Kadyn Proctor’s time on Iowa’s football team was the living embodiment of the famous Abe Simpson turn-right-back-around GIF.
The offensive tackle will re-enter the transfer portal just two months after joining the Hawkeyes from Alabama, and The Athletic reported that Proctor is expected to take his talents back to Tuscaloosa.
The move cannot be finalized until Proctor is permitted to enter the portal again on April 15.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz had a terse statement about Proctor’s decision.
“It is unfortunate that Kadyn has informed us of his intentions to leave our program today. We wish him well in the future,” Ferentz told ESPN.
During his short time at Iowa, Proctor had caused the Hawkeyes to self-report a recruiting violation after it was revealed that Iowa’s recruiting director, Tyler Barnes, had sent a text message to Proctor in September.
It is impermissible for staffers on other teams to contact players during the football season.
According to The Athletic, Barnes had texted Proctor to “hang in there” after a tough game.
“It’s impermissible because it’s still considered tampering. But there’s nothing untoward in the writing of the text message,” Iowa’s athletics director Beth Goetz told The Gazette at the time the violation was self-reported.
Proctor became the first freshman in a decade to start all 14 games at tackle for Alabama last season, but according to Rivals, he “struggled mightily,” giving up 12 sacks, a tie for the most in the country, and 36 pressures, the 12th-most in the nation.
Nevertheless, the outlet reported he improved throughout the season, including a strong showing against Georgia in the SEC championship game.
Nick Saban retired from Alabama this offseason after a legendary tenure at the program and was replaced by former Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer.