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As one of the players who came to the New Orleans Saints last year during Coach Sean Payton's suspension, second-year cornerback Corey White didn't expect to be recognized when he and Payton crossed paths.

But White was wrong.

Between workout repetitions one day this offseason, White met Payton in the Saints' weight room and came away impressed.

"He knew everything about me," White said Wednesday night while serving as an observer at the Saints' Black and Gold Hoops Challenge at Rummel. "I was surprised. It's good to see his face and hear his voice in the room."

It was even better to be noticed.

White, the Saints' fifth-round draft choice last season, said he is fully healthy this offseason after having his rookie season end after being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.

"Everything went smooth," White said of his offseason rehab. "I'm happy to be back out there with the fellas. It's going to be an exciting year. We have a lot of talent and Sean is back. I just can't wait to make a Super Bowl run."

Before the injury, White had shown flashes of ability as the nickel back. He finished the season with31 total tackles, one interception and three pass defenses in 10 games, including four starts.

White isn't sure of his role for this season, however, as the Saints prepare under new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who will employ a 3-4 defense.

"We don't, none of us know," White said. "Rob is going to come in and put us all in position to make plays. And that's what he believes in. He really believes in players who can come in and play in any system.

"(Ryan is) definitely a players' coach. He's going to let the players make all the plays. He's just there for guidance. He's a great person and coach."

But White knows he'll have to prove himself to the Saints' coaching staff all over again with Payton's return and the addition of Ryan and new secondary coach Wesley McGriff.

The Saints also have revamped their secondary this offseason, bringing in cornerback Keenan Lewis and safeties Kenny Vaccaro (the team's first-round pick) and Jim Leonhard to compete with incumbent starting cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Patrick Robinson and safeties Malcolm Jenkins and Roman Harper.

"We love the competition," White said. "We all have players who are going to come in and compete at all the positions.

"This offseason, I just wanted to focus on my DB craft, footwork, hands and eyes. I wanted to master the little things before I get into the books."

New Orleans Saints cornerback Corey White ready to prove himself all over again | NOLA.com

Cruize

He had his best game before being injured. The defense missed him down the stretch.

alleycat_126

He's ready to prove himself... I'm actually counting on him being better than Greer, and Robinson and cracking the starting lineup behind "beer man 2" lol..... Can anybody do a quick side by side to get this look a like thing out of my head!!!!! Micheal Lewis vs Keenan Lewis

hagan714

i like Corey. Of all the CB he is not afraid to do run support and his coverage skill keep improving.

Now if Varcarro is the superman everyone has him pegged be could white and superman take over the two safety positions in a couple of years? remember he was a SS in college converted to CB

homerj07

I hope the knee is good. I know that with medical advances players CAN comeback in under a year....
So I am hopeful.

Rugby Saint II

He just needs to prove he can stay healthy.

Luda34

I'm starting to like our secondary with White coming back with the signing of Lewis and I hope we put the best personal on the field when it counts. I thing we will see Greer and Lewis starting with White and Roberison at nickel and dime packs and take Harper a$$ out when he has a deep coverge or when he has to cover a TE and the you can play around with Varcarro, Jenkins and Lenard

FinSaint

I really liked White as a draft pick and later as a player on the field, but unfortunately he had that injury which took him off the field for the latter part of the season.

His safety background sometimes shines through, but if he is committed to working on the fundamentals of being a CB - like he alluded to - I think he could develop into an impact player on the Saints' backfield.