Alabama players are dedicating Monday's national championship game to former teammate Altee Tenpenny.

Tenpenny died Oct. 20 when his car ran off the roadway and crashed into a highway sign outside Glen Allan, Miss. Mississippi Highway Patrol ruled his death "accidental" and believe he may have fallen asleep while driving.

"Even though he wasn't really on the team this year he still was on the team regardless of what happened with him here," linebacker Reggie Ragland said. "He's always been our brother. Of course the season is for him. His number is on the back of our helmet. We are going to ride with him for the rest of the year.

Alabama players have had a No. 28 decal on their helmets since Tenpenny's October death. Tenpenny was a popular member of the Alabama team and arrived in Tuscaloosa in the same running back class as Derrick Henry and Alvin Kamara. Henry was especially close with Tenpenny and even mentioned his friend in his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech.

"I want to accept this trophy in rest in peace of my brother Altee Tenpenny," Henry said. "He's been a brother to me who died this year. I just want to tell him I love him and I miss him and God bless. Roll Tide."

Tenpenny spent two seasons at Alabama but decided at the end of the 2014 season to transfer.He briefly transferred to UNLV but was kick off the team and landed at Nicholls State. His stay at Nicholls State was also a brief one after he was kicked off the team. He had left Nicholls State and was driving back home to Arkansas on Oct. 20. His former high school coach believes he was ready to change his ways before his fatal crash.

"He wanted help," Brad Bolding, his former high school coach, told AL.com. "He knew he was out of control. He owned up to things. He always did."