Dean Haynes, center, and other Chattanooga Mocs run sprints during voluntary workouts Friday at Scrappy Moore Field.Dean Haynes had a bit of company for several weeks. He wasn’t the only injured University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football player, and he had people to talk to as he sat under the tented training area at Scrappy Moore Field.
Now, with tight end Troy Dye (knee), offensive lineman Devin Caldwell (knee) and other players progressing to conditioning work with strength coach Scott Brincks, Haynes reclines on the training table alone for most of practice Thursday.
“It is pretty boring, but a lot of times I’m watching out there and trying to get mental reps and stuff,” Haynes said. “If I’m not going to be physically prepared for the start of the season, I’ve got to be at least mentally prepared.”
The former Northwest Whitfield (Ga.) High School star and North Carolina State transfer has been a spectator at workouts since fracturing a bone his foot during the Mocs’ third preseason practice. The injury, called a Jones fracture, which involves the bone on the side of the fifth metatarsal (little toe), required him to have a pin surgically installed.
The safety spent two weeks wearing a cast before it was removed Wednesday.