INDIANAPOLIS — New England took some time to interview two of the best defensive backs in the upcoming draft in recent days. Kansas standout Aqib Talib and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, a I-AA star at Tennessee State, both said they’d sat down with Patriots officials.

Talib — whose obvious confidence at the podium reminds one of another cornerback and native Texan, Ellis Hobbs — is 6-foot-1, 202 pounds, athletic and versatile. With teams throwing away from him over his last two seasons, he lined up at wide receiver on occasion and tried a few punt and kickoff returns as well.

During his Saturday night meeting with New England, Talib’s first meeting with any team, the discussion topics were “football stuff, history, family, my background.” He felt that the meeting went well.

Rodgers-Cromartie, who is a cousin of San Diego Pro Bowler Antonio Cromartie, had just one scholarship offer coming out of high school: Tennessee State. Because he bounced around in high school, Rodgers-Cromartie played football in his senior year only.

But the Florida native made the most of his time with the Tigers, using his speed — he won the Ohio Valley Conference 60-meter dash title as well as the long and high-jump titles — and height to dominate receivers. Rodgers-Cromartie measures in at 6-2, but is a thin 184 pounds.

When he met with Pats’ brass, Rodgers-Cromartie said, they asked the standard questions but also were the first team to ask him to draw up a defensive play.

“It threw me off-guard a bit,” Rodgers-Cromartie said. “I was expecting to answer personal questions like everybody else was asking me and then you got, ‘Draw up a defense for me.’ ”

What did he come up with? A cover-2, because it was easy.

Rodgers-Cromartie is a sure first-day pick, while Talib is projected as a first-rounder.

Here and there

Yesterday was the workout day for quarterbacks, receivers and running backs; today is for defensive linemen and linebackers, while defensive backs wrap up the event tomorrow. . … Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, who has been training with 200-meter world-record holder Michael Johnson, recorded a 4.33 40-yard time, impressing scouts and those in the media workroom. The fastest 40-yard dash time of the day belonged to East Carolina back Chris Johnson, who clocked 4.24 seconds. … Combine injuries don’t happen too often, but yesterday Florida State receiver De’Cody Fagg suffered a serious right knee injury during the day’s first drill. While trying to catch the ball along the sideline, Fagg planted his right leg and the knee gave out. He was carted off the field.

smanza@projo.com