Power conferences allow exception to agent rule

NCAA rules require that any student athlete who hires an agent be ruled ineligible to play college sports, but the biggest conferences — the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC — have passed an exception to that rule.

“In baseball, prior to full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual who is drafted by a professional baseball team may be represented by an agent or attorney during contract negotiations,” states the new rule, which was passed at the NCAA Convention earlier this month.

But the player must pay the agent or adviser “the going rate” for the services, and if the player does not sign a contract with a professional club, he must terminate the agent or attorney to be NCAA eligible.

As a matter of standard industry practice, top high school baseball players for years used unpaid advisers, many of whom are MLB agents, to counsel them on contract offers that they received from clubs. Agents and advisers were not allowed to communicate directly with clubs, and parents and students would sometimes not communicate directly with agents to avoid violating the rule.

The Big 12 proposed the rule, said Bob Burda, associate commissioner of communications for that conference, so that high school athletes could have legal advice in making one of the most important decisions in their lives: whether to attend college or go pro.

“In some regard, it takes it out of the shadows and puts it in the light of day,” Burda said. “Parents will now have the ability to engage with advisers and agents and not have to do so through third parties or intermediaries.”

The rule is mandatory for the power five conferences, which oversee 65 Division I schools, but the other Division I conferences can choose to pass it if they wish. The NCAA voted in 2014 to give the power five conferences greater autonomy to make their own rules.

Zack Sanchez of Oklahoma has signed with PlayersRep Sports Management. Photo by: GETTY IMAGES

PlayersRep also signed Michigan State defensive tackle Lawrence Thomas, Ole Miss offensive tackle Fahn Cooper and Rutgers linebacker Steve Longa.

Agents Andy Simms, Ken Sarnoff, Cody Recchion, Wesley Spencer and David Lee will represent the players.

Additionally, PlayersRep has signed Pittsburgh Steelers safety Shamarko Thomas.

> OCTAGON FILLS OUT CLASS: Octagon has signed several prospects for this year’s NFL draft, including West Virginia linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski.

Octagon also signed Cal wide receiver Bryce Treggs, Cincinnati wide receiver Mekale McKay, Illinois offensive lineman Ted Karras, Colorado cornerback Ken Crawley, Wisconsin safety Michael Caputo, Washington safety Brian Clay and UTEP defensive back Kelvin Fisher Jr.

Agents John Thornton, Jeremy Newberry, Ken Landphere and Mike Swenson will represent the players.

As previously reported, Octagon started assembling its 2016 draft class by signing UCLA linebacker/running back Myles Jack and Utah running back Devontae Booker before the college season was over last fall. The college careers of both were cut short by injuries. Jack is a potential top-10 pick, depending on his recovery.

“Myles is doing fine,” Thornton said last week. “He’s running and lifting. Will be healthy at the combine. We’ll decide on whether he runs at the combine in February.”

> STANLEY RENAMES FIRM: Veteran NFL agent Jerome Stanley has renamed his firm First Picks Sports and has signed several players for this year’s draft, including Ohio State wide receiver Braxton Miller and UCLA defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

Stanley also signed UCLA wide receiver Jordan Payton, USC running back Tre Madden, Washington State linebacker Jeremiah Allison and San Diego State offensive tackle Pearce Slater.

Stanley’s agency was formerly known as SAFE Sports.

Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.