Tyler Booker recalls 'rumblings' ahead of Kadyn Proctor return, what it means to have him back

Kadyn Proctor made the lap back to Alabama this offseason after initially leaving the program in the transfer portal. It was a fascinating story to follow along with, including for his former and, with his decision, present teammates.

Tyler Booker spoke about Proctor’s process during an interview on ‘Andy Staples On3’ on Thursday. He said the rumors of his return to Tuscaloosa reached them like they did the rest of the sport and, as such, it led to curiosity and interest from in their locker room.

“You just heard rumblings,” said Booker. “His best friend on the team and one of my close friends as well, Wilkin Formby, just stayed on him the whole time. Wilkin told me. He said, ‘Bro, I think he’s really going to come back. I’m like, ‘Really?'”

“Like, I got excited because that’s a brother of mine,” Booker said. “I feel like I raised him a little bit.”

After his freshman year where he started every game at left tackle, Proctor entered his name into the portal. He eventually decided to go home in choosing to go back to where he was originally committed out of high school in Iowa. However, after a spring with the Hawkeyes, Proctor elected to transfer again and, as it played out, he quickly ended back up at ‘Bama.

Having Proctor, one of their best young players and prospects, back is significant for many reasons for the Crimson Tide and their offensive line. That includes the connection that they’ll continue to have as a unit with that important piece back in the puzzle.

“All seriousness, it’s just great to have Kadyn back,” said Booker. “He’s a great player. He’s only going to get better.”

“To have that continuity playing next to somebody for two years now? We’re able to just make calls without saying anything,” Booker said. “There’s just a lot we’re going to be able to do because we have that continuity.”

Booker reveals how Alabama sticking together amid coaching turnover helped cohesiveness

Alabama’s players were faced with an interesting and unexpected crossroadsin January when Nick Saban announced his retirement.

Once he retired, Alabama players had to decide if they wanted to stay or depart for a new program. Those were moments that Alabama OL Tyler Booker said only brought the team closer for the players who did decide to stay with the Crimson Tide.

“That was a crucial period for us as a team. It really created a sense of togetherness for everyone,” Booker said at SEC Media Days. “Like, we could all look at each other in that locker and be like okay, I know this guy cares about me because he stayed for me. He stayed because he loves me, he stayed because of his brotherhood.”

“It makes us so much more cohesive. We just have another level of respect for one another, another level of trust.”