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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On Friday, I touched on the serious investigation taking place at the University of North Carolina, where many players have already been interviewed by the NCAA, including Defensive Tackle Marvin Austin. One item under investigation is travel expenses. That same item might be a topic of discussion at nearby University of South Carolina.
6 replies on “South Carolina Up Next?”
I wonder if South Carolina will self-impose some sanctions or wait until the NCAA lays down the law…interesting.
-Ed.
No need to self-impose anything. If the player is guilty he will have a suspension or lose eligibility. The only problem for SoCar is if an ineligible player suits up this fall.
It would be amusing if south carolina beat UGA, Florida and Arkansas and then had to forfeit after the facts came out.
This doesn’t look like its going to end well for UNC or USC.
[…] there is somewhat strong evidence to investigate further. Then yesterday, we found out that the University of South Carolina may have some players questioned based on the alleged receipt of benefits. And I had heard that it does not end with the players […]
[…] an agent at South Beach. It is the latest in a long line of these incidents that have afflicted the Carolinas, USC (obviously) and Florida. Laugh uncontrollably, if and only if the good name of Ohio State […]