Kadyn Proctor to return to Alabama this spring after transferring to Iowa earlier in the offseason

Star offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor is heading back to play at Alabama, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett. Proctor played his freshman season at Alabama before transferring to Iowa in the winter.

Proctor, an Iowa native, flipped to Alabama and signed with the Crimson Tide late in the 2023 recruiting cycle. He started at left tackle as a true freshman for Alabama and projected to lock down the spot for years to come, despite growing pains during his freshman campaign.

But in the offseason, after the retirement of Nick Saban, Proctor opted to head home to Iowa for what has now become a brief stay with the Hawkeyes program.

Proctor is a former Five-Star Plus+ prospect, and he was the top-ranked offensive tackle in the 2023 recruiting class. Originally, he passed on Iowa during his recruitment, flipping his commitment from the Hawkeyes to Alabama a day before signing day in December 2022, before choosing to return to the Hawkeyes.

Moreover, Proctor, in starting 13 games at left tackle as a true freshman, earned All-SEC Freshman Team honors. He picked up SEC Freshman of the Week recognition for his play at Auburn and was named to On3’s Freshmen All-American team.

Proctor was also at the center of a potential tampering case with his transfer

Iowa was working to self-report a Level III violation regarding impermissible contact with Proctor, The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman reported in early February. An assistant coach allegedly sent a text to Proctor while he was at Alabama after a tough game.

After he committed to Iowa, Proctor said the Hawkeyes “hit him up” while he struggled during SEC play, which led to tampering allegations. According to Dochterman, that came via a text message from an Iowa assistant encouraging him to “hang in there” during the season.

A Level III violation is considered very minor of the three levels, with Level I as the most severe. That means the punishment likely won’t be more than “further education for the staffer and admonishment,” Dochterman said, citing precedent.

Proctor said his relationship with the Iowa staff was a big part of his decision, saying they maintained a connection with him even though he decided to attend Alabama.

“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.”