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Alvin Keels Is Not Having A Fun Combine

Andre SmithAfter the University of Alabama looked miserable against the Utah Utes in the 2009 Sugar Bowl, I thought that Alabama’s poor performance might actually have a beneficial effect on Andre Smith‘s draft stock.  Alabama’s offense could not move, which Smith’s advisors might have tried to blame on Smith’s absence from the game.  But those thoughts are long gone.  Andre Smith ended up signing with Alvin Keels of Global Management Group.  And Keels has had a lot to handle ever since signing the O-Lineman.  As you already know, Smith showed up to the Combine this past weekend, refused to participate, and then fled the scene.  Keels had to juggle ten-thousand media requests wondering what the hell was going on with Smith, while catering to his other clients at the Combine, which include two running-backs: James Davis (Clemson) and Brandon Ore (West Liberty).

As if Keels, Smith, and the rest of the GMG team did not have enough on their plates Re: Andre Smith.  Smith was reportedly suspended from Alabama from improper dealings with an agent, which continued to be a topic of conversation up to the Combine.  In fact, Smith has been fielding many questions from NFL teams concerning the suspension.  The Birmingham News reports that in an interview with an NFL team, Smith stated that the suspension was due to his uncle’s contact with an agent (not an NCAA violation) and his refusal to cooperate with Alabama’s Compliance Office in its investigation of the contact.  The agent that was supposedly talking to Andre Smith’s uncle is Melvin Bratton of DeBartolo Sports and Entertainment.

Brandon Thorn’s most recent Mock Draft has Smith going #2 overall to St. Louis.  I predict that his next update will have Smith falling at least a few picks.

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.

4 replies on “Alvin Keels Is Not Having A Fun Combine”

I want to know, but it ain’t quite worth $25 a month. Didn’t his site used to be free and called theagentbuzz.
Thanks for your help and keep up the good work

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