Kadyn Proctor seen at A-Day as rumors swirl about Alabama return
As rumors swirl about a potential return to Alabama, Kadyn Proctor was seen at A-Day on Saturday. He initially transferred to Iowa after the 2023 season, but reportedly plans to re-enter the transfer portal and could be back in Tuscaloosa in 2024.
Proctor was a key piece of the Alabama offensive line as a freshman last season and became one of the highest-rated transfers in the portal upon his decision. He committed to Iowa in January, but news broke of his plans to transfer again in March. Proctor still has not officially re-entered the portal.
But Saturday, he was at Bryant Denny Stadium for Alabama’s annual spring game – the first under Kalen DeBoer.
Kadyn Proctor initially committed to Iowa out of high school before ultimately choosing to play at Alabama. He was a starter on the Crimson Tide offensive line that struggled early, but found its groove as the season went along to protect Jalen Milroe and eventually return to the College Football Playoff.
After Nick Saban announced his retirement, Proctor was one of the players to enter the portal and came in as the No. 5 overall player in the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings. That led him to choose Iowa once again, and he said there was no ill will after he chose Alabama out of high school.
“No bridges were burned,” Proctor said. “So, 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 going to get through this.’ That’s ultimately what helped me with my decision. They still believed in me.”
But after two months, Proctor planned to leave the program with Alabama emerging as a potential destination.
After news broke of his decision to leave Iowa, questions rose about whether he receive any NlL money from the Iowa-focused Swarm Collective. The organization’s CEO, Brad Heinrichs, later released a statement saying any dollars paid out didn’t come from donors.
“Swarm operates with both the nonprofit collective side, which relies on generous fan contributions, and the Inc. side, where businesses contract with student-athletes,” Heinrichs’ statement read. “[Kadyn] Proctor has not received funds from the collective. He received a portion of his Swarm Inc. contracted payment from a sponsoring business. We are unable to share the details of these contracts due to confidentiality clauses in the contracts. Supporting lowa athletics and lowa nonprofits remains our priority. Thank you for your support.”