His talent is on the level

Small school or not, CB is standing out

Cornerback prospect Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is opening eyes with his athleticism, but he has pretty good hands, too, with 11 career INTs. (Michael Conroy/Associated Press)

In the age of constant hype, instant gratification, 24-hour sports networks, and around-the-clock recruiting coverage, it's tough for a player to seemingly materialize out of nowhere and become an NFL draft darling.

But after attending four high schools, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie didn't simply slip through the cracks coming out of talent-laden Florida, he fell into a college recruiting chasm that left him playing for Division 1-AA (now known as the Football Championship Subdivision) Tennessee State University.

Rodgers-Cromartie said at the NFL Scouting Combine that Tennessee State was the only school that recruited him coming out of Lakewood Ranch High School in Bradenton, Fla. After a standout performance at the Senior Bowl that included an interception, Rodgers-Cromartie ensured there won't be a repeat of that fate at the pro level. He is very much a wanted man by NFL teams and is expected to hear his name called during the first round Saturday, possibly as the first corner selected.

The 6-foot-1 1/2-inch, 184-pound Rodgers-Cromartie has uncanny athleticism and a familiar name - he is a first cousin of San Diego Chargers Pro Bowl corner Antonio Cromartie - making him one of the fastest risers leading up to the draft. Combining big-time talent with small-school roots, he is the most intriguing member of a deep class of cornerback prospects.

"Coming from a small school, I was like a guy that was going under the radar," said Rodgers-Cromartie at the Scouting Combine. "But then in the Senior Bowl I had a good week and a pretty OK game. Now people are starting to pay a little more attention."

How could they not? Rodgers-Cromartie ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the Combine, recorded a 38.5-inch vertical leap, and showed flexible hips in positional drills. He looked like the defensive version of Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss, or at least a clone of his cousin, who led the NFL in interceptions last season with 10.

Nobody questions the physical ability of Rodgers-Cromartie. He was the Ohio Valley Conference indoor track champion in the 60-meter dash (6.89 seconds), long jump (25 3/4 feet) and high jump (6-9 1/2). Four of his 11 career interceptions resulted in touchdowns.

"When I get my hands on the ball, that's all I'm thinking," he said.

But they do question his level of competition.

Rodgers-Cromartie, who finished with 158 career tackles and 26 pass breakups, was simply a superior athlete than most of the players he came in contact with at Tennessee State, where he became a starter during his freshman season. The Tigers used him all over the field. His senior season he was used on kickoff returns (24.4 yards per return and a score), caught a pass for 38 yards, rushed twice for 16 yards, and blocked a school-record four kicks (three field goals and an extra point). He blocked eight punts or kicks during his college career.

The talent disparity makes it tougher to evaluate Rodgers-Cromartie. Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli said game film is usually best at foreshadowing what type of player a team is selecting - "Keep watching film, watching film, because that's who he is," said Marinelli.

But in the case of Rodgers-Cromartie, even that is a challenge, as most of the tape teams have on him, other than the Senior Bowl, contains grainy footage from Tennessee State's games.

"There is a little bit of a challenge in this guy," said former NFL general manager Charley Casserly, now an analyst for CBS Sports and the NFL Network. "The tape is not real clear. You have to find him. This reminds me of an older time in scouting."

Casserly said Rodgers-Cromartie's game is "a little raw" and at the Combine the Patriots asked Rodgers-Cromartie to draw up a coverage and he sketched out a Cover-2 look because he said it was the easiest. Casserly said the key for most teams in evaluating Rodgers-Cromartie would be individual workouts and interviews.

"I know I've got a hurdle I've got to jump coming from a small school," said Rodgers-Cromartie.

However, Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian, who while with the Buffalo Bills had success drafting a small-school wide receiver named Andre Reed, Buffalo's all-time leading receiver, said the dominance Rodgers-Cromartie displayed at the Division 1-AA level is a quality indicator of NFL success.

"That's the first test," said Polian. "I use Andre Reed as an example. Did he dominate at Kutztown State? Yes, he did. That tells you something. It happens all the time. A lot of it just depends on how willing you are to take a chance on a guy from a lower level of competition."

Teams also have to make sure they're medically comfortable with Rodgers-Cromartie. The 22-year-old had a nonfunctioning kidney removed when he was 8 years old.

"The doctor cleared me, and I've been doing physical activity ever since I can remember," said Rodgers-Cromartie, who said he's never had to go on dialysis.

Rodgers-Cromartie has the name and the look of an elite cornerback, mirroring Antonio Cromartie, whom he said he just met this year. Now, he hopes to match his draft status - Cromartie was taken 19th in 2006 - and have the same level of success.

Cromartie gave his cousin a piece of advice before the Combine about the poking, prodding, and pushing that NFL draft prospects endure until they hear their names called.

"He told me to make sure I stay focused and relaxed," said Rodgers-Cromartie. "He said coming from a small school, don't try to kill everything. He said to just go out there and be me."

Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com.