MIAMI GARDENS — If Miami Dolphins rookie offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor is going to find immediate success in the NFL, it’ll have to come in unfamiliar territory.

After playing left tackle in college at Alabama, the Dolphins are choosing left guard to be his home to start his professional career.

It won’t nearly be perfect right away. The sack Proctor gave up to wrap up Friday’s third practice of training camp against veteran defensive tackle Zach Sieler suffices to show that much.

But Proctor can use the combination of his 6-foot-7, 352-pound frame and athleticism at that size to be as productive as he can at a new position.

“Everything’s a little closer, so I got to get my hands up, get ready to go,” Proctor said after Friday drills. “I was a big clamper in college. I’m a big guy and wasn’t too scared to let someone get their hands on me. … But now, it’s like, I got to get a strike off, because everything’s happening way quicker in there.”

Proctor was viewed as a tackle prospect in the draft. The Dolphins, though, are set for the time being at left tackle, after Patrick Paul emerged there in his second season. At right tackle, veteran Austin Jackson is back after taking a pay cut, and he has to prove he can stay healthy.

Maybe Proctor ends up at his natural home of tackle down the road, but the Dolphins aren’t putting anything else on his plate but the guard position this camp, after he already practiced there throughout the team’s offseason workout program.

“He’s going to start off with left guard and try to get good at one position,” coach Jeff Hafley said when training camp started. “I think that’s fair to him and it’s the best thing. Ultimately, we need to do what’s best for our team. In this case, I think it’s best for him and I think it’s best for our team.”

The Paul-Proctor combination on the left side of the line can be highlighted in the run game, as the two blockers combining to weigh 678 pounds can pave the way for De’Von Achane and other Dolphins running backs, or even quarterback Malik Willis when he takes off. Miami’s offense has found success running to the left side in camp.

“He’s definitely confident,” Paul said of Proctor. “I mean, he’s big as ever and he’s fast. He’s a great football player, and he knows that.”

The sack given up to Sieler, with second-year defensive tackle Kenneth Grant also meeting him at the quarterback after winning a matchup on the right side, can provide learning lessons in pass protection.

“You got to stay engaged. That’s the biggest thing,” Proctor said. “They dialed it up pretty well, the defense did, and they won the competition. But that’s all it’s about, competition.

“It’s good for me to go against him because I’m learning a lot. How to keep my hand out on pass (protection) and not give him my arm, because he’s really good at grabbing an arm and pulling himself through. That’s what I’ve seen.”

Proctor being positioned at left guard also puts him between Paul and standout center Aaron Brewer on the line, to bring a strong early influence for the 21-year-old rookie.

“It definitely raises the intensity, because I know these guys are going out there and giving it their all every play,” Proctor said. “If I’m slacking, they’re going to get on me, and I don’t want to let anybody down.”

Proctor’s development will either be a major testament or indictment on new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan as his first draft pick in his role, a foundational piece to the Dolphins’ rebuild.

That could put a lot of pressure on Proctor, but he doesn’t think in those terms.

“Draft pick, whatever. I could not be playing right now if I’m not doing my job,” he said. “I’m really just coming in here to try to do my job. I mean, the draft pick, that’s out the way. There’s a lot of undrafted guys out here that are working and working, and they’re trying to take my spot. I’m just coming in here and focusing on all that.”

Selected with the No. 12 pick last April, that’s usually where a franchise tackle would get chosen. Maybe, in the future, he ends up at tackle, but right now, he’s bought in to playing guard.

“You got to be able to play all five positions,” he said. “Really just focusing on what I’m doing right now, and if I move out to tackle or whatever, so be it. I feel like I’ll be ready for it.”