Sportstars, Inc. have signed an impressive staple of Florida Gators entering the upcoming 2016 NFL Draft. It’s resulted in no small part to the relationship that agents Jonathan Perzley and Brian Mackler have curated with the program over recent years. Perzley, a dual-degree University of Florida alum, won’t seek the spotlight, instead declining interview requests and keeping away from any social media presence. That’s just the way he and his partner prefer to go about their business. To them, their clients are everything and this shows by the dedication to their agency’s 150 strong active roster.
Perzley and Mackler represent players from schools all around the country, but it is the buzz they’ve created around Gainesville that has really caught the eye over the past few years. With a handful of prospects already signed this year, Perzley and Mackler have gone back to Gainesville and signed three more Gators: Jonathan Bullard (DE/DT), Jake McGee (TE) and Antonio Morrison (ILB).
Jonathan Bullard, a 6’3”/283 lbs defensive lineman, is projected to go with a mid-late first round pick, with CBS Sports currently having him taken with the 26th overall pick. Hailing from the same state and recruiting class as fellow Gator and Sportstars client, D.J. Humphries, Bullard is likely to follow in his footsteps as another of Perzley and Mackler’s first round protégés. McGee was a late addition to the Gator’s roster having spent three years at Virginia before transferring upon graduation. Originally recruited as a quarterback out of high school, the conversion to tight-end came naturally to the 6’5” Richmond native. He’s currently projected as a 6th round pick by CBS Sports despite injuries hindering his production during the 2015/2016 season. An inside linebacker currently projected just inside the top ten at his position on numerous draft boards, Antonio Morrison will be one of the most intense players joining the pro ranks this year. With doubts on his previous medical records, Morrison will likely be a steal with a mid round pick.
Bullard, McGee and Morrison were all senior captains this past season for the Gators.
Perzley and Mackler currently represent six Florida alum in the league, with first-rounder’s Sharrif Floyd (Minnesota Vikings – 2013) and D.J. Humphries (Arizona Cardinals – 2015) being the duos highest drafted Gators. Frankie Hammond (Kansas City Chiefs), Jermaine Cunningham (FA), Lerentee McCray (Denver Broncos) and Justin Trattou (Minnesota Vikings) round off the list of Sportstars clients that hail from The Swamp and there’s no sign of that number slowing down anytime soon.
There’s no doubting that Perzley’s Florida roots have played a part in recruiting some of the best talent from the Sunshine State in recent years. His college career was spent in Gainesville and that must be a huge benefit to the young Gators entering the draft. Expect this trend to continue for Perzley and Mackler, with the Gators contributing more and more to Sportstars’ growing roster.
Sean Thornberry is a current first year in The Oregon MBA Sports Business program. The 24-year-old Irish student was born and raised in Dubai, U.A.E. and has been studying in the United States since 2009. The former collegiate golfer recently graduated from UNLV and has aspirations of becoming a sports agent.
Cell: (432) 288-5183 Email: [email protected] Twitter & Instagram: @seanthorncat