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On To The Next One: Josh Evans

Florida Gators safety Josh Evans would love to hear his name called early in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Florida Gators safety Josh Evans is amongst a crop of college players who switch agents prior to the NFL Draft.

In early January it was announced that Florida Gators safety Josh Evans signed with Malik Shareef of Dimensional Sports.  When it was revealed that Shareef signed Evans, I noted that Evans was not the first Florida Gators client for Shareef or even the first secondary player for the NFL agent.  Shareef represented Gators’ defensive back Joe Haden, who was selected with the 7th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns and later changed representation, opting for Drew Rosenhaus of Rosenhaus Sports Representation.

Florida, and specifically the school’s defensive backs, are just not worth the time and energy for Shareef.  Evans has followed in Haden’s footsteps, terminating his Standard Representation Agreement with the Virginia-based agent.  Evans has picked Boca Raton, Florida-based The Marquee Group as his new representatives.  The Marquee Group had a quiet 2012 after having four clients selected in the 2011 NFL Draft, including former FAU tight end Rob Housler, who was selected #69 overall by the Arizona Cardinals and former Wisconsin offensive guard John Moffitt, selected #75 overall by the Seattle Seahawks.

Evans will be busy this week showing off his skills in Indianapolis at the NFL Combine, and will follow that up with a performance at the Florida Gators Pro Day on March 12.

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.