As the NFL draft opens today at 4 p.m., the lives of numerous players that once wore a Cavalier uniform will be altered in various ways.

Ogletree, listed at 6-foot-1 and 189 pounds, had one year of eligibility remaining after he was sidelined in 2007 after knee surgery. Yet with his sociology degree and a pair of 50-catch seasons under his belt, the New York native elected to pass up an opportunity to play in new offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon’s spread offense.

For the last five years or so, Virginia coach Al Groh has made it an annual practice of sitting down with some of his players in December to help them evaluate their pro football possibilities.

On Saturday, with the No. 2 pick of the NFL draft, the St. Louis Rams selected former St.-Anne’s Belfield and University of Virginia star defensive end Chris Long, sending a roar through local eateries and the Foxfield Races.

In a way, Virginia’s football program will celebrate its 25th anniversary today. Every year since 1984, the Cavaliers have had at least one player selected in the NFL draft.

It was Albert’s escape from a different nickname that sums up the ever-improving storybook progression that will include a new chapter when his name is called Saturday in the first round of the NFL draft.

On Thursday afternoon, Chris Long was touring Manhattan on a bus with several of the projected top choices in this weekend’s NFL Draft. Come Saturday, the pride of Charlottesville could buy the entire fleet of buses.

Play after play. Minute by minute. Tom Santi would not be denied.