Alabama running back transferring to be a Rebel

Altee Tenpenny was one of the nation’s top running backs when he signed with Alabama in 2013.

Now he will play football at UNLV.

Tenpenny made the announcement on his Instagram account, which is private but was reported by al.com, a website for several Alabama newspapers.

Tenpenny (6 feet, 218 pounds), will have to sit out next season under NCAA transfer rules, and then he will have two seasons of eligibility. Rebels coach Tony Sanchez is not allowed to comment on Tenpenny until he enrolls.

Tenpenny was widely regarded as the best high school senior in Arkansas when he signed two years ago out of North Little Rock High School. Tenpenny was ranked the nation’s No. 3 running back by MaxPrep’s Tom Lemming, No. 5 by 247Sports.com, No. 8 by Rivals.com and No. 14 by Scout.com.

The consensus four-star recruit played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, and he chose the Crimson Tide over Arkansas, Auburn, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Tennessee and others.

But Tenpenny didn’t receive much playing time his first two seasons at Alabama. He rushed for 82 yards on 22 carries as a freshman and for 136 yards on 26 carries last season.

Getting Tenpenny, though, is a potential game-changer for the Rebels. They have had mixed results with four-year transfers, but if Tenpenny plays up to the expectations he took to Alabama, he would provide a major boost to a program trying to find its footing under Sanchez, who is in his first year.

UNLV’s running game needs the upgrade after ranking last in the Mountain West last season with 129.2 yards per game.

Sanchez hopes at least one of the incoming freshmen, Xzaviar Campbell (5-11, 220) or Lexington Thomas (5-9, 170), contributes right away. Junior Keith Whitely (5-9, 185), who rushed for 504 yards last season and averaged 4.3 per carry, will head into training camp in August atop the depth chart.

Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.