By: JASON WILDE (Madison.com) —

GREEN BAY — Here’s what we know about the defensive backs in the 2009 NFL draft: Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins is the best of the bunch.

Here’s what we don’t know: The position Jenkins will play in the pros.

In fact, even Jenkins himself doesn’t know the answer to that.

Then again, the Thorpe Award winner (for the nation’s top defensive back) is still trying to figure out how this whole thing has become such an issue, since he played cornerback almost exclusively for the Buckeyes during his four-year career, save for a brief cameo at safety as a junior.

“I’ve been more comfortable at corner. That’s where I’ve been playing my last four years. I’m confident I can make some plays there,” said Jenkins, whom the Buckeyes moved to safety on passing downs during his junior year, only to decide to move him back to full-time corner last season.

“If you look at my film, I might not look as fast as some other guys (who play cornerback). Wherever that came from, it’s definitely snowballed. I have no control over where it’s come from. I can only control what I do and how I perform.”

During his time with the Buckeyes, the 6-foot, 205-pound Jenkins performed well. He played in 49 games (43 starts) after working his way into the lineup as the nickel back during his true freshman year of 2005 and finished his career with 11 interceptions — and didn’t allow a single touchdown pass. He also recorded 196 tackles and tied the school career record by returning two of his 11 interceptions for touchdowns.

While his speed — he ran a 4.54-second 40-yard dash — might not wow scouts, his playmaking ability has impressed them. Some have compared his potential at safety to that of Hall of Fame safety Rod Woodson.

Nevertheless, if Jenkins has his way, he’d prefer to stay at corner.

“I’m a big corner. Whenever you have a guy as big as I am, the question is always, ’Is he going to move up (to safety) at the next level?’” Jenkins said. “It’s a question that I was prepared to get and I was prepared to answer it.

“Don’t get me wrong, (I) want to do whatever it is I have to do to play. I played safety as a junior, and I was comfortable with it, and it’s something I can definitely do. (But) my preferred position would be corner. I’m the type of guy, I’m going to play special teams, wherever you need me.

“If you turn on the film that’s what you see — (a corner). If you put on a film of a guy that’s 5-10, 185, I’m doing the same things that they’re doing – at my size. In the league you’ve got receivers that are bigger and more physical, and that’s what you need, a guy that can do it all. With my size and speed, it’s something rare that you don’t find a lot around the nation.”

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is one of those NFL types curious to see where Jenkins ends up playing.

“I think there are some interesting guys here. There are some corners, there are some safeties, and there are some guys that fall in between. We’ll have to determine how they’ll fall in a particular system,” Belichick said. “I think the safety position is becoming more and more of a corner(-type) position in the National Football League. There were times when some of the safeties, particularly the strong safeties, fit more like linebackers, than they did as defensive backs. I think that’s changed gradually.

“I (am interested in) some of those hybrid guys have played corner and safety. Like Jenkins for example, is a guy that’s played both. What his best fit is for a team, where he’s most valuable, is certainly an interesting discussion for all teams.”

After Jenkins, most scouts consider Illinois’ Vontae Davis as the next best player, although he’s no sure thing.

“This is not a good draft for teams in the market for a difference-maker at defensive back,” ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said.

Davis, meanwhile, is trying to overcome an apparently erroneous report that he tested positive for marijuana at the NFL scouting combine in February. While he apparently wasn’t on the list of violators given to NFL teams earlier this week, there are other questions about him, including the fact that he was benched by Illini coach Ron Zook at one point last year during his junior season.

There have been questions about Davis’ maturity and work ethic, and whether he’s anything like his older brother, San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, who was the sixth overall pick in the 2006 draft from Maryland.

“Everybody’s going to find a negative,” Davis said at the combine. “That’s the main reason why I’m at the combine, so I can show these coaches I am a good person and that I have a good personality. I don’t want to be known as Vernon Davis’ little brother. I want Vernon to be known as Vontae Davis’ big brother.”

QUICK READ ON THE DEFENSIVE BACKS

THE TOP FIVE

Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State (6-foot, 204 pounds, 4.54 seconds in the 40-yard dash): Three-year starter who had 11 INTs the past three years and won Thorpe award as a senior; has excellent size and athleticism but lacks big-time speed; may wind up at safety in pros.

Vontae Davis, Illinois (5-11, 203, 4.41): Impressive physical specimen with incredible natural ability, speed and physical strength in man-to-man coverage but comes with significant character and maturity questions, largely because of large ego and unwillingness to accept coaching.

Darius Butler, Connecticut (5-10, 183, 4.46): Excellent athlete with very good quickness, explosiveness and leaping ability but slight build and limited ability against more physical receivers; had 10 interceptions in first three seasons but none as senior.

Louis Delmas, Western Michigan (5-11, 202, 4.53): Athletic top-rated pure saety who tackles well, hits hard and is solid in coverage but faces questions about durability and level of competition in college.

Jairus Byrd, Oregon (5-10, 207, 4.6): Son of ex-NFL safety Gill Byrd, now the Chicago Bears’ safeties coach; smart, instinctive, athletic with good ball awareness but lacks speed; had five INTs as senior and could contribute as returner as well.

THE PACKERS’ PERSPECTIVE

While thirtysomething starting cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson both earned Pro Bowl nods (Harris as an alternate after Woodson pulled out), neither is getting any younger, and there are real questions about Harris’ ability to effectively play in a zone scheme, despite his dominance as a press man-to-man cover corner. The good news for GM Ted Thompson is there’s a bevy of youngsters — Tramon Williams, Will Blackmon, Pat Lee — behind them who have starting potential. Nonetheless, Thompson is a believer in the adage that you can never have too many good corners.

Safety is another matter. Nick Collins, unhappy with his contract situation with one year left on his rookie deal, made the Pro Bowl last year but did so largely on the strength of three pick-six interception returns for TDs. The other starter, Atari Bigby, suffered through an injury-plagued season after a breakout 2007 and now has the coaches wondering whether they’ll get the ‘07 or ‘08 version of him in ‘09. The free-agent signing of Anthony Smith put inconsistent 2007 third-round pick Aaron Rouse on notice, while underrated Charlie Peprah and special-teams maven Jarrett Bush remain in the mix, too.

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