Staff Photo by Tim Barber Shortly after sunrise today, the big guys on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team workout running on a dew-covered Scrappy Moore Field. The voluntary practice was held without any coaches in sight.

Many of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team’s veterans were at Scrappy Moore Field early this morning for the Mocs’ first 7-on-7 workout of the summer.

The workout is voluntary, and coaches aren’t allowed to participate or watch.

In all, 32 players — including linemen, who did conditioning on a separate field — attended the 7 a.m. session. The 7-on-7 competition between offensive and defensive skilled-position players included its share of hits and misses, senior wide receiver Clint Woods said, but it was a good start.

“It’s important to get the throws and the timing back and to get used to catching balls in traffic again,” said Woods, one of the Mocs' team captains. “We’ll get better and better every time we do this.”

Jare Gault, the returning starter at quarterback, took the first reps and B.J. Coleman, the former McCallie star and University of Tennessee transfer, went second, followed by Tony Pastore and Cody Romans.

Coleman has been throwing with his new teammates since he transfered this spring, but he said Thursday was the first time he’d been on the field with some of the guys.

“It wasn’t bad for the first day,” Coleman said. “I was pleased with how many people showed up, and I think this can only help us get better.”

For more Mocs coverage, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.