The Kansas City Chiefs are in full swing at training camp as players and coaches continue to acclimate ahead of the team’s first preseason game. Coaches are noticing more from the recent group of rookies as they show their value on the football field.

Joshua Williams gained traction early in camp after opening up with the defensive starters. The fourth-round rookie out of Fayetteville State had 31 tackles with nine passes defended and three interceptions during his last season in college. His athleticism and production earned him an invite to the Senior Bowl where he impressed NFL scouts. Now, he’s making an impression on the coaching staff in Kansas City.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo shared his thoughts on the HBCU standout while speaking with media Thursday.

“Yeah, I’ve got some young dudes back there,” said Spagnuolo. “I’ll tell you what to be honest with you, that’s an exciting thing for me personally. I like working with these young guys. I’m not so sure I want so many at one time that we’re basically relying on, but I think Joshua (Williams) has done a very nice job. The one thing that Joshua does is that when we ask him to do something a certain way technique-wise, he goes right out there and tries to do that and he’s been doing it all the way through. There’s a learning curve there and there are going to be mistakes. I love the way he competes though.”

Williams has quickly garnered respect around camp with veteran safety Justin Reid’s making comments earlier in the week. The high praise from Spagnuolo at training camp is a positive for the rookie cornerback, but he’ll need to keep his foot on the gas throughout and continue to make positive strides during the preseason.