Kadyn Proctor started his career at Alabama.
In January, he moved to Iowa and received NIL monies as part of his salary.
Earlier this month, Proctor stated that he is returning to Alabama, where he would most likely earn no remuneration from the Crimson Tide.
With the NCAA transfer portal reopening in less than three weeks and unfettered transfers now a reality in the sport, Proctor may not be the only athlete to spend spring or part of spring at one school before switching to another in time for the 2024 season.
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin says he wouldn’t be shocked if the second half of April is really active across the country.
“Here again, it’s a really stupid system,” Kiffin explained. “Maybe it’s beneficial for the players. It’s good for them monetarily, but I’m not sure if it’s good for them to be able to leave whenever things goes wrong. They’ll just run no matter what. I think what you’re going to see—I said this when they first started this—is guys saying, ‘I’m going to go somewhere, get their money, and having never played a down as a transfer, I’m going to come back in immediately after spring ball and go somewhere else and collect their money.'”
Kiffin emphasized his long-standing belief that the system is bad for the sport.
“You’ve created a system where you can just go get money basically at the end of every semester,” Kiffin said, “switching spots as many times as you want. …That’s not good.”
Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz echoed those sentiments Tuesday, saying that while “it’s best for both parties” for Proctor to return to Tuscaloosa, he has concerns about the system.
“I try not to get too surprised by anything,” Ferentz said. “I think it’s a reflection of the system. …The biggest concern is that there are no boundaries and it’s not sustainable.”
Kiffin has worked the transfer portal masterfully since its inception, rebuilding Ole Miss into a national power entering the 2024 season. However, with unlimited transfers now in play, Kiffin — and his peers in college coaching — are now in uncharted waters.
Kiffin stated that he advised individuals in the Ole Miss program to “better make something they sign for a year” so that players are at least committed for one season, remarking that the current collegiate system is ludicrous in comparison to NFL roster-building.
“It’s really a shitty system,” Kiffin stated. “It is. Now, we’ll use it in the same way that the gamers do. I’m not upset at the players. They use the system, and we plan to use it to create the finest roster possible.”
