Jalen Milroe 'super excited' to have Kadyn Proctor back at Alabama

Kadyn Proctor’s transfer saga was something to watch this offseason but Jalen Milroe was thrilled to get him back at Alabama.

Proctor initially left Alabama to go back closer to home and play for Iowa. But the tenure with the Hawkeyes didn’t even last through the spring as he came back to the Crimson Tide.

With a new staff in place, Proctor settled back in and Milroe can’t wait to see the big man thrive.

“You see the news with him coming back, that’s definitely very exciting,” Milroe said, via Chris McCulley. “He’s done a really good job just trying to improve and get better. Also building his relationship with the coaching staff that’s here now Also just trying to get better on the field. Super excited to have him back. You know to have him on the blindside, we’re definitely gonna need him to be successful this year.”

Milroe was in Birmingham participating in Wednesday’s celebrity softball game that also included Barry Bonds, Derek Jeter and former Alabama running back Najee Harris as part of MLB’s Juneteenth celebration ‘Barnstorm Birmingham’ at historic Rickwood Field.

Major League Baseball was in town ahead of Thursday night’s game between San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals honoring Willie Mays and the Negro Leagues.

Milroe isn’t the only one happy to see Proctor back in the fold. New head coach Kalen DeBoer echoed those comments.

“He was a guy that was gonna play a significant role in the program, and to lose him and now get him back, that’s a big deal for us,” DeBoer said. “I think he’s just done a great job of meshing back with his friends but most importantly his teammates, and excited to get him back in our workouts here this summer.

As a true freshman, Proctor played in and started all 14 games at left tackle for Alabama last season. The 6-foot-7, 360-pounder was selected to the All-SEC Freshman Team.

Proctor was the fourth Crimson Tide offensive lineman to transfer since December, and with right tackle JC Latham also entering the NFL draft, Alabama was faced with replacing three starters. To start spring drills, the Tide only had four scholarship tackles on its roster.

As a member of the Class of 2023, Proctor was a five-star recruit out of Des Moines (Iowa) Southeast Polk, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 1 offensive tackle in the class and the No. 9 overall prospect in the class.

With the transfer drama now behind him and the team, Proctor can focus squarely on football this coming season, his second with Alabama. The team is certainly in position to compete for the SEC and the College Football Playoff once again.