Alabama True Freshman Left Tackle Kadyn Proctor Working Through 'Learning Curve'

Crimson Tide starting right tackle JC Latham thinks Proctor will end up being one of the best tackles in the country.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama allowed five sacks in the win over USF. Freshman left tackle Kadyn Proctor was beat on three of those five sacks to allow a Bulls defender to reach Ty Simpson. 

Left tackle can be one of the most important, yet most challenging positions on the football field. If a team is utilizing a right-handed quarterback, which Alabama does, the left tackle is responsible for protecting that quarterback's blindside. 

Proctor has been thrust into that role as a freshman since the Crimson Tide's opening game, the first true freshman to start at the position for Alabama since Cam Robinson in 2014. Proctor was a huge flip for Alabama on the recruiting trail and the highest-rated tackle in the class, but has struggled early on this season, allowing more sacks than any other player on the line. 

Starting right tackle JC Latham still has a lot of faith in Proctor's ability and shared his encouragement for Proctor throughout these first few weeks. 

"He’s young," Latham said Monday. "You can look at all the greats, like Kobe (Bryant), he air-balled his first shot. (Michael) Jordan, not making varsity in high school. Not everybody has the perfect career or even the perfect start. Everybody goes through their own trials and tribulations. You can’t really compare what you’re going through to somebody else. At the end of the day, he’ll turn out to be one of the best tackles in the country, and we’ll all look back at this and see it as a learning curve."

Alabama's offensive line was shuffled around a little against USF without normal starting left guard Tyler Booker, who missed the game with back spasms. Alabama head coach Nick Saban is hopeful he will be back soon, which should help Proctor along the left side. 

"Book's kind of the leader on the offensive line," Saban said after the game. "He certainly helps 74 [Proctor] play better because he plays beside him, makes all the calls. I think 74 has a lot more confidence when he's in there. So hopefully we'll get him back next week as well."

With Booker out, redshirt sophomore Terrence Ferguson III played at left guard for Alabama Saturday, making the first start of his career. This left Alabama's left side of the offensive line against USF with two career starts heading into the matchup. 

While he doesn't have much in-game experience, Ferguson was also able to aid Proctor in making the calls and lining up right according to Latham. 

"Honestly, and no discredit to Tyler, but Terrence Ferguson also helps him out a lot," Latham said. "Any guard who’s over there does a really great job to make sure the young guy, Kadyn, is doing good. As far as Tyler Booker and that specific example, he does bring experience to the table, being another young guy who did play with us last year. He does help out — like, hey, here’s what you can expect, here’s what they’re doing to do. He definitely is mature and brings that aspect to the game. He helps Kadyn a lot."

Redshirt freshman Elijah Pritchett is listed as the backup left tackle on the depth chart, but Alabama has not appeared to be making any moves towards a change at the position. 

The offensive line started to finally hit its stride on the final drive of the game. Saban challenged the offensive line before the drive to take control of the game, and Alabama was able to milk nearly six minutes off the clock while pushing Ty Simpson into the end zone for the game-sealing touchdown to go up two scores. Latham said that drive showed the unit the potential it has. Now, it just has to translate into a 60-minute performance. 

Not only will Booker's play itself be an improvement between the trenches, but it also helps Alabama's communication up front. The performance against the Bulls marked the second week in a row that Alabama allowed five sacks.

"I think the players were not communicating well and not on the same page sometimes, and I think that created issues and problems," Saban said Monday.
I thought that the offensive line played like our offensive line needs to play in the last 6:29 of the game, and that’s something that we wanna build on."

See also:

Jalen Milroe Named Alabama's Starting Quarterback by Nick Saban