Retin Obasohan was snapchatting when he got the call from coach Avery Johnson that almost cost him his phone. The SEC had named him to the SEC First Team, the all-conference defensive team and the Southeastern Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year.

“When he told me [about the awards] I almost dropped my phone almost in disbelief because I couldn’t believe it,” Obasohan said. “They’re all huge and give all glory to God definitely.”

Obasohan became the program’s third Scholar Athlete after Levi Randolph earned the award last season. He is also only the second Alabama player to be named to the SEC First Team and the all-defensive team in the same season after Trevor Releford first accomplished the feat in 2013.

Johnson said he couldn’t wait to tell his senior team co-captain the news when he heard about the awards. Johnson called him early on Tuesday morning to ensure he would be the first.

“[The awards are] well deserved, well earned,” Johnson said. “He’s definitely had a tremendous leap this year and he’s not finished.”

The award winner himself had a hard time picking which honor meant more to him.

“That defensive team is kind of close to my heart, because I love playing defense, but also Scholar Athlete of the Year,” Obasohan said. “I like to give everything I have in everything I do so anything that kind of speaks to that dedication to both aspects of student-athlete life.”