There was a time while he was in high school that Derrick Strait was homeless, at one point sleeping in a U-Haul truck with his mother for shelter in Austin, Texas.

By shortly after 9 p.m. last night, Strait found a home and some potentially-high income – with the Jets as their third-round pick.

The decorated cornerback out of Oklahoma, who last season won the Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back and the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation’s top overall defensive player, was the 10th cornerback chosen in the draft, quite a bit later than he was projected to be picked.

“I’m kind of speechless right now,” Strait said last night. “It’s just always been a dream of mine to be in the NFL and the opportunity has finally arisen and I’m thankful for it.”

Strait, who picked off 14 passes and started 51 games in four years with Oklahoma, probably dropped in the draft because his 4.5 speed wasn’t as blazing as other corners.

But the Jets feel his instincts, work ethic and the fact he’s played on a national championship team make up for any speed deficiencies.

“He’s a more well-rounded corner than just a blazing-fast type of corner,” Jets director of scouting Jesse Kaye said. “I’ve thought from the beginning that this is a real, well-rounded, smart, good defensive corner that could tackle and would tackle.”

Strait doesn’t shy away from hard work. He also knows about gratitude, something he learned when Rodney Greene, his former middle school coach, took him and became his guardian when he was a junior in high school and without a roof over his head.

“By the grace of God, my coach Rodney Greene became my guardian, got me involved in sports and showed me that this could be a way to make money the right way,” Strait said.

Strait, who’s represented by the same agent as Knicks’ forward Kurt Thomas, said the first thing he wants to do once he signs his new contract is help get his mother a new house.

“The Jets are getting a kid who has character,” Greene said.

* Despite recent reports to the contrary, GM Terry Bradway yesterday insisted the Jets aren’t shopping reserve RB LaMont Jordan, whose contract is up after the 2004 season. “LaMont Jordan will be a Jet this season,” Bradway said.

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DERRICK STRAIT

CB, Oklahoma 5-11, 196 Chosen 76th overall

* Four-year starter who started 51 games and picked off 14 passes, returning three for TDs.

* Last season won Bronko Nagurski Award for best defensive player in nation and Thorpe Award as nation’s

best defensive back.

* Runs 4.5 40. Played cover two scheme at Oklahoma, same scheme Jets have used and plan to use at times now.