Weslye Saunders: From Top Tight End To Undrafted

Post author By Darren Heitner
Post date May 2, 2011
5 Comments on Weslye Saunders: From Top Tight End To Undrafted

In early February 2011, former South Carolina Gamecocks tight end Weslye Saunders (who I have referred to as “Woeful Wes”) was told that he was ruled ineligible for the 2011 NFL Draft. At one point in time, Saunders was recognized as one of the best tight ends in the country and was projected as a 1st or 2nd round pick.

But then Saunders was suspended and removed from the South Carolina football team for violating team rules, receiving improper benefits including heavily discounted rates at a South Carolina hotel, and making improper contact with an agent.

However, Saunders got lucky. A short while after he was told that he was ineligible for the 2011 NFL Draft, the NFL changed its mind and granted Saunders eligibility (even though he failed to file paperwork necessary for all football players who sit out their senior seasons yet want to retain draft eligibility). With an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine, perhaps Saunders would be able to turn things around and once again establish himself as one of the best tight ends in the draft. Would teams ignore his trouble at South Carolina?

The 2011 NFL Draft has come and gone, and Weslye Saunders never heard his name called in any of the seven rounds. His agent, Butch Williams, cannot be pleased. He likely had to pay the bill for Saunders to train at the expensive Athletes Performance in McKinney, Texas.

Saunders should be signed as a free agent once the NFL Lockout is lifted, but in the meantime, he is at home contemplating about how he went from being a Day 1/Early Day 2 pick to completely undrafted.

Tags improper benefits, NFL, nfl draft, Weslye Saunders

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

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5 replies on “Weslye Saunders: From Top Tight End To Undrafted”

Anybody that knows Attorney Butch Williams Know the money is not going to kill him like most agents he is probably one of the top three defense lawyers in the state of North Carolina Do Your Homework!!!

He’s a Steeler now!

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