METAIRIE, La. – New Orleans Saints rookie Marcus Williams was a receiver in high school. But his coaches threw him in at safety about halfway through his senior season because of an injury.

It didn’t take long for them to feel pretty smart.

“I had three interceptions [in that first game],” Williams said. “And I got a scholarship offer the next day. I had zero before that.”

Needless to say, the new position has suited Williams, who was a two-time all-Pac 12 safety at Utah before being drafted in the second round by the Saints.

But then again, the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder has never really stopped being a receiver.

Williams made his mark at Utah with his ball skills -- five interceptions in each of his final two seasons -- which the Saints have mentioned often as the main reason they drafted him.

And he has started to flash those skills this week at Saints training camp, highlighted by an interception against Drew Brees in 7-on-7 drills on Wednesday.

“It’s like a dream come true, going against one of the great quarterbacks,” said Williams, adding that his goal is to make plays like that more consistently.

Williams said being a receiver in high school definitely helps his ball skills. His supreme athleticism doesn’t hurt, either. Williams’ vertical leap of 43.5 inches at the NFL scouting combine would have been the highest by a safety since 2005 if Oakland Raiders rookie Obi Melifonwu hadn’t beaten him by a half-inch.

Williams doesn’t rely solely on those physical traits, though.

“I feel like that’s what I hold myself accountable to do is go get the ball,” Williams said. “Since I was in high school and college, that’s what I always practiced on doing. Going and getting the ball, being in position, watching film and being in my playbook in order to put myself in position to make those plays.”

Williams has worked primarily with the Saints’ second string so far in camp, though he has rotated in with the first team in three-safety alignments. If he keeps finding the ball, he’ll find his way onto the field.