GREEN BAY — If you're an NFL team and you're looking for a top-flight cornerback in the first round of Saturday's draft, you'd better believe in one basic tenet.

Size doesn't matter — when it comes to the school your prospect is coming from.

"This year's class, when you really analyze it, I don't know that any of them are virtual locks to be a top-10 choice — which is somewhat unusual," Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage said. "It's interesting, a lot of the attention (usually) goes to the big schools, but this year three of the top players came from mid-major type programs — Leodis McKelvin from Troy, Mike Jenkins from South Florida and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (from) Tennessee State. You have three first-round corners there."

Indeed, McKelvin, Jenkins and Rodgers-Cromartie are the only corners that appear to be locks to go in the first round, and none of them played at what you'd consider a football factory.

Troy began playing in the NCAA's Division I-A (now the Football Bowl Subdivision) in 2001 and joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2004.

Last season, the Trojans lost on the road to Arkansas and Florida but beat Big 12 member Oklahoma State athome while going 8-4.

"I plan on being the first corner taken in the draft," said McKelvin, who shares the NCAA career record with eight kick return touchdowns (seven punts and one kickoff) and as a junior held former Georgia Tech wideout Calvin Johnson (last year's No. 2 overall pick) to just two catches for 9 yards. "I figured if (Johnson) could go that high, I could definitely play in the league.

"Coming from Troy, of course there have been questions. You just have to go out there and show them that you can compete."

South Florida moved from Conference USA to the Big East in 2005 and rose as high as No. 2 in the Associated Press rankings last season before a late-season swoon ended in a Sun Bowl loss to Oregon.

Jenkins, who patterns himself after Denver's Champ Bailey, Oakland's DeAngelo Hall and Green Bay's Al Harris because he likes Harris' "aggressiveness" at the line of scrimmage, was actually recruited by Florida, Oregon, Nebraska and Clemson coming out of high school in Bradenton, Fla., but opted for Tampa-based school to be close to his family.

Tennessee State, which plays in the Football Championship Subdivision, finished 5-6 last season but Rodgers-Cromartie skyrocketed up draft boards after a terrific Senior Bowl week.

Although he wasn't recruited by anyone other than Tennessee State coming out of high school — he attended four high schools and didn't play regularly until his senior year — his size (6-foot-1 1⁄2) and athleticism make up for his lower-level football background.

"(Being from a small school) I (felt) like, 'I've got to do (well in) three out of three — the Senior Bowl, here and then my pro day ... put up incredible numbers just to get an opportunity,' " said Rodgers-Cromartie, whose cousin is San Diego Chargers Pro Bowl corner Antonio Cromartie. "I know I've got a hurdle I've got to jump coming from a small school. It's not a personal thing, but I know I've got a lot to overcome coming from a small school."

Maybe not as much as Rodgers-Cromartie might think. New York Giants GM Jerry Reese said that if small-school players "look like they belong" at the combine and Senior Bowl, "you have a little better feeling about them going into the draft when you're thinking about picking guys like that."

QUICK READ: DEFENSIVE BACKS

THE TOP FIVE

Leodis McKelvin, Troy (5-foot-10 1⁄4, 190 pounds, 4.39 seconds in the 40-yard dash): Three-year starter who had just four career interceptions but led the country with three punt return TDs last season.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State (6-1 1⁄2, 184, 4.33): Cousin of San Diego Pro Bowl cornerback Antonio Cromartie. Started all four years at small school and needs to add some bulk. Has looked like the real deal at the Senior Bowl and scouting combine.

Mike Jenkins, South Florida (5-10 1⁄4, 197, 4.44): Natural cover-corner who might be the most gifted DB in the draft but whose work habits are questioned by scouts.

Aqib Talib, Kansas (6-0 3⁄4, 202, 4.49): Playmaker who returned two INTs for TDs last season and had five career TD catches as a receiver.

Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech (5-9 3⁄4, 189, 4.57): Physical player and willing tackler who lacks height and doesn't appear to be a good fit for a man-to-man scheme but could excel in Cover-2 defense.

THE PACKERS' PERSPECTIVE

In the aftermath of the NFC Championship Game loss to the New York Giants, it became fashionable to question whether 30-something starting cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson were losing it.

While the guess here is that both still have plenty left in the tank, adding a young corner wouldn't be a bad idea if you're GM Ted Thompson, given that the youngsters behind the two vets (Tramon Williams, Will Blackmon, Jarrett Bush) have yet to distinguish themselves.

At safety, Nick Collins remains an inconsistent disappointment given the coaches' expectations that he'll someday be a Pro Bowl player.

Atari Bigby was a pleasant, hard-hitting surprise in his first year as a starter, and 2007 third-round pick Aaron Rouse could challenge for a starter job, too.

Don't be surprised if the Packers go with Arizona cornerback Antoine Cason, or perhaps Miami safety Kenny Phillips, at No. 30.