BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama track and field’s Samuel Ogazi was named the Southeastern Conference Men’s Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the league office announced Tuesday.

The honor marks the first time a male student-athlete from Alabama has been selected as the conference’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year. It is also the first scholar-athlete recognition of Ogazi’s career at Alabama. In total, the Crimson Tide has had a student-athlete earn SEC Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors in three of the last four seasons: Mercy Chelangat (women’s, 2023), Doris Lemngole (women’s, 2025) and Ogazi (men’s, 2026).

Ogazi shared the award with Brandon Green Jr. of Oklahoma and Calvin Wetzel of Tennessee.

Samuel Ogazi – Men’s SEC Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year

• Maintains a 3.304 grade-point average, majoring in criminology and criminal justice
• 2024 Paris Olympian
• Five-time All-American
• 2025 outdoor national champion and SEC champion in the men’s 400 meters
• Won the 400-meter title at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic
• Broke the facility record with a 44.85 — ranking No. 2 on this season’s world list, No. 13 all-time and No. 2 in Alabama program history
• Ran a 44.24 anchor leg on UA’s 4×400-meter relay at the Tiger Paw Invitational, helping the Crimson Tide clock the program’s second-fastest time in the event (3:02.29)
• Named SEC Men’s Runner of the Week on Feb. 10
• Earned Dean’s List honors twice (Fall 2024, Fall 2025)