Late July means the NFL is shifting into camp mode, and for players with Alabama roots, the next stop is set. Across the AFC East, veterans and rookies are beginning the climb toward the season, with report dates already locked in at each team’s facility.
Buffalo gets things rolling at St. John Fisher University, where rookies report on July 21 and veterans follow on July 28. Miami is on the same schedule at the Baptist Health Training Complex, with rookies in on July 21 and vets arriving July 28.
The Dolphins’ group with Alabama ties includes Ronnie Harrison, listed as an inside linebacker from Alabama; Kadyn Proctor, the offensive tackle from Alabama; Kahlil Saunders, a defensive lineman from Grissom; Jalen Tolbert, the wide receiver from McGill-Toolen and South Alabama; and Malik Willis, the quarterback from Auburn.
New England’s camp at the New Balance Athletics Center brings one of the deepest Alabama-rooted lists in the division. The Patriots have rookies reporting July 21 and veterans on July 24.
Their group includes Christian Barmore, defensive tackle, Alabama; K.J. Britt, linebacker, Oxford, Auburn; Carlton Davis, cornerback, Auburn; CJ Dippre, tight end, Alabama; Quintayvious Hutchins, linebacker, Bessemer City; Khalil Jacobs, linebacker, South Alabama; Marcus Jones, cornerback, Enterprise, Troy; Jam Miller, running back, Alabama; JonDarius Morgan, guard, Huffman, UAB; Dell Pettus, safety, Sparkman, Troy; and Jeremiah Webb, wide receiver, South Alabama.
The AFC East’s camp calendar also includes a later set of Patriots dates listed with rookies reporting July 25 and veterans on July 28.
In Other News...
Auburns New Backfield Has One Early Concern Fans Cant Ignore
Alex Golesh has made it clear from the start that Auburns offense is going to lean on tempo and the run game, and the new backfield mix is built to match that vision. The Tigers added Nykahi Davenport, Tae Meadows and Baylor transfer Bryson Washington to give the offense more depth and more options behind the returning pieces, a move that fits the kind of physical, up-tempo identity Golesh wants to establish.
Washington, though, is still the name to watch as camp unfolds. Golesh said the transfer has made progress, but the staff is still working to get him fully ready for the demands of the offense, which leaves Auburn with an early evaluation point in a backfield that otherwise looks deep enough to keep the competition moving. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Most Fragile Position Suddenly Feels Far More Important
Auburns special teams setup is getting a fresh look for 2026 under new coordinator Jacob Bronowski, and the unit has a different feel than it did a year ago. The Tigers still have some stability in place with kicker Alex McPherson, punter Hudson Kaak and kick returner Pleasant, but the operation also has a new starting long snapper in Powell, a transfer from Miami (Ohio), which makes the whole kicking game feel a little more interconnected than usual.
The biggest open question sits at punt returner, where the job is up for grabs after Malcolm Simmons transferred out. For a team that knows how quickly one shaky snap, hold or return can change field position, that competition matters more than it might on the surface, especially with Bronowski trying to settle the group before the 2026 season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Faces A Recruiting Showdown For An In-State Quarterback Target
Auburns quarterback recruiting board has another in-state name worth tracking, as Gadsden City High Schools Sam Sollie has set a verbal commitment date for Aug. 8. The Class of 2028 prospect has spent the offseason looking at a handful of SEC programs, with Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State and Tennessee all in the mix, and Rivals already projects him as a future SEC passer.
For Auburn, the interest is especially notable because the Tigers have hosted Sollie more than any other finalist, giving them a strong foothold in a race that still has several heavyweight programs involved. The 3-star quarterback has the kind of profile that tends to draw late attention once the calendar turns toward a decision, and his choice will say plenty about how the early battles for elite Alabama talent are shaping up. [Read more 🡒]