A month into his first NFL training camp, former Texas A&M linebacker Tyrel Dodson said he believes leaving Aggieland a year early was the best business decision for his future.

“I know I can play with the best of them,” Dodson said Tuesday.

Despite missing out on a draft selection, Dodson signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills over the summer and has seen his NFL dream realized in training camp. Through two preseason games, Dodson has recorded seven tackles in wins over the Carolina Panthers and the Indianapolis Colts.

“You have to come to work every day,” Dodson said. “I mean, these guys have families. These guys are trying to feed their families. And, you know, you have to come to work every day, because when you’re out on the field, you’re responsible for the team, and you got to have the team win. So if you’re not doing that, you’re taking money off what everyone else is playing.”

More from this section +2 Unfazed by competition and still confident in himself, Packers kicker Mason Crosby aims to stick around +4 Still no winner in Boise State quarterback race: 'It's kind of like a street fight' Driving for 6: Walk-on Stalbird impressing Fisher; roster notes; an active recruiting Wednesday? Dodson is listed as third-team middle linebacker on the Bills’ official website and says he’s embracing the tutelage from defensive veterans above him like Lorenzo Alexander and Jordan Poyer.

“I feel like family already,” Dodson said. “They say that it’s very rare [in professional football]. This place is different.”

To hear Dodson’s full interview about his young NFL career and the naming of his good friend Braden White as A&M’s new 12th Man, check out the My Aggie Nation Podcast on MyAggieNation.com , Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This article originally ran on theeagle.com .