Last Wednesday, the Alabama Crimson Tide were hit with some rather shocking news when legendary head coach Nick Saban announced his sudden retirement from the team. And now, it sounds like that’s having a ripple effect creating even more horrible news for the Crimson Tide a week later.
On Wednesday, the Alabama Crimson Tide got the news that two of their top players and most promising young stars were planning to leave the program following the departure of Nick Saban as superstar safety Jordan Battle and left tackle Kadyn Proctor both decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Both Battle and Proctor were five-star prospects in the 2023 high school recruiting class and both players were able to earn starting spots at key positions for Alabama in just their first seasons on campus. Now, both players will be leaving Alabama to play the rest of their careers elsewhere.
This is obviously horrible news for Alabama, and the college football world had a lot to say about it on social media.
Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor and safety Caleb Downs have entered the transfer portal, both of whom are former five-star prospects with bright futures. https://t.co/2POAwIAqw7
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) January 17, 2024
To sum up Alabama's day so far:
–SEC freshman of the year and star safety Caleb Downs expected to enter portal
–Starting left tackle and former 5-star Kadyn Proctor intends to go into portal
–5-star Zion Grady decommitsWelcome to the SEC in 2024, Kalen DeBoer.
— John Talty (@JTalty) January 17, 2024
This time a week ago, Caleb Downs and Kadyn Proctor were set to become the faces of Alabama's program the next two seasons.
Then Nick Saban stunningly retired, creating a ripple effect that will greatly impact the fortunes of other programs.
Crazy times.
— Jesse Simonton (@JesseReSimonton) January 17, 2024
Caleb Downs & Kadyn Proctor on the same day..
— ᴄᴏᴅʏ ᴄᴀʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪᴇʀ (@CodyCarpentier) January 17, 2024
Alabama has lost Caleb Downs and Kadyn Proctor to the transfer portal today and it isn’t even lunchtime
— Dean Harrell (@Dean_Harrell03) January 17, 2024
We’ll have to see where both players ultimately land. But wherever it is, this is certainly not a good turn of events for Alabama as new head coach Kalen DeBoer takes over the program.
