Virginia tight end Billy Baber grew up near Charlottesville, dreaming of a career in the NFL. Sunday, his dream came true when the Kansas City Chiefs selected him as the 141st pick of the 2001 NFL Draft.
Baber was watching the draft at his parents' home in Crozet when he was chosen in the fifth round of the draft.
"I thought I might go a little higher," Baber said. "Kansas City traded their first- and second-round picks, so I got moved down because of that. They were going to pick me in the third round, but I was happy."
Baber will be brought along slowly in Kansas City because of the presence of All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez. Baber will be the third-string tight end behind Gonzalez and Jason Dunn.
"The Chiefs have one of the best tight ends in football in Tony Gonzalez," said Tom Hepler, general manager of Ourlads Scouting Service. "Baber will be a special teams guy and a backup. But he'll have a chance to play in the National Football League, and sometimes that's all a guy needs."
Baber was excited at the prospect of learning the finer points of playing tight end from a strong player like Gonzalez.
"It's going to be wonderful," Baber said. "I get to learn from the best tight end in the league. There's no better way to learn the tricks of the trade."
Gonzalez is not the only person that will help Baber in his rookie season. Head coach Dick Vermeil won the Super Bowl two years ago with the St. Louis Rams and promises to influence Baber's professional career.
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"Vermeil has won Super Bowls, and he's been around a long time," Baber said. "Playing for him will help my development. He's an older coach, like [former Virginia coach] George Welsh, so I'm kind of used to that."
Baber caught a career-high 18 passes for 216 yards last season. For his career, he caught 36 passes for 328 yards and five touchdowns. A two-year starter, he spent his freshman and sophomore years as the backup to Casey Crawford, who now plays with the Carolina Panthers.
Baber ended his Virginia career on a high note against Georgia in the Oahu Bowl in December. He caught a career-high four passes for 38 yards, with three of the catches resulting in first downs.
In his senior year, 16 of Baber's 18 catches resulted in first downs, the highest percentage on the team.
The move to Kansas City will be a new experience for Baber, who has lived in or near Charlottesville his entire life.
"I've never been to Kansas City," Baber said. "I go out there for the first time Thursday. I have been to Oklahoma, though."
Last weekend wasn't Baber's first experience with professional sports. Coming out of high school, he was drafted by the Florida Marlins for baseball, but elected to attend Virginia and play college football instead.
The move to the Chiefs will be the latest step in Baber's journey from Western Albemarle High to the NFL and the culmination of a lifelong dream for Baber.
"You grow up watching the draft all your life," Baber said. "It's weird when you see your name. It's something I've been working for all my life."
Baber was the only Virginia player selected in the draft. Seven other former Cavalier standouts signed free agent contracts with NFL teams.
Linebackers Byron Thweatt, Donny Green and Yubrenal Isabelle signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots, respectively. Fullback Patrick Washington signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and wide receiver Kevin Coffey signed with the Carolina Panthers. Offensive lineman Dustin Keith signed with the New York Jets, and cornerback Ahmad Hawkins signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
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