How RaeQuan Battle's eligibility ruling paved the way for Kadyn Proctor's about-face transfer

Andy Staples via the latest episode of his Andy Staples On3 show revealed some fascinating insight into the Kadyn Proctor situation.

Proctor played for Alabama last season, but decided to transfer to Iowa earlier this offseason, after Nick Saban retired. However, he’s now re-entered the portal and will take his talents back to the Crimson Tide, and his ability to do so all comes back to a decision in federal court, per Staples.

“First, some transfer portal news from Tuesday night. Kadyn Proctor, remember? Nick Saban retires. Kadyn Proctor, offensive tackle who started 14 games as a true freshman at left tackle. FiveStarPlus+ recruit from the state of Iowa. Had flipped from Iowa to Alabama. Nick Saban retires, Kadyn Proctor enters the portal. He heads to Iowa,” Staples said. “Kadyn Proctor apparently spent spring break with some Alabama teammates, former Alabama teammates and decided, ‘You know what? I think I want to keep playing in Alabama.’ So he’s back in the transfer portal, or says he’s going back in the transfer portal, told his coaches at Iowa he’s going back in the transfer portal. Kirk Ferentz has acknowledged that Kadyn Proctor has told them that he’s leaving.

“Kadyn Proctor told our Hayes Fawcett at On3 that he plans to re-enroll in Alabama very soon. Then, Kadyn Proctor’s Instagram story. Just the Michael Jordan, ‘I’m back.’ This is a very interesting transfer portal story, that would not have happened without a federal court decision in December.”

Continuing, the situation stems from West Virginia Judge John P. Bailey ruling against the NCAA in a lawsuit pertaining to a battle for eligibility involving West Virginia men’s basketball’s RaeQuan Battle, as the judge ruled in his favor, stating that the NCAA can’t “make an athlete sit out a year,” and lifted the year-in-residence restriction on multi-time transfers for 14 day in the process.

Staples took some time to elaborate on how the federal court’s decision on the free, one time transfer rule impacted Proctor, and allowed him to return to Tuscaloosa.

“So remember, you had the free one time transfer. But because the NCAA was so weird about whether they were going to give waivers to people who transferred the second time or not, because you’re supposed to sit out a year, and instead of just saying everybody sits out a year when they transfer second time, the NCAA had this convoluted waiver process. There was no rhyme or reason as to why they would give them out,” Staples added. “Naturally, that pissed some people off, got taken to court and a judge said, ‘Hey, you know what, these guys that you keep telling us are not employees. You can’t really hold them to non-competes the way you could an employee. So yeah, no. Those rules don’t apply anymore.’ So until that trial happens, there are no transfer rules.

“So Kadyn Proctor could transfer to Iowa, spend two months there, and transfer back to Alabama and play at Alabama. He doesn’t have to sit out, he’s good to go.”

Alas, Staples believes Proctor returning to Alabama will be huge for the Crimson Tide, and freshly minted coach Kalen DeBoer during his first season on the job.

“This is obviously huge for Alabama,” Staples explained. “Because Kadyn Proctor, while he struggled a bit early, because he was a true freshman playing in the SEC and left tackle, he got real good by the end of the season. Like, go watch that SEC Championship Game. He was excellent in that game. He has the potential to be a first round draft pick. This is a big big pickup for Kalen DeBoer.

“And remember, we hit the panic button, when Kadyn Proctor and Caleb Downs hit the transfer portal, shortly after Nick Saban retired. Well, Kadyn Proctor’s back. Caleb Down’s still at Ohio State, but it seems like Kalen DeBoer has got things settled down pretty well at Alabama. We talked to Tim Watts from BamaOnline last week about how they’ve been recruiting, the number of visitors they’ve brought in for spring practice. It seems like Kalen DeBoer’s got things humming along, and it seems like Kadyn Proctor’s got some pretty good reports from his former teammates, about what things are like in Alabama now. Which makes people want to come back.”

Time will tell how it all works out, but Kadyn Proctor returning to Alabama is a great thing for the Crimson Tide, and Andy Staples recognizes that.