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NFL Hopefuls Begin To Choose Their Representation

North Carolina Tar Heels guard Jonathan Cooper (64) is one of three football players already committed to be represented by Todd France for the 2013 NFL Draft. Credit: Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIRE

College football players who participate on teams that are bowl eligible will hold off on committing (verbally or in writing) to a particular agent and agency before the completion of their bowl games.  Making such a commitment prior to performing in the bowl game would make those players ineligible to perform based on NCAA regulations.

However, there are many players who will not be partaking in such post-season affairs, and have chosen to make a quick decision as to who will serve as their NFLPA certified Contract Advisors.  A couple of agents have reported signings to Sports Agent Blog, which we are happy to share.

Blake Baratz of The Institute for Athletes, a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based football agency, has signed Ohio State right tackle Reid Fragel.  Fragel, a 6’8, 310lb behemoth is someone who can rise up draft boards.  He is athletic and already down to only 9% body fat.  Even though Ohio State went undefeated under head coach Urban Meyer this season, the school has a bowl ban, thus Fragel was free to commit to Baratz.  Final note – Fragel has received a Senior Bowl invite.

Sports Agent Blog also learned that Jonathan Perzley and Brian Mackler of Sportstars, Inc., a New York-based football agency, signed Oday Aboushi from the University of Virginia.  Aboushi, an offensive tackle, was reportedly being recruited by strong rivals, including Impact Sports and Joel Segal of Lagardère Unlimited.

Our friends at InsideTheLeague.com have informed us that three University of North Carolina players have chosen their representation, all going with the same individual.  Todd France of Five Star Athlete Management will represent offensive guard Jonathan Cooper, offensive tackle Brennan Williams and defensive tackle Sylvester Williams.  Additionally, early indications are that all three UNC players will train at Athletes Performance in Arizona.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Heitner created Sports Agent Blog as a New Year's Resolution on December 31, 2005. Originally titled, "I Want To Be A Sports Agent," the website was founded with the intention of causing Heitner to learn more about the profession that he wanted to join, meet reputable individuals in the space and force himself to stay on top of the latest news and trends.

Heitner now runs Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., which is a law firm with many practice areas, including sports law and contract law. Heitner has represented numerous athletes and sports agents as legal counsel. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington from 2011-2014, where he created and taught a course titled, Sport Agency Management, which included subjects ranging from NCAA regulations to athlete agent certification and the rules governing the profession. Heitner serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he teaches a Sports Law class that includes case law surrounding athlete agents and the NCAA rules.