled many of those he touched during his time in the SEC.

Alabama senior Kenyan Drake posted this emotional tribute to his friend on Instagram:

The tears never stopped since I heard the news. I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about the memories we shared from when you and @last_king_2 were juniors and I was a senior in high school at the opening just competing and having fun. We became friends then and I knew both of you were going to be special then and we all came to Alabama and became brothers.

Anybody who knew you knew that this smile could light up a room no matter the circumstances. We went through a lot of growing up together those two years you were on campus because we both were hard headed and always seemed to stay in some kind of trouble. But even through the bad times you always stayed the same and motivated me to be my best because you always saw the best in people. And when we hit the field it was nothing but love even though we both played the same position and were battling for playing time.

The advice you gave me will forever be engrained in my memory of you because I realize now more than ever that life is too short not to keep a big smile on my face like you always had. I know you had it rough this last year bouncing from school to school and in and out of trouble but one thing we could all count on was for you to keep smiling through it all. I know we all have a angel in the sky now smiling down on us. I love you lil bro. Fly high Tee!

The tears never stopped since I heard the news. I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about the memories we shared from when you and @last_king_2 were juniors and I was a senior in high school at the opening just competing and having fun. We became friends then and I knew both of you were going to be special then and we all came to Alabama and became brothers. Anybody who knew you knew that this smile could light up a room no matter the circumstances. We went through a lot of growing up together those two years you were on campus because we both were hard headed and always seemed to stay in some kind of trouble. But even through the bad times you always stayed the same and motivated me to be my best because you always saw the best in people. And when we hit the field it was nothing but love even though we both played the same position and were battling for playing time. The advice you gave me will forever be engrained in my memory of you because I realize now more than ever that life is too short not to keep a big smile on my face like you always had. I know you had it rough this last year bouncing from school to school and in and out of trouble but one thing we could all count on was for you to keep smiling through it all. I know we all have a angel in the sky now smiling down on us. I love you lil bro. Fly high Tee! 🙏🏾

A photo posted by Kenyan Drake (@roadrun17er) on

Several other SEC players including Alabama’s Derrick Henry Alvin Kamara at Tennessee have commented on Tenpenny’s untimely death.