Former Alabama player feels tampering was involved with Iowa getting Kadyn Proctor

The athletes who have committed to the Crimson Tide are now the center of attention for Alabama football fans; nonetheless, rumors of tampering have surfaced around one specific transfer.

As a true freshman, Iowa native and five-star offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor started every game for Alabama last season.

As a left tackle in all 14 games, he secured 20 knockdown blocks in more than 700 snaps. Proctor was named to the Freshman All-American Team and the All-SEC Freshman Team (coaches in the league). Throughout the 2023 season, the 6-foot-7, 360-pound player improved, leading the Tide to the Southeastern Conference Championship and a College Football Playoff berth.

Though all the signs pointed to him returning for a second year as a starter, he decided to commit to the University of Iowa through the NCAA transfer portal. In a video posted by sports reporter and University of Tennessee alum Camille Gear, Proctor claims that “no bridges burned” between Iowa and him. When he did access the link, he claimed it was “easy” for him to select Iowa.

“They [Iowa] still messaged me and said, ‘We are proud of you,’ even though I was having trouble and performing poorly in the SEC. You are capable of overcoming this. That’s what finally guided my choice,” Proctor remarked. “They were still confident in me. I was happy to see everyone supporting me as soon as I walked in. They are pleased for me. I understand that when I left, it broke people’s hearts and gave the impression that they were hateful, but every fan base exhibits this behavior.

Did the people of Alabama hate Proctor for leaving? Nobody knows the answer, but according to a former Alabama player, Iowa tampered in order to obtain Proctor. Former two-time national champion Alphonse Taylor (2012, 2015) claimed on social media that this was tampering. He believes that Proctor and Iowa’s friendship shouldn’t have developed during the SEC tournament. Now that Proctor has departed Alabama, the club needs to find a replacement left tackle. Though Proctor’s connection to Iowa, even as a Crimson Tide player, is unsettling to Alabama supporters, it will be interesting to see where it goes.