Portal Fact or Fiction: Jaden Rashada, Kadyn Proctor and Caleb Downs

In today’s Fact or Fiction – Portal Edition – I look at three more transfer topics and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or FICTION .

1. Jaden Rashada will become a starter during his time at Georgia

Mark’s take: FICTION

A great deal of hype has followed Jaden Rashada throughout his high school recruiting process and his limited time at Arizona State. Now at Georgia, many assumed that he would eventually become the starter in Athens, but I don’t see that happening. And early reports from Georgia already back that up. While he didn’t arrive on campus until the summer, which didn’t help his transition, he has been slow to acclimate to the offense which has him firmly third on the depth chart behind Carson Beck and Gunner Stockton . I don’t expect him to overtake Stockton anytime soon, so could yet another transfer be in the future for Rashada if he sees the writing on the wall before the 2025 season?

2. Getting Kadyn Proctor back was Alabama’s biggest transfer victory

Mark’s take: FACT

While several incoming transfers will play an important role for the Tide this season, none will be more vital than Kadyn Proctor . His transfer recruitment story is an odd one, with a brief stop at Iowa before a return to Tuscaloosa. Proctor is a future first round NFL draft pick at left tackle, which is something that even blue blood programs don’t regularly have. And if Proctor had stayed with the Hawkeyes, it would’ve left a glaring hole at the position for the Tide. Overall, it turned out being a huge victory for the Tide.

3. Caleb Downs will be an All-American this season

Mark’s take: FACT

This one isn’t a wild take, but it is still worth discussing. Caleb Downs would’ve been an All-American this season at Alabama and will do the same with the Buckeyes. He played like a veteran last season during his true freshman season with 107 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, two interceptions and four pass breakups and has seamlessly slid into Ohio State’s very talented first unit. The Buckeyes are no stranger to All-Americans in the secondary, and Downs will be added to that list in 2024.