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College Football Players

Small School Receiver Gets Invited To Combine

Shaheer McBride is getting a chance. He is an example of a Division I-AA football player who has an uphill battle, but has been given an opportunity to showcase his talents in front of scouts that have never witnessed him play. Shaheer broke many records as a Delaware State wide receiver and has been rewarded with an invitation to the NFL draft combine, which will take place in its usual location of Indianapolis on February 20-26.

Maybe Shaheer gets drafted in the 7th round. Maybe he becomes another un-drafted free agent who ends up getting a shot in the league and performs well his rookie year (see: Pierre Thomas). NFL Draft Dog ranks Shaheer as its #31 overall Small School Prospect heading into the draft. WalterFootball.com believes that if McBride drops his 40 time to 4.45, he has a chance at being a late round pick, but currently lists Shaheer as a potential free agent and ranks him the #50 WR.

Tony PaigeThere is at least one person who is willing to take a chance on the D I-AA wide out. His name is Tony Paige and he is part of the Perennial Sports & Entertainment team of agents. Tony is a former Virginia Tech Hokie and NFL fullback who received playing time with the Jets, Lions, and Dolphins. He also knows about being overlooked (as a former 6th round pick), who then fought hard in order to succeed on the field and eventually captured 9 years of NFL experience.

Take a quick look at Perennial’s NFL client list. It seems like nothing special. In fact, you have probably never heard of a single one of their clients. However, it is important to remember that this is an extremely difficult business to start a new agency in and once you do muster up the courage to start a firm, it is nearly impossible to go for the top players in a sport right off the bat. Risks need to be taken and agents hope for high rewards. Tony Paige will be hoping that Shaheer McBride will work hard for the next 6 weeks and cut down his 40 time along with prepare for other aspects of the combine. I will be rooting along the way, rooting that Tony’s risk of funding Shaheer’s workouts turns into a great reward.

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.