There's a lot of accountability that comes with playing for Alabama football. Not just from the coaching staff and your current teammates, but from former players as well. Because there's a standard in Tuscaloosa, one that hasn't changed even with Nick Saban retiring.
If you don't perform up to that standard, you're going to hear about it. From the fans, sure, but also from the guys who came before you.
That's exactly what happened to Kadyn Proctor in the aftermath of Alabama's 31-17 season-opening loss to Florida State. Proctor wasn't the sole reason for the Crimson Tide's loss, by any means, but his tape was rough, and he looked far from the projected first-round pick he's been billed to be since his freshman season. He looked overweight, out of shape, and overmatched against the Seminoles.
He heard about that from more than just NFL scouts. Two former Alabama offensive linemen who were also teammates of Proctor's in Tuscaloosa once upon a time - and became first-round picks in their own right - reached out to Proctor after the season opener. Proctor revealed to the SEC Network on Saturday morning that JC Latham and Tyler Booker both reached out to him to let him know his performance wasn't acceptable:
Kadyn Proctor told SEC Network that Tyler Booker and JC Latham called him after the Florida State loss and told him he wasn’t playing fast enough. Proctor’s also heard that NFL teams’ “only concern is my weight,” which he said was 400+ pounds as a freshman. He’s down to 356.2…
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) October 18, 2025
JC Latham and Tyler Booker told Kadyn Proctor he wasn't playing fast enough
Proctor's weight has been a major concern since he arrived at Alabama. He has clearly put in the work this year, slimming down to 356 pounds. That's been the impetus, more than anything, for his usage in skill-positions in recent weeks. It's a reward from the coaching staff for how hard Proctor has worked.
Three weeks in a row now, Alabama has put the ball in Proctor's hands. He caught a screen pass from Ty Simpson against Georgia, which was ultimately ruled a backwards pass and run. He took a handoff on a fullback drive for a crucial first down against Vanderbilt the next week. And then last week against Missouri, Proctor converted another 3rd-and-short lined up as a wildcat QB.
It has become a weekly staple of Alabama's offense. All that's left is getting the big man into the endzone. There's no better time for that to happen than later today against Tennessee in the Third Saturday in October.
Proctor's improvement since Week 1 has been pivotal for the Crimson Tide, and just a microcosm of the improvement across the board.