Iowa lands commitment from Alabama transfer OL Kadyn Proctor

Alabama transfer offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor has announced his commitment to Iowa, heading back home to the Hawkeye State. On3’s Hayes Fawcett shared the news on Saturday morning.

A former Five-Star Plus+ prospect and the top-ranked offensive tackle in the 2023 recruiting class passed on Iowa the first time, flipping his commitment from the Hawkeyes to Alabama a day before signing day in December 2022.

Now in the transfer portal, he’s committed to Iowa and back closer to home. Proctor started 13 games at left tackle as a true freshman, earning 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.

The decision to leave Tuscaloosa comes after Nick Saban announced his retirement. Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer was recently tabbed as Saban’s successor. Defensive back Caleb Downs and Proctor both announced their plans to leave the Crimson Tide on the same day, signifying two key losses for Alabama.

The 6-foot-7, 360-pound lineman is now headed back to his home state of Iowa to continue his college career and play for the Hawkeyes, who were the team to beat for much of his high school recruitment.

“Kadyn Proctor’s getting better and I think he’s gaining experience and learning,” Saban said in October. “What we want him to do is not worry so much about making a mistake that he’s not playing aggressively, and that’s what we’ve been working on with him. I think he’s getting better and he’s getting more confident.”

The offensive lineman had some struggled in his freshman year, allowing 12 sacks on 408 pass blocking snaps this past season, according to Pro Football Focus. But making the move back closer to home paired with a season of experience in the SEC should only help his play.

A Des Moines, Iowa, native, he joins an offensive line room that tied for 84th nationally among FBS teams in sacks allowed last season. Kadyn Proctor will immediately be in the mix to start at the left tackle position for the Hawkeyes.