At first, Taylor, a college standout whom many draft analysts figured as a first-round pick, didn't understand the rough treatment from Thomas.

He was a college standout at UCLA earning nod as second baseman on the College All-American team.

Chapman was a college standout at the University of Kentucky and went on to play for four NBA teams through his 12-year career in the league.

He was a college standout at the University of Minnesota from 1955-1958.

Three-Step Drops The 23-year-old Favre was a college standout at Southern Mississippi.

He was a college standout for the Georgetown Hoyas during the late 1990s but never played in the NBA.

He was a college standout for Marquette University.

Scouts spent much of the past year visiting college campuses and, as a result, selected more college standouts.

A college standout on Miami's 2 national championships (1989, 1991), Armstead's pro prospects were diminished after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament his sophomore season.

Thus I have to ask: wouldn't both the N.F.L. and the college standouts benefit if teams and players had the opportunity to self-select?