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Batch Of New Prospect Signings By NFLPA Contract Advisors

Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Tyler Bray has selected Tom Brady's agent as his representative (Credit: Randy Sartin-US PRESSWIRE)
Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Tyler Bray has selected Tom Brady's agent as his representative (Credit: Randy Sartin-US PRESSWIRE)
Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Tyler Bray has selected Tom Brady’s agent as his representative (Credit: Randy Sartin-US PRESSWIRE)

Today was a very active day for announcing college football recruit signings made by NFLPA certified Contract Advisors.

  • Knoxville, Tennessee-based radio host, Jimmy Hyams, tweeted that Don Yee, known by many for his representation of New England Patriots QB Tom Brady, signed Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray.  Yee had no clients selected in the 2012 NFL Draft.  Bray is currently rated as the 7th best quarterback available by NFLDraftScout.com and a projected 2nd round pick.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/JimmyHyams/status/286608059558678529″]

  • Eugene Parker of Relativity Sports (read more on the new-ish agency here) picked up a new client in Florida State defensive end Everette Dawkins.  Parker represented 3 players in the 2012 NFL Draft, the highest selection being WR Alshon Jeffery from South Carolina (#45 overall to the Chicago Bears).

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/InsideTheLeague/status/286603416858406912″]

  • Octagon Football agent CJ LaBoy announced the signing of Georgia cornerback Sanders Commings, who is currently ranked at #19 overall amongst all available cornerbacks in the 2013 NFL Draft by NFLDraftScout.com.  LaBoy represented last year’s #80 overall pick, Jamell Fleming from Oklahoma, who was selected by the Arizona Cardinals.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/CJ_Octagon/status/286541778725773312″]

  • South Carolina free safety D.J. Swearinger signed with Five-Star Athlete Management.  The signing shows how dominant the company (with Contract Advisors Todd France and Bryan Ayrault) has been recruiting the Carolinas this year.  As was previously reported, Five-Star has already signed 3 UNC-Chapel Hill players: offensive guard Jonathan Cooper, offensive tackle Brennan Williams and defensive tackle Sylvester Williams.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/InsideTheLeague/status/286540779722260480″]

  • Boutique agency Symmetry Reps (Mook Williams and Brian McLaughlin) have signed Rutgers linebacker Steve Beauharnais.  The linebacker has an NFL Combine invite and is ranked by NFLDraftScout.com as the 13th best player at his position for the upcoming draft.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/SymmetryReps/status/286611920151252992″]

  • Lagardère Unlimited signed West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin.  The company had success last year in the representation of another West Virginia athlete, Bruce Irvin, who was selected #15 overall by the Seattle Seahawks.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/InsideTheLeague/status/286528261821956096″]

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.