Former University of Hawai'i center Samson Satele practiced with the first team during the Miami Dolphins' off-season mini-camp, which ended Sunday.

According to the team's Web site, Satele and fellow rookie draftee Drew Mormino worked with the first-team offensive line in Friday's practice.

Satele was picked in the second round and Mormino, out of Central Michigan, in the sixth. Both are listed as centers on the team's roster.

"We wouldn't say we have a first-team line," head coach Cam Cameron cautioned. "They are working significantly with the first group. There is competition. They both showed they both had a maturity. (Offensive line coach) Hud (Houck) and I talked and sometimes you can move them up too quickly. We just sensed that it wasn't going to be too big for them.

Cameron wouldn't say the rookies are ready to start. "We don't know. The most pleasing thing is it hasn't been too big for them. The last time we've done this, we did it with Nick Hardwick and Shane Olivea. So we've done it and this is kind of how we did it. If it is too big for them, I'll talk to them.

"If we step back in the second group, don't consider that a negative. So we are still evolving in the offensive line and it's nice to see young men who come in and just play ball and it isn't too big for them."

Cameron also cited Satele's toughness on the Web site, saying he was impressed with how the former Warrior worked through despite undergoing five root canals during the week.

"How many of you have had a root canal?" Cameron said. "I haven't. I have no interest in having one, but we've all heard right? He had five — and I didn't know — in the last week or whatever.

"I'm talking about his toughness. He never flinched, never said a word. I have never been around a guy yet that really practiced a whole practice with one root canal and he's had five."

Cameron says Satele is a quick study. "One thing is: we know he's smart and we know he's tough, which goes a long way at that position. We're very pleased with his progress."

Satele is one of three former Warriors on the Dolphins.

Fullback Reagan Mauia was drafted in the sixth round and offensive lineman Tala Esera was signed as a free agent.

Hawai'i, in fact, is well represented in the state of Florida.

Besides the trio in Miami, Jacksonville features offensive linemen Vince Manuwai and Chris Naeole and Tampa Bay has kick returner/receiver Chad Owens.

www.miamidolphins.com contributed to this report.