HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Brock Bowers was in middle school in Napa, California, when the then-Oakland Raiders would hold training camp nearby.

He’d drop by to check out practice and once even got an autograph from quarterback Derek Carr.

Now Bowers is part of the Las Vegas Raiders, who selected the Georgia tight end in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday with the 13th pick.

“It’s come full circle,” Bowers said from Napa.

This the second year in a row the Raiders have taken a tight end high. Las Vegas traded up last year to take Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer in the second round with the 35th overall pick. Mayer caught 27 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Bowers was the first player to win the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end in consecutive seasons after recording 56 receptions for 714 yards and six TDs.