TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A meeting after the game between Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara and Alabama tailback Derrick Henry would’ve been emotional regardless on Saturday as the two teammates and members of the 2013 Alabama signing class were reunited.
It took on even more meaning when a third running back in the 2013 Alabama signing class, Altee Tenpenny, passed away during the week in a car accident.
“After the game, those guys [Derrick Henry and other members of the 2013 signing class] all kind of came up to me and said we’re all playing for Altee,” Kamara said following the game. “And Altee was with us all and win or lose. I know Altee was looking out for us.”
The No. 28 decals on Alabama’s helmet were a constant reminder of the loss of a friend and former teammate for both Kamara and many of the current Alabama players. Tenpenny played at Alabama until January of 2015 before transferring to UNLV and then moving on to Nicholls State this fall after he was dismissed from the UNLV in August.
Kamara spoke about playing through those emotions in what was an impressive performance of nine touches for 65 yards that included this 18-yard catch and run for a first down in the first quarter:
Beast play from Kamara picks up a big first down. https://t.co/0vCSCdIJbv
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) October 24, 2015
“They were what I expected,” Kamara said of his emotions in his return to Tuscaloosa after spending the 2013 season as a redshirt for the Tide. “You know, not too high, not too low. “Like I said all week – it’s another game. Same thing as every other Saturday, we want to come out with a win so I didn’t let my emotions get too much in the way.”
