Casper and Jasper Brinkley remember watching NFL games on television before they ever got to the first grade.

The images that flickered across the screen sparked the dreams of the Thomson twins.

Next season, the Brinkleys hope they'll be the ones sparking dreams on national TV.

"It's just like a dream come true," said Casper. "When we watched pro football on television when we were 5, we pretended to be some of those guys when we played midget football."

Casper now plays for the Carolina Pan-thers, while Jasper -- a fifth-round draft choice -- just signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

"I'm living my dream," Jasper said. "I've always wanted to play professional football."

The former Thomson High School and University of South Carolina standouts were guests Friday at Ann Taylor Auto Group in Augusta.

There, the Brinkley brothers signed autographs and gave away T-shirts to dozens of youngsters and adults from across the area.

"It is great to meet both of these gentlemen," said Zane Christopher, of North Augusta, a University of South Carolina fan. "They are class acts."

The next step for the twins is to attend minicamps with their respective teams.

Shirley Cooper, of North Augusta, offered a piece of advice to the twins: "Don't forget where you came from."

Both players acknowledged that, saying they'd never forget the people or the places of their hometown. The two plan to participate next Friday in the Danny Verdun Wheeler Football Camp at Sweetwater Park in Thomson.

The Brinkleys' stop at the auto dealership was the handiwork of Terence Castleberry Sr., the finance manager at the dealership and a former all-state linebacker at Thomson High School.

"It means a lot to see Casper and Jasper become rising stars in the NFL. I played at Thomson for coach (Luther) Welsh. I learned so much from coach Welsh (about football and life), and I am sure Jasper and Casper have, too."