Alabama’s offensive line got a big boost once the spring portal window opened up. Kadyn Proctor, who entered the portal initially and went to his home state of Iowa after Nick Saban retired, decided to instead return back to Tuscaloosa and play for Alabama again.
The rising sophomore was once among the most highly touted recruits in the country. Proctor had an up and down freshman season with the Tide, but ultimately seemed to improve tremendously as the season went on.
Before entering the portal, Proctor was heralded as a key factor on Alabama’s offensive line as he made the leap into his sophomore year. Losing him to Iowa was an early blow for the Kalen DeBoer-led staff.
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However, weeks later between Alabama’s portal window closing and the spring portal window opening, rumors spread of Proctor possibly returning to Tuscaloosa.
Ultimately, that was the route the talented tackle decided to go. He committed back to Alabama the day after the window opened. Proctor spoke to 247Sports in an exclusive interview and called the decision to leave one of the worst he has ever made in his life.
“I definitely regret it. 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,” Proctor said.
“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.”
Proctor’s return offers a huge boost to Alabama’s offensive line and should put them amongst the nation’s best in 2024.
And while he obviously regrets leaving in the first place, he’s now back where he belongs.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
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