Mike Coccia had off on Monday from the grind of NFL training camp and came home to spend the day with his family in the Lehigh Valley.

It's been a surreal summer for the Freedom graduate, as he competes for a roster spot with the Philadelphia Eagles, battling amongst offensive lineman for a coveted role on the team.

So, a day after Coccia and the Eagles took part in an open practice to over 43,000 fans at Lincoln Financial Field, he was back at his stomping grounds.

"We had the day off, so I decided to drive home and spend the day," he said. "It's nice to be close to home."

And Coccia hopes that home will continue to be with the Eagles, as he prepares for his first NFL contest this Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. when the Indianapolis Colts head into town to take on the Eagles in the first preseason game of the season for both teams.

It'll be Coccia's first real taste of competing in an NFL contest and one that he is excited about.

"It's going to be an awesome experience but I can't look that far ahead," he said. "I just need to focus on the things I have to do everyday to make this team, because once you start looking, that's when mistakes can happen and I don't want that."

Coccia has been getting reps at both center and guard in camp and that versatility can only help his cause as he battles for a spot. With the first round of NFL roster cuts coming on September 1 (when teams have trim their 90-man rosters to 75), the undrafted Coccia is looking to do everything he can to be one of Chip Kelly's linemen.

"One thing coach Kelly always preaches is value," said Coccia. "The more value you have, the better chance you have at making the roster. I feel pretty good about what I've been able to do so far. I haven't played guard in a long time, so it's good to get those reps.

"You're going up against guys that are all fighting for the same thing. They're all bigger, stronger and faster than what you played against in college and they all want to make the team."

What happens to Coccia down the road is undetermined as of now, but he can certainly know that his whole Freedom family is pulling for him.

"It's really an unbelievable experience to be in this position and just be in the locker room with guys you've looked up to as a fan," he said, "but the reality of it now is that it's a business and I'm just focusing on football. It doesn't matter if there's thousands of people in the stands, once I get focused, I just play football."