Categories
College Football Players Headline Sports Agents

UNC Football Players Select Their Agents For The 2011 Draft

On September 16, 2010, I researched and provided some facts regarding Chris Hawkins’ background.  He was responsible for purchasing A.J. Green’s jersey for $1,000, which set the Georgia wide-receiver back four games at the beginning of the 2010 season.  But that’s not the end of his connections to student-athletes.  Hawkins played college ball at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and has reportedly contacted several sports agents about potentially representing UNC players in the 2011 draft.  At least one agent was supposedly on the NCAA’s radar – Peter Schaffer of All Pro Sports & Entertainment.

Schaffer, who was invited to UNC spring practice to educate players about NCAA rules regarding agents, has admitted to having dealings with Hawkins.  Schaffer has signed UNC seniors Johnny White and Kendrick Burney to represent leading up to the NFL Draft.  NFLDraftScout.com ranks Burney as the 14th best CB in the nation, and projects him being drafted in the 4-5th round.  The same website ranks white as the 42nd best RB, and does not believe he will be drafted at all.

After Josh Luchs spoke to Sports Illustrated about his own unscrupulous recruiting tactics, Schaffer provided his insight on the matter to John Henderson of The Denver Post.  Henderson believes that Schaffer is one of the “good guys.”  Schaffer talks a lot about the “bad guys” at various school seminars, including the one he allegedly gave at UNC spring practice.

There are other UNC players who have already chosen their representation, as well.

  • Greg Little is represented by Octagon.
  • Da’Norris Searcy is represented by Robert Brown of Universal Sports Management.
  • Alan Pelc is represented by GAME Sports & Entertainment (even though the NFLPA has issued a disciplinary complaint against Ian Greengross).
  • Robert Quinn and Bruce Carter have signed with Carl Carey (who received his Ph.D from UNC in 2000) of Champion Pro Consulting.
  • Deunta Williams signed with Maximum Sports (who also signed UNC’s Marvin Austin).

Meanwhile, what’s going on with North Carolina’s Secretary of State, Elaine Marshall?  Maybe she should give a call to someone in the state of Arkansas.

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.