William “Rowdy” Harrell, a former linebacker at Alabama, was killed in a car accident on his honeymoon. He was 30.
Harrell and his wife, Blakely, married Saturday. The North Carolina residents were traveling in the Florida Keys and were killed in a head-on collision Tuesday evening, AL.com reported.
Harrell walked on for the Crimson Tide and won three national championships with the team in his time there from 2009-12. After college, he went to work in motorsports.
“Rowdy was the epitome of what (walk-ons) stand for — he’s a hard worker, he had great character,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said on his weekly radio show. “…He had so much potential as a young person.”
He most recently worked as part of the pit crew for driver Alex Bowman’s No. 88 team with Hendrick Motorsports.
“Our entire team is absolutely devastated at the loss of Rowdy and Blakley,” crew chief Greg Ives said in a statement issued by the team. “They were such positive, giving and passionate people who could not have been a more perfect match. Rowdy had an energetic and infectious personality. He was the heart and soul of our team and always kept us motivated, no matter the circumstance.”
Harrell posted photos of the couple’s wedding on his Instagram account, he and Blakely smiling as their large wedding party surrounded them.
“On behalf of my new wife and myself….I would like to thank every single person who had a hand in our special day, came to be there for it, or simply gave us well wishes,” he wrote. “From the bottom of our hearts we love you all and feel how much you love us!! #whatablessing”
