Kadyn Proctor: Ohio State energy, academic focus on display in first visit
COLUMBUS — The Buckeyes need elite offensive tackles and they made sure Kadyn Proctor knew that.
Ohio State also made sure that Proctor, the country’s No. 2-ranked 2023 tackle, learned that being an offensive lineman for the Buckeyes means being elite off the field.
“The academics were pretty big,” Proctor told Lettermen Row. “The offensive line, all together, has over a 3.5 GPA. That’s outstanding for college. Two of the guys have 4.0 GPAs. I know they just had their job fair on Friday, too. I had a 15-20 minute talk with Ryan Day about academics and Real Life Wednesdays. Taking about all those real life opportunities was pretty cool.
“For me? I feel like I’m a guy who wants to do multiple things and different kinds of things and it wasn’t just their offensive line, it was the whole team. They all do different things and are their own person. I’d love to be around people like that. If the coaching staff there doesn’t change, that’s something I’d look forward to.”
Buckeyes defensive backs coach Matt Barnes recruits Iowa, and that’s where Kadyn Proctor calls home. Greg Studrawa has become an integral part of his recruitment, too. Proctor was a priority for Ohio State even as it prepared for a huge official visit from 2021 5-star defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau. That was a good sign for the 6-foot-6, 310-pound tackle.
“Being there at the same time,” he said. “They still had coaches with me and following me around. I saw him in the hallway and he had coaches with him. I guess I’m a priority for them.”
Kadyn Proctor is a big, athletic tackle that can move much better than most kids his size. (Birm/Lettermen Row)
As a top priority recruit, Proctor knows there’s a lot to examine, and a lot to see, at every school he’s considering. The time with the Ohio State coaching staff on Thursday was an important step for the Buckeyes as they try to woo the Midwest’s top offensive lineman to Columbus. That effort was led by Studrawa but everyone played a role.
“Stud has some great energy, you know?” Proctor said. “He always dapping me up and we sat in the film room and talking about he schools I’ve visited and how they compared to what’s at Ohio State. Coach Stud is one crazy energetic dude. Meeting him for the first time felt familiar because there’s a coach at my school who is the same way. I could get used to that for sure.”
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“We spent some time with Matt Barnes then all the coaches came out greeted me. I spent some time in the weight room and meeting rooms.”
Kadyn Proctor says he’s definitely a better basketball player than Mark Pantoni but he’s an offensive tackle for Ohio State. The Buckeyes focused on that while discussing the chance to suit up for one of the country’s elite programs. Coincidentally, the decision to not leave the Buckeyes program by a future NFL tackle is something that impressed Iowa’s top all-time recruiting prospect.
“They told me I could come in there and compete for playing time,” he said. “But there’s going to be competition anywhere I go, especially as a freshman.
“Both of this year’s tackles will be gone and Paris could be too. Thayer Munford deciding to come back there was a good thing to see. He wanted to come back and compete with his team and not leave for the NFL. That tells me it’s a great team and a great environment if I go there.”
Proctor says he’ll get back to Columbus this fall for a game.
