Hawaii’s first football practice of training camp ended with a rush.

After completing several sprints of various distances Thursday, several players yelled: "What’s the next test, coach?"

"You have to love that," head coach Greg McMackin said. "Tommy (Heffernan, who coordinated offseason workouts) and his staff did a great job of conditioning the players. The players are in good shape, and they want to do more. It was a good starting day, but we have a long way to go."

There were some glitches. Two of the three new starting receivers — left wideout Darius Bright and right slotback Miah Ostrowski — did not participate in all of the passing drills. Bright is recovering from a so-called turf-toe injury to the big toe on his right foot.

"It felt good, then it started to stiffen," said Bright, who expects to be fully healthy next week. He said he receives twice-daily treatments.

Ostrowski said he experienced hamstring tightness July 25. He said he chose to limit his work Thursday.

"It’s not worth hurting even more," Ostrowski said. "I was just resting it. I’m going to give it some time, whatever (the trainer) decides."

That opened the way for Allen Sampson, who moved from slotback to wideout during spring training, and backup slotbacks Corey Paclebar and Edu Amadi to get more reps.

That also provided an opportunity for Scott Harding, a 24-year-old former professional Australian rules football player.

Harding said he prefers the American version, which has more "bursts" of action as opposed to long-distance running. Because Australian and American football are considered to be different sports, the NCAA regards Harding as an amateur.

UH had asked Harding to delay enrolling until January, when a scholarship would become available. Instead, he chose to pay his own way this semester so that he could play this season.

"Considering my age, this was the best way to go," Harding said. "It’s best for me, it’s best for the team."

Receivers coach Mouse Davis said Harding is "still trying to figure things out. He’s going to be a pretty good player."

On defense, linebacker Aaron Brown was enjoying being No. 1 — his new jersey number. He said he aspires to a career in the NFL, and the number "reminds me of the goal I want to reach."

Brown sat out most of the drills with a minor injury. He trained in Hawaii for six weeks this summer, then returned to his family home on the mainland for a month. He said he gained 9 pounds, and now weighs 229.

"My mom fed me 6,000 calories a day — meat, potatoes, carbs," Brown said. "I wanted to get bigger. I’m playing linebacker. I want to look the role."

He said he would like to be a leader this season.

"I want to be more responsible and more accountable," Brown said.

McMackin said this is probably his fastest defense since being named head coach in 2008.

"Look at him," McMackin said, pointing at linebacker Brenden Daley, a transfer from Ventura College. Daley wears No. 5, previously worn by former linebacker Jake Heun.

"That’s what I like to see: a new guy being faster than the guy who used to wear that uniform," McMackin said.

Daley said: "That’s nice to hear. I’m happy if Coach is happy."

Quarterback Bryant Moniz unveiled his wrist-band tattoos that were inked this past Monday. Each wrist took 3 hours to complete.

"Art takes time," Moniz said. "You can’t rush art."

On his right index finger, there is a tattoo reading: "Finish."

"I want to finish first in everything," Moniz said. "It’s kind of a motivating thing for me."

Hawaii News Now video: Chris Tanaka interviews Coach Mack about the Warriors’ new season