Kadyn Proctor’s situation is what’s right about transfer portal
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Kadyn Proctor’s situation is a perfect example of how the transfer portal was designed to work.
He signed with Alabama, started all 14 games at left tackle as a true freshman under legendary head coach Nick Saban, but then his legendary head coach abruptly retired shortly after the season, leaving Proctor at a crossroads, and far from home.
The pull from home, coupled with Saban’s sudden departure caused Proctor to reconsider his willingness to stay at Alabama.
The 2023 graduate of Southeast Polk High School had previously been committed to Iowa for months.
But when arguably the greatest head coach in the history of college football makes you a priority, as Saban did with Proctor in the recruiting process, it’s hard for a teenage kid to turn that down.
Proctor was swept away by the Saban/Alabama mystique, but now Saban is gone and has since been replaced by former Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, who is now dealing with a mass exodus of players to the transfer portal.
Proctor isn’t a disgruntled player looking for more playing time, nor does he seem driven by the almighty dollar.
Of course, he will benefit from his name, image and likeness as a Hawkeye, but he also benefitted from it as an Alabama player.
NIL is now just part of the package and a barging tool.
Proctor is coming home to be a Hawkeye, and to be closer to family and friends, including his former high school teammate Xavier Nwankpa, who starts at strong safety for the Hawkeyes.
Proctor is coming home to play for the school and for the team that he grew up cheering for as a kid in central Iowa.
He’s also coming home to play for a head coach whose area of expertise is the offensive line.
Kadyn Proctor on what he’s most excited about in his return to Iowa: pic.twitter.com/E78d6p5cef
— Dallas Jones (@DallasJonesy) January 20, 2024
Proctor saw how former Iowa offensive linemen Tristan Wirfs and Tyler Linderbaum both excelled under Kirk Ferentz, and Proctor sees where they both are now as multi-millionaires in the NFL.
The Iowa offensive line has certainly had its problems over the past two seasons as a unit.
But Iowa also has had 19 offensive linemen selected in the NFL draft under Kirk Ferentz, including six in the first round.
Iowa also won the Big Ten West Division, and 10 games in two of the past three seasons despite having a struggling offense.
So, while Iowa is certainly nowhere near Alabama’s blue-blood status, the program has remained strong under Kirk Ferentz.
It’s reasonable to think that a player with Proctor’s talent and upside could make it even stronger.
The offense needs all the help it can get, and it isn’t often that a 6-foot-7, 360-pound former five-star recruit says he wants to help.
Iowa, of course, is fortunate that Proctor is from instate, but he also could’ve transferred to Iowa State, or signed with the Cyclones in high school.
Ames is actually closer to his home than Iowa City.
The Iowa coaches deserve praise for building relationships and trust with Proctor, and for convincing him that Iowa is the best place for him to achieve his goals, and to be happy.
That isn’t easy when every other team in the country is probably trying to do the same thing.
Some Iowa fans were upset and resentful when Proctor switched to Alabama, and the response on social media was nasty in some cases.
The Iowa coaches, on the other hand, apparently handled the recruiting setback with class and understanding.
“We didn’t burn any bridges,” Proctor said to the media at halftime of the Iowa-Purdue men’s basketball game on Saturday at Caver-Hawkeye Arena. “We still have a good relationship. Really not burning bridges and keeping in contact with each other kind of helped out my decision. Because if there was any hatred between me and the coaching then obviously I wouldn’t be here.
“So it definitely helped out.”
Kirk Ferentz still hasn’t hired an offensive coordinator to replace his son, Brian Ferentz, who was fired with four games left in the regular season.
But Proctor must feel confident that the right person will be hired, and his decision to be a Hawkeye goes beyond just football-related matters.
Proctor is a kid who wants to come home, and who also happens to be a terrific offensive lineman.
And thanks to the transfer portal, and to the Iowa coaches for not burning any bridges, Proctor is back home where his heart is, where his family and friends are, and where he feels most comfortable.
He sure looked comfortable on Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.