Alabama football fans have shifted their focus to the players that are committed to the Crimson Tide; however, concerns of tampering have surfaced within the fan base about one particular transfer.
Kadyn Proctor, a five-star offensive lineman from Iowa, started all last season for Alabama as a true freshman.
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He played all 14 games as a left tackle, securing 20 knockdown blocks across 700+ snaps. Proctor made the All-SEC Freshman Team (league’s coaches) and Freshman All-American Team. The 6-foot-7, 360-pounder got better throughout the 2023 campaign, helping the Tide to a Southeastern Conference Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Signs were pointing to him to return for a second year as a starter, but he chose to enter the NCAA transfer portal and commit to the University of Iowa. According to a video from Camille Gear, a Sports Reporter and University of Tennessee alum, Proctor said ‘there were no bridges burned’ between him and Iowa. He said it was ‘easy’ for him to pick Iowa when he did enter the portal.
Here is what the newest Iowa transfer @KadynProctor1 had to say about his decision to come back home, and the warm welcome he’s received from the fan base so far. pic.twitter.com/9FJI5GN7CL
— Camille Gear (@CamilleGearTV) January 20, 2024
“Even when I was doing bad and struggling in the SEC, they [Iowa] still hit me up and said ‘we are proud of you. You are going to get through this.’ That is what ultimately helped me to my decision,” Proctor said. “They still believed in me. It feels good as soon as I came in here, I saw everyone cheering me on. They are happy for me. I know I did leave and it hurt people’s hearts, and it equated to them showing hatred, but that’s what every fan base does.”
Did Alabama nation show hatred toward Proctor for leaving? No one knows the answer; however, a former Alabama player feels Iowa committed tampering to get Proctor. Alphonse Taylor, a former two-time national champion (2012, 2015), shared on social media that this was tampering. He feels that the relationship between Proctor and Iowa should not have formed during SEC play.
Relationships being built during “SEC PLAY” is… say it with me, TAMPERING. https://t.co/wEH7ouicHy
— Alphonse Taylor (@SHANKK50) January 23, 2024
Proctor is no longer with Alabama, and the team has to locate a new left tackle. It will be interesting to see the direction it goes, but Proctor connecting with Iowa even in playing for the Crimson Tide is something that does not sit right with Alabama fans.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
