Rubicon Talent has signed three NFL draft prospects for marketing and other off-the-field representation — Iowa State wide receiver Hakeem Butler, Kentucky running back Benny Snell Jr. and Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat.
Rubicon partner Dave Maryles is representing Butler and Snell, while partner Peter Raskin is representing Sweat.
Sweat and Butler are projected first-round draft picks and Snell is projected to get selected later, but he’s highly marketable because of his larger-than-life personality as well as the records he broke at Kentucky, including career rushing yards (3,873) and total touchdowns (48).
ESPN.com produced a story on Snell last fall calling him “the most interesting man in college football,” and he’s known for using his last name as a joke and in hashtags. For example, photographs he takes with fans he calls “Snellfies.” Rubicon has already booked more than six figures worth of appearance fees for Snell in Kentucky.
Butler is a 6-foot-6 wide receiver who is freakishly athletic for his size. “He’s built like [retired wide receiver] Calvin Johnson,” Maryles said, adding that Rubicon has already secured a major endorsement for him that will be announced soon.
Sweat is the highest rated of the players, as ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. had him ranked No. 5 on his mock draft last week.
“We look for guys who are going to be Pro Bowl and better — elite NFL talent,” Maryles said. “And more importantly, guys who get the rest. They want to really build their brand. They want to, maybe, get into broadcasting. They want to get into business ventures.”
Sports marketing veterans Maryles, Raskin, Jonathan Salant and Brandon Swibel formed Rubicon in 2017 after they left the former TLA Worldwide.
Kentucky’s Benny Snell Jr., who ESPN called “the most interesting man in college football,” has become a fan favorite in part because of his sense of humor.ap images
■ SELECT HAVING BIG YEAR: Select Sports Group is having a big year, signing Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray and negotiating deals for two new NFL head coaches — the Arizona Cardinals’ Kliff Kingsbury and Miami Dolphins’ Brian Flores.
Murray, who is represented by MLB agent Scott Boras for baseball, is widely expected to be the first quarterback taken in this year’s NFL draft.
Additionally, Select, which is led by NFL agents Erik Burkhardt, Jeff Nalley and Sean Kiernan, also signed Arizona State wide receiver N’Keal Harry, Vanderbilt cornerback Joejuan Williams, Auburn cornerback Jamel Dean, North Carolina State linebacker Germaine Pratt, Texas Tech wide receiver Antoine Wesley and Penn State defensive lineman Shareef Miller.
The agency also is representing a number of veteran NFL players who could generate interest in free agency, which starts next month, including defensive end Frank Clark, last with the Seahawks; linebacker Jordan Hicks, last with the Eagles; defensive lineman Christian Covington, last with the Texans, defensive back Adrian Phillips, last with the Chargers; wide receiver Chris Hogan, last with the Patriots; and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, last with the Patriots.
Select also represents quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who recently settled his grievance with the NFL, for on-field work. Kaepernick was represented by the law firm owned by attorney Mark Geragos for that case, which resulted in a confidential settlement.
■ ROC NATION SIGNS PROSPECTS: Roc Nation Sports has signed Stanford running back Bryce Love, University of Miami defensive end Joe Jackson and Marshall wide receiver Tyre Brady for representation in the NFL draft. Agent Kim Miale is representing Love. Agent John Thornton is representing Jackson and Brady.
■ STEPHEN A. GOES WITH WME: ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith has signed with WME for representation in all areas, including broadcasting, lectures, publishing and building out his content business. WME agents Josh Pyatt and Jon Rosen will lead the team representing Smith.
Smith most recently was represented by Creative Artists Agency but parted ways with that agency nine months ago.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.
