Alabama Football: What signing Kadyn Proctor means

Alabama football flipped 5-star offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor from Iowa on Tuesday afternoon, giving the Crimson Tide its fourth 5-star in its 2023 recruiting class.

Proctor is considered the 12th best player and second best offensive lineman in the country. He brings an extra edge to an already-strong Alabama offensive line class. With the recent decommitment of Raymond Pulido, the class includes Proctor, 4-star tackles Wilkin Formby, Miles McVay, and Olaus Alinen, and 4-star guard RyQueze McElderry.

Kadyn Proctor could potentially fill in immediately at a major position of need for Alabama football. The Crimson Tide is losing starting left tackle Tyler Steen to the NFL Draft, and has already lost key reserves Tommy Brockermeyer, Damieon George, and Amari Kight to the transfer portal. As a result of this exodus, Alabama is very thin at the tackle position heading into 2023. A potential instant-impact player like Proctor could make all the difference in the world.

Pairing Kadyn Proctor with JC Latham could give Alabama football an elite tackle tandem for the first time since it paired Alex Leatherwood with Evan Neal in 2020. That unit won the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s premier offensive line en route to winning a national title in dominant fashion.

Proctor is one of the top dogs in a recruiting class that is shaping up to be one of the best of all time. He joins edge rusher Keon Keeley and safety Caleb Downs as three of the best players in the country, regardless of position. Fellow top-100 players in the class include elite running back commits Justice Haynes and Richard Young, defensive backs Jahlil Hurley and Tony Mitchell, wide receiver Jalen Hale, pass rushers Yhonzae Pierre and Jordan Renaud, quarterback Eli Holstein, and offensive tackle Wilkin Formby.

Even if he does not start from day one, Kadyn Proctor gives Alabama Football yet another elite talent in the trenches. He looks to follow a long lineage of first round tackles under Coach Saban that includes Neal, Leatherwood, Jedrick Wills, Jonah Williams, DJ Fluker, James Carpenter, and Andre Smith.

With Proctor’s commitment, Saban has landed another huge commitment in 2023. The class still has several key pieces it would like to add, and Wednesday should be a huge day as the early signing period commences. Stay tuned to Bama Hammer for updates throughout the day.