Former Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor explains Iowa transfer: ‘They hit me up’

By Matt Stahl
Former Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor announced he’s heading to Iowa out of the transfer portal on Saturday. That same day, he made a public appearance at the Hawkeye basketball game in Iowa City.
While there, he was interviewed by WQAD, a local TV station. He explained his decision to transfer to Iowa, where he had been committed as a member of the class of 2023 before a last-minute flip to Alabama.
“No bridges were burned,” Proctor said in the interview. “That’s why it was so easy for me to pick them when I did enter the transfer portal, because we still have those relationships. Even after I was doing bad in the SEC and struggling, they hit me up and said ‘We’re proud of you, you’re gonna get through this.’ And that’s what ultimately helped me with my decision.”
Proctor started every game at left tackle for the Crimson Tide in 2023. He struggled early on, but improved as the season went along, something former Alabama head coach Nick Saban attributed to an increase in confidence.
He was part of a transfer portal exodus brought on when Saban retired, which gave UA players a 30-day window to enter the portal. He was one of two freshman starters to leave, with safety Caleb Downs heading to Ohio State.
Proctor acknowledged Iowa fans anger toward him after his initial flip to Alabama, but said he felt happiness after his announcement.
“It feels good,” Proctor said. “As soon as I came in here, everybody cheering me on, happy for me. I know, yeah, I did leave and it hurt people’s hearts, that kind of equated into them showing hatred, but like I said, that’s what every fan base does.”
Proctor finished his lone season at Alabama being named freshman all-SEC by the league’s coaches.