DAVIE, Fla. (AP) - Pat White backpedaled from under center, planted, looked to his right and threw the worst pass of his NFL career.

No cause for dismay — it was only his first practice with the Miami Dolphins.

The errant throw landed in the chest of cornerback Vontae Davis, who sprinted 40 yards to the end zone.

There were other ragged moments as well for White, but the Dolphins plan to give him another chance Saturday. The second-round draft pick from West Virginia was among 33 rookies and first-year players who worked out with the Dolphins for the first time at the start of a three-day camp Friday.

Coach Tony Sparano conceded the group looked like a bunch of, well, rookies.

“I was glad we didn’t have to play a game today,” Sparano said with a chuckle.

White misfired frequently, but did provide a glimpse of the arm that helped him lead West Virginia to four bowl victories. One throw 50 yards downfield hit Anthony Armstrong in stride behind the secondary for a score.

“All the rest of them weren’t so good,” White said. “It was just a bad day. I’ve got to keep working and trying to get better.”

The left-hander’s accuracy might have been hampered by a sore left pinkie, which he jammed this week. His brain may have been overloaded, too. Sparano said his coaching staff gave the rookies a lot to absorb to see how much would stick.

“I was thinking a lot,” White said. “Once I get it down, everything will slow down for me.”

White was a surprise pick by the Dolphins, who appeared set at quarterback with NFL Comeback Player of the Year Chad Pennington and heir apparent Chad Henne. The elusive White might be an ideal triggerman for the Dolphins’ Wildcat offense, but Sparano said the rookie will be groomed from the start as an every-down quarterback.

Sparano said he wasn’t surprised by White’s long touchdown pass.

“That was a good ball,” Sparano said. “I’ve seen that throw on film a bunch of times. I’ve seen the deep ball out of him. The guy is going to be able to push it down the field.”

White practiced wearing gloves on both hands, as he did last season at West Virginia. He wore No. 6, because his familiar No. 5 is assigned to the Dolphins’ kicker, Dan Carpenter.

White said he was impressed by the quick pace of the practice.

“It’s similar to college, but the competition is better and people are running around a lot faster and making plays,” he said.

One of them was Davis, the Dolphins’ first-round pick from Illinois. He’s projected as a likely starter this season to help solidify a pass defense that ranked 25th in the NFL last year.

Davis grinned when asked about intercepting White.

“My first pick on the Miami Dolphins practice field gave me a good feeling that I can play out here anytime with anybody,” Davis said.

Davis has a reputation as an enthusiastic tackler, and he knocked down several players even though the workout was in shorts.

“I got in trouble for that with coach Sparano,” Davis said. “He doesn’t want anybody on the ground. It was my fault for knocking them down.”

Sparano also got a firsthand look at linebacker Cameron Wake, a free-agent acquisition from the CFL who is projected to upgrade Miami’s pass rush. If Wake looks good in practice, Dolphins boss Bill Parcells and general manager Jeff Ireland may decide against reacquiring 34-year-old free-agent linebacker Jason Taylor.

“I know the Jason thing is out there,” Sparano said. “Jeff, myself and Bill have visited briefly on it. We’re going to revisit it at some point.”

But Sparano said he wants to give plenty of practice time to Wake and Miami’s other new young players.

“When you look at some of the guys we’ve added,” Sparano said, “those things interest me.”