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Catching Up With Greg “Tripp” Linton’s 2012 NFL Draft Class

Adrian Hamilton

Roughly two weeks ago, I wrote about Greg “Tripp” Linton’s signing of Winston Guy, who just finished his Senior year at strong safety for the Kentucky Wildcats.  In the post, I mentioned that Linton, (an agent with HOF Player Representatives), is a proud Kentucky Wildcat, played on the school’s football team, and focuses much of his recruiting efforts on the players within his state, particularly at his alma mater.

Recently, Linton updated me with a list of players he has signed and will be representing leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft (and hopefully beyond).  In addition to Winston Guy, Linton is representing Adrian Hamilton, Ronnie Sneed, and most recently signed Wayne Tribue.

Adrian Hamilton

Adrian Hamilton is a defensive end from Prairie View A&M.  While many currently do not believe he is a guy who will be selected in the 2012 NFL Draft, the former transfer from Texas Tech is viewed as someone whose stock is rising.  In 2011, he shared Defensive Player of the Year Southwestern Athletic Conference honors with Cliff Exama (linebacker – Grambling State).  He racked up an awesome 20 sacks this past season.

Ronnie Sneed is another one of those Greg Linton Kentucky Wildcat clients.  While Sneed is not as coveted as Winston Guy (also a Linton client), the inside linebacker is known for his solid, consistent play at his position.  NFLDraftScout.com currently ranks him as the 18th best inside linebacker available in the 2012 NFL Draft, out of a total of 103 players listed at that position.

Wayne Tribue is an offensive guard from Temple University.  In 2011, he was selected All-MAC Third Team and was honored with inclusion in the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his community service.  The kid certainly has a head on his shoulders.  He majored in biochemistry and has already taken the MCATs.  If he does not make it in the NFL, he will likely go to medical school.  Linton is hoping that Tribue has a long career as a professional football player before the offensive guard puts down the football in favor of the scalpel.

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.