He made a mistake in leaving the University of Alabama, he owned up to it, and no one is more excited to be back with the Crimson Tide than Kadyn Proctor.
Well, Chris Kapilovic may have something to say about it. Alabama’s new offensive line coach is thrilled to have Proctor in Tuscaloosa (Ala.) up front. He anchored the Tide’s offensive unit in 2023 to a Southeastern Conference Championship and a berth in the Rose Bowl Game for the College Football Playoff. Proctor earned Freshman All-SEC honors and improved as the season went on as a former five-star. He started every game at left tackle, but the Iowa native has to earn his role back.
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Kapilovic had an interesting interview on Wednesday via Tide 100.9 with Ryan Fowler.
He said Proctor has been getting after it on the field and in the weight room since his return.
You will enjoy this audio clip from @CoachCKap
I asked Alabama’s Offensive Line Coach Chris Kapilovic about Kayden Proctor’s return to Tuscaloosa, depth on the O-Line, and more.
Coach Cap was interviewed on The Game with Ryan Fowler on the Tide 100.9 in Tuscaloosa pic.twitter.com/9lNHeijJqJ
— Ryan C. Fowler (@RyanCFowler) June 27, 2024
“You remember when you were like five or six years old and it was Christmas Day and you saw those presents under the tree, that is what it felt like,” Kapilovic said about Alabama getting Proctor back. “He came back here ready to work. I almost want to say he’s humbled by the experience where he’s appreciative to be back here. There was a strong brotherhood in that room of the guys he came in with, and he wanted to be back here with. So that has been great. He has been great to work with and in installing the offense with him, he’s picked up things quickly. He has really asserted himself as a player, and it is growing daily. It is huge to have him back.”
Kapilovic is proud of the work Proctor is doing, but he is competing against Elijah Pritchett for the left tackle job.
Pritchett took all the reps at the position during spring practice for Alabama.
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“He is with the twos right now,” Kapilovic said about Proctor. “He will rotate in with the ones some, but in the summer time we move some guys around. We get guys comfortable on the left and right side, there might be some guys working center and guard, so there is no depth chart in the summer. It is just making sure guys can play multiple positions, but also with guys to get that continuity going. Everybody here is competitive. Everybody here wants to be a starter and from myself to our OC, Coach Sheridan, we have talked to these guys about ‘we are going to move you around a bit.’ When we get going into the fall camp, the five best are going to be on the field. If there is more than five that warrant playing time, we are going to get you on the field.”
We will see if Proctor works his way back to starting at left tackle.
The experience he carries from last season does work in his favor.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
