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On To The Next One: Ryan Torain

The 6’1, 212 lbs. running back from Arizona State named Ryan Torain is one of those players who was not necessarily expected to be a starter at any point of his professional career.  He was drafted in the 5th round of the 2008 NFL Draft (#148 overall) by the Denver Broncos, and surprisingly had a chance at becoming the go-to-guy in his rookie season after injuries to 2 other Broncos RBs.  However, Torain was bit by the injury bug as well, and was eventually waived in August 2009 by the team that drafted him.

Luckily for Torain, Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan was coach of the Broncos when the team selected Torain in the Draft.  Torain was picked up by the Redskins in April 2010 only to be released in September of that same year and then re-signed to the team’s practice squad later that month.  Soon thereafter, Torain would stake Clinton Portis’ spot as the main running back on the team and perform at a very high level, even though he suffered another injury in the 2010 season.

Ryan Torain has a lot of potential.  He is only 24-years-old (turns 25 on August 10) and already has experience as a starting running back.  Unfortunately for Jack Scharf, that talented young running back will be represented by another company.  Torain has switched from Scharf to the team at All Pro Sports & Entertainment (APSE).  APSE is led by C. Lamont Smith and Peter Schaffer.

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.