What Alabama football’s new starting left tackle learned from Kadyn Proctor

3/7/25 MFB Spring Practice 3 Alabama Quarterback Austin Mack (10) Alabama Offensive Lineman Jackson Lloyd (57) Photo by Kent Gidley

The starting left tackle job was won by Jackson Llyod earlier this spring, and perhaps his experiences in 2025 set him up to take the starting job as fast as he did. 

On Tuesday, he reflected on his time as a backup to the player he labeled as the “best tackle in the country”. 

Lloyd did not have much playing time in his freshman season in 2025, and while he acknowledges that he obviously came to Alabama to play, he views his time so far as a success and talked about learning from Kadyn Proctor, Alabama’s starting left tackle last season.

“I mean, obviously, I want to come in here and play, but I was behind what I believe is the best tackle in the country with Kadyn Proctor, and he taught me so much on the field and off the field,” Lloyd said. “So, it was a little disappointing I didn’t get to play, but I kind of took a step back and realized where I was. I felt like it was successful looking at it as how much I got better during that time.”

When he was asked about why he believes Proctor was the best tackle in the country last season, Lloyd broke down what he saw from Proctor from his point of view.  

“I obviously got to see the way he attacks everything,” Lloyd said. “In the weight room, he’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen. How he approached everything off the field, film, treatment, all that stuff, and on the field speaks for itself. You turn the tape on, you watch him play. I mean, in my eyes, he’s the clear number one tackle in the country.”

A few weeks ago, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb declared there was no competition at left tackle, saying Lloyd is the man for the 2026 season. It only took Lloyd a few spring practices to secure the starting job, and partial credit could be given to the fact that he sat for a year behind one of the top prospects in this year’s draft class.   

Lloyd said he’s talked to Proctor a little bit this spring, and he said the NFL draft prospect has told him to keep taking things a day at a time and not letting a moment get too big.  

For Lloyd, he says that nothing has changed for him since assuming the role of starting left tackle in Alabama’s offense, and that’s because he has been trying to be the best player he can be since he joined the team, adding that he is keeping a sharp mindset.