Kalen DeBoer 'excited' to add Kadyn Proctor back to Alabama roster
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama received big – and surprising – news that offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor was planning to re-enter the transfer portal and return to the Crimson Tide after electing to move on following Nick Saban’s retirement. After just three months at Iowa, Proctor is back in Tuscaloosa and will play his second year of college where he spent his first.
Getting Proctor back via the portal was “no question” huge for head coach Kalen DeBoer.
“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,” said DeBoer at a Yea Alabama event on Tuesday evening. “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.
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But now with Proctor returning to Alabama, which addresses a position of need for DeBoer in the wake of spring practice. He will be working in a new offense and under a new offensive staff with DeBoer taking over since he left, but Proctor will be the most experienced tackle on the team for the 2024 season and figures to return to his starting spot at left tackle.
Proctor was one of six transfers who committed to the Tide after the spring, along with one more offensive lineman, Geno VanDeMark, one placekicker in Graham Nicholson and three defensive backs with Kameron Howard, DaShawn Jones and King Mack committing.
On Tuesday, DeBoer discussed the pieces Alabama was able to add in the spring window.
“I feel really good,” said DeBoer of the transfer additions. “I feel like we upgraded at some areas, both in talent. We need some numbers for some depth, as well. And that competition is only gonna make us better. So I feel like there were some areas we knew we needed to address, and I feel like we did a pretty good job with those.”
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