Categories
College Football Players Headline Sports Agents

NFL Hopefuls Begin To Choose Their Representation

North Carolina Tar Heels guard Jonathan Cooper (64) is one of three football players already committed to be represented by Todd France for the 2013 NFL Draft. Credit: Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIRE
North Carolina Tar Heels guard Jonathan Cooper (64) is one of three football players already committed to be represented by Todd France for the 2013 NFL Draft. Credit: Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIRE

College football players who participate on teams that are bowl eligible will hold off on committing (verbally or in writing) to a particular agent and agency before the completion of their bowl games.  Making such a commitment prior to performing in the bowl game would make those players ineligible to perform based on NCAA regulations.

However, there are many players who will not be partaking in such post-season affairs, and have chosen to make a quick decision as to who will serve as their NFLPA certified Contract Advisors.  A couple of agents have reported signings to Sports Agent Blog, which we are happy to share.

Blake Baratz of The Institute for Athletes, a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based football agency, has signed Ohio State right tackle Reid Fragel.  Fragel, a 6’8, 310lb behemoth is someone who can rise up draft boards.  He is athletic and already down to only 9% body fat.  Even though Ohio State went undefeated under head coach Urban Meyer this season, the school has a bowl ban, thus Fragel was free to commit to Baratz.  Final note – Fragel has received a Senior Bowl invite.

Sports Agent Blog also learned that Jonathan Perzley and Brian Mackler of Sportstars, Inc., a New York-based football agency, signed Oday Aboushi from the University of Virginia.  Aboushi, an offensive tackle, was reportedly being recruited by strong rivals, including Impact Sports and Joel Segal of Lagardère Unlimited.

Our friends at InsideTheLeague.com have informed us that three University of North Carolina players have chosen their representation, all going with the same individual.  Todd France of Five Star Athlete Management will represent offensive guard Jonathan Cooper, offensive tackle Brennan Williams and defensive tackle Sylvester Williams.  Additionally, early indications are that all three UNC players will train at Athletes Performance in Arizona.

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.