Kadyn Proctor deeply regrets his decision to leave Alabama for Iowa at the end of his freshman season. It’s a tough look for the Hawkeyes, who actually paid him money for less than six months on campus.
They didn’t get their guy and got dissed by the guy they didn’t get!
Proctor, the top ranked offensive tackle in the college football recruiting class of 2023, started every game as a freshman for the Crimson Tide last season. Every single one.
Despite his comfortable role in Tuscaloosa, Proctor decided to hit the transfer portal after his first year on the collegiate level. Nick Saban retired and he bounced. Kalen DeBoer couldn’t get him to stay.
Alabama ultimately received Proctor’s commitment out of high school over Iowa, his in-state program. Thus, it was Iowa that landed his commitment out of the transfer portal.
Kadyn Proctor joined the Hawkeyes in January.
That didn’t last long! The 6-foot-7, 360-pound lineman went on spring break with some of his Crimson Tide teammates and then transferred back to Alabama in April. That happened after he was paid an undisclosed chunk of money by a local Iowa booster through the university’s NIL collective.
Now that Proctor is back in the SEC at his former-now-current school, the 19-year-old told 247 Sports that he regrets his decision to leave in the first place.
It’s probably one of the worst decisions that I’ve made in my life. Because, looking back, I had so many people that cared for me here and were trying to tell me that this was the best place for me, and I really wasn’t thinking it through. I let Coach [Kalen] DeBoer and the staff talk to me, trying to convince me to stay, but I wasn’t really sitting there and listening to them. I was just so hell bent on going back home, no one was going to change my mind.
Even my parents told me that, but they were like, “OK, you’re going to find out for yourself.” And that’s exactly what happened. I gave them credit. I said, “You’re right.” Nothing else I can do but say you’re right and I made a mistake.
— Kadyn Proctor, via 247 Sports
Humble is a good word for how Proctor feels today. His time in Iowa took his ego down a few pegs.
What does that say about the Hawkeyes? That is up for your interpretation but it certainly doesn’t reflect well on the coaches, the campus, the city or its fans— even the booster that paid him.
On the flip side of that, DeBoer and the Crimson Tide come out looking pretty good. Proctor even apologized to the new staff. He didn’t realize what he had until it was gone.
I’m sorry for not hearing y’all out. I’m ready to get back and do everything for this team.
— Kadyn Proctor, via 247 Sports
Despite all of the offseason turmoil, Kadyn Proctor will slide right back into the starting lineup. He is too good of a talent to keep on the sidelines. Even if he jumped ship less than six months ago!