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Florida Gators Linebacker Jelani Jenkins Picks Athletes First For Representation

Florida Gators linebacker Jelani Jenkins (3) has signed with Irvine, California-based Athletes First. Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE
Florida Gators linebacker Jelani Jenkins (3) has signed with Irvine, California-based Athletes First. Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE
Florida Gators linebacker Jelani Jenkins (3) has signed with Irvine, California-based Athletes First. Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Florida Gators junior linebacker Jelani Jenkins announced his intention to enter the NFL Draft and forfeit his remaining year of NCAA eligibility.  Sports Agent Blog has learned that Jenkins will be represented by Joby Branion of Athletes First.

Athletes First is one of the more powerful football agencies, with many active clients on NFL rosters, but the company has not traditionally been a powerhouse in the recruitment of athletes in the State of Florida.  Jenkins, projected by NFLDraftScout.com to be a third round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, is a good catch for the agency based in Irvine, California.

Other Florida Gators to select representation thus far:

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.