Cornerback Antoine Cason is happy he stayed put. He's even happier he's in San Diego.

The Chargers' recent top draft pick toyed with the idea of ditching the University of Arizona after his junior year. Cason felt he was ready for the NFL and predicted he would have gone in the first round. Some told him otherwise.

"I bet it wouldn't have been before the third," said Mark Stoops, the Wildcats' defensive coordinator.

Cason smiles. He's sticking to his guns.

"I still think first round," Cason said. "I would've ran good (in the 40-yard dash) and I played good. They say if you play too much football, sometimes it hurts you because you get over-evaluated. A lot of juniors coming out can't get over-evaluated."

But the Chargers looked just as hard and after kicking Cason's tires determined he was the fit for a secondary which could feature three No. 1 picks with their top three cornerbacks.

Antonio Cromartie and Quentin Jammer are the starters and have that top-round pedigree. Cason, if he can beat out Cletis Gordon for the nickel role, would be the third No. 1.

""Antoine made himself a first-round draft pick just with his work ethic," Stoops said. "He came into our program from Day 1 with a good attitude. He was humble, worked hard and tried to correct his mistakes every day."

That's among the qualities the Chargers noticed from the Jim Thorpe Award winner, which goes to college's top cornerback.

In his fourth season as an Arizona starter, he intercepted five passes and scored four touchdowns -- two on pick returns; the others on punt returns.

When waving so-long to Tucson, Cason's 15 interceptions were the fourth-most in team history.

Cason is fortunate to land with the Chargers, as he won't be looked on as a defensive savior right off the bat. If he can settled into the nickel role and earn his stripes there, the Chargers will be happy.

Just like Cason is pleased to look out on the Chargers' practice field and see Cromartie and Jammer.

"It's just a great opportunity for me to come and play behind two great corners," Cason said. "Just to have this opportunity, I'm so excited. I'm at a loss for words -- speechless."

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