David Bruton Jr.’s political science degree came in handy earlier this week. The Notre Dame product made his first trip to the White House on Monday with the Denver Broncos, his former team, to celebrate their Super Bowl championship.

The Washington Redskins safety received a tour of the historic residence with former coaches and teammates before meeting President Barack Obama. A three-time captain on his old team, he even had a prime spot near the president during the Broncos’ media session at the Rose Garden.

“You’ve been learning about it your whole college career, and it’s something you’ve only seen on paper,” Bruton said following Wednesday’s voluntary offseason practice. “Now to have actually seen it in person, it’s amazing.”

A backup safety and special teams contributor in Denver for seven seasons, Bruton is poised for a larger role in Washington’s secondary. The 28-year-old is one of three safeties, along with Will Blackmon and Duke Ihenacho, hoping to earn a starting spot next to DeAngelo Hall. Bruton has received first-team repetitions with Hall over the past three weeks during offseason practices.

“The biggest thing is are they in the right spots?” Redskins Coach Jay Gruden said about his evaluation of the position during non-contact practices. “How are they reacting when the ball is in the air? How are they in the running game? Are they in the right spots? So far, it’s been a good battle. All the safeties have done some good things, quite frankly. It’ll play itself out once we get into preseason games and the regular season.”

Bruton made only eight starts during his time in Denver. In 13 games last season, he finished with career highs in tackles (49), interceptions (two), forced fumbles (two) and passes defended (seven). After signing a three-year deal worth up to $10.5 million this offseason, both Bruton and the Redskins expect him to show that he is more than just a backup.

“Every time I go out on the field, I’m trying to make a play,” Bruton said. “I’m trying to do something great, something to help our team win. I feel like last year I did that quite a bit. I want to just keep doing that and bring that here on an every-play basis.”

The Redskins lacked consistency at safety last year. Ihenacho started the season opener, but he injured his wrist in that game and was placed on injured reserve. They didn’t get much from their backups, Trenton Robinson and Jeron Johnson, which caused Hall to switch from cornerback to safety once he returned from a foot injury during the second half of the season. Dashon Goldson had a productive year on the field, leading the team with 110 tackles, and served as a leader in the locker room. The 31-year-old was released, however, in a salary cap move, and the Redskins felt the need to get younger at the position.

Now Hall, 32, will slide in as the veteran starting safety after starting eight games at the position. Blackmon and Deshazor Everett also have made the same position switch this offseason to give the Redskins more depth at the position following the additions of cornerbacks Josh Norman and Kendall Fuller.

“I’m competing to start there,” Blackmon said. “I’m not just there trying it out. I can play corner. I can play nickel when in doubt. Say you want to put your six best guys on the field. I feel like I’m one of the best six guys on the field.”

Bruton should have an advantage over his teammates transitioning into a new position, and he’s the biggest safety on the roster listed at 6 feet 2 and 225 pounds. But the Winchester, Kentucky, native is still getting comfortable in a different scheme. While there are some similarities, the terminology is different. Plus, Bruton is in another environment where he has to adapt to his new teammates to properly communicate with them on the field, particularly Hall.

“As a true veteran and a true professional, [Hall] has definitely been in the books,” Bruton said. “He’s in there with me at 7:30 [a.m.] when we don’t have mandatory meetings. As veterans, we’re up there trying to get things right, trying to get us squared away and straight on the field.”

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