Alabama's Kadyn Proctor enters transfer portal

Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor has entered the transfer portal, according to a post on his Instagram account. Proctor, a five-star recruit in the Class of 2023, started every game at left tackle for the Crimson Tide in 2023, earning All-SEC freshman honors. Proctor is the second highly regarded rising sophomore to enter the transfer portal this week after safety Caleb Downs entered the transfer portal on Wednesday morning, as part of continued fallout from Nick Saban’s retirement.

Proctor’s freshman year at Alabama was characterized by highs and lows, from early-season struggles and a competition with redshirt freshman Elijah Pritchett to keep his starting job, to fortifying his place on the left side and helping Alabama win an SEC championship and reach the College Football Playoff. All expectations were for Proctor to be a staple of Alabama’s 2024 offense.

“Day-in and day-out during practice, some plays, he’s gotten a lot more consistent,” teammate Tyler Booker said of Proctor before Alabama’s loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl. “I’m very proud of him for that. See how he progresses his career. The sky’s the limit for him. He has all the physical intangibles. Great guy. Really smart. It just takes time. Some things take time.”

Iowa is the team to watch for Proctor. A Des Moines native, Proctor was the highest-ranked recruit from Iowa in the modern recruiting era (and the No. 5 overall player nationally in 2023). He initially committed to Iowa over Alabama during the summer of 2023, but Alabama pulled off a late flip of Proctor just before early signing day in December 2022.

There’s a significant need for Proctor on Iowa’s offensive line, a key unit for a Hawkeyes offense that has drawn headlines for its ineptitude over the last few seasons. Under a new offensive coordinator (no replacement for the outgoing Brian Ferentz has been named), Proctor would be an instant plug-and-play piece for an Iowa team with high expectations after retaining several marquee players from the 2023 team including cornerback Jermari Harris, linebacker Jay Higgins and tight end Luke Lachey.

Proctor’s chances of an Iowa homecoming

Could the prodigal son return to Iowa? It’s hardly a far-fetched wish.

As an all-state lineman at Southeast Polk High School in the Des Moines metro area, Proctor made more than a dozen visits to Iowa City and committed to the Hawkeyes on June 30, 2022. By late fall, Proctor took visits to Oregon and Alabama but remained committed until the Sunday before signing day when he flipped to Alabama.

Proctor has a tight bond with several Iowa players, including former high school teammate and fellow five-star recruit Xavier Nwankpa, who started 12 games as a sophomore. Although the Hawkeyes’ brass was bitterly disappointed to lose Proctor, they left the door cracked open in case the big tackle changed his mind.

“We have the 24-hour rule after losses and losing recruits, and yeah, it stinks,” recruiting director Tyler Barnes said after signing day. “It stinks. But at the end of the day, it’s got to be his choice and what’s best for him and his family, and we wish him well. I shot Kadyn and his parents the same text, just hey, best of luck down there, we got you; ignore all the noise on social media.

“You guys have to do what’s best for you, and honestly, in this day and age in the transfer portal, who knows what’s future holds.” — Scott Dochterman, Iowa beat writer

What it means for Alabama

Proctor’s departure is a massive blow to Alabama’s roster, which at this point doesn’t have an offensive tackle that has started a college game. The Crimson Tide have several former blue-chip prospects, but the overwhelming majority of the offensive line is made up of true or redshirt freshmen. During the early signing period, Saban acknowledged Alabama’s need for more experience on the offensive line and said that the team was in the market for players. The Crimson Tide earned the commitment of Texas A&M tackle Naquil Betrand, but he is a redshirt freshman without playing experience.

The silver lining is that Alabama becomes a premier destination for offensive tackles who are already in the transfer portal or may enter following spring practice (the spring transfer window opens on April 15). The Crimson Tide have notoriously been strong participants in the post-spring practice window of portal activity and will have a much better sense of what they have on their roster after giving young players an opportunity during the spring. However, the most immediate focus for new coach Kalen DeBoer is on roster retention, with 23 days remaining in the 30-day transfer window opened after a coaching change. As it stands right now, Alabama has lost eight players to the transfer portal since Saban retired:

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(Photo: Kirby Lee/ USA Today)