One of the biggest losses for Alabama football's roster in the aftermath of Nick Saban's retirement was former 5-star LT Kadyn Proctor's decision to enter the Transfer Portal and transfer back home to Iowa. The Hawkeyes were the runner up in Proctor's recruitment out of high school and rumors had been swirling that the big offensive lineman was home sick. Saban's decision to retire made the choice easier for him to leave.
But Proctor was only at Iowa for a couple of months. Following spring practice, he made the decision to re-enter the Transfer Portal and ultimately chose to return to the Crimson Tide. His return gave Alabama a much-needed boost on the offensive line. He started 11 of Alabama's 13 games at LT in 2024, missing the first two games of the season due to an injury.
He played hurt for the majority of the season, but he undoubtedly made a leap from some early struggles as a freshman. He's one of the top returning left tackles in the country for 2025 and will likely be a top draft pick in the 2026 draft.
In the latest episode of Fox Nation's "The Tides that Bind" documentary series about the 2024 Crimson Tide season, Proctor spoke more in depth about what led him to enter the portal initially and what ultimately led him back to Alabama.
Kadyn Proctor's decision to come back to Alabama came down to two words
Proctor's decision to leave Alabama initially was attributed to Saban's decision to retire. He came to Alabama to play for Saban, like so many players on the roster last season could relate to. It gave him the fuel he needed to go back home.
But he never gelled with his teammates at Iowa and found the priorities for the Hawkeyes didn't align with what he hoped to accomplish during his collegiate career.
"I never heard the words national championship come out of their mouths," Proctor said. "It just wasn't the place for me."
Iowa has a proud football history and they've been competitive nearly every year under Kirk Ferentz, but national title contenders they are not, and will not be, at least not any time soon. Proctor's brief sojourn in Iowa City allowed him to see that he made the right decision by picking the Crimson Tide over the Hawkeyes coming out of high school.
Proctor's return was big for Kalen DeBoer and Alabama last season, though the Crimson Tide fell well short of their goals. More is demanded from the fanbase this season, and having an anchor at left tackle will go a long way as Alabama looks to compete for the two words Proctor didn't hear at Iowa.