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Florida Gators Linebacker Jelani Jenkins Picks Athletes First For Representation

Florida Gators linebacker Jelani Jenkins (3) has signed with Irvine, California-based Athletes First. Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE
Florida Gators linebacker Jelani Jenkins (3) has signed with Irvine, California-based Athletes First. Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE
Florida Gators linebacker Jelani Jenkins (3) has signed with Irvine, California-based Athletes First. Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Florida Gators junior linebacker Jelani Jenkins announced his intention to enter the NFL Draft and forfeit his remaining year of NCAA eligibility.  Sports Agent Blog has learned that Jenkins will be represented by Joby Branion of Athletes First.

Athletes First is one of the more powerful football agencies, with many active clients on NFL rosters, but the company has not traditionally been a powerhouse in the recruitment of athletes in the State of Florida.  Jenkins, projected by NFLDraftScout.com to be a third round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, is a good catch for the agency based in Irvine, California.

Other Florida Gators to select representation thus far:

By Darren Heitner

Darren Heitner created Sports Agent Blog as a New Year's Resolution on December 31, 2005. Originally titled, "I Want To Be A Sports Agent," the website was founded with the intention of causing Heitner to learn more about the profession that he wanted to join, meet reputable individuals in the space and force himself to stay on top of the latest news and trends.

Heitner now runs Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., which is a law firm with many practice areas, including sports law and contract law. Heitner has represented numerous athletes and sports agents as legal counsel. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington from 2011-2014, where he created and taught a course titled, Sport Agency Management, which included subjects ranging from NCAA regulations to athlete agent certification and the rules governing the profession. Heitner serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he teaches a Sports Law class that includes case law surrounding athlete agents and the NCAA rules.