Neil's brief primer:
Chad always wanted to be an agent, and after making friends who played college football or pro basketball overseas, he helped compile research for them to assist them in finding teams. Chad attended Georgia, where he received a Master's in sport management and policy, followed by his law degree. During his days at UGa, Chad also served as a recruiting specialist for the program, where he assisted in on-campus recruiting operations and  hosted prospects and their families during on-campus visits. In this role, Chad worked directly with the coaching and support staffs and also developed content for the football team's social media platforms. Last summer, he took and passed the agent exam.
Active NFL clients:
Mississippi State QB Nick Fitzgerald signed with Tampa Bay as a UDFA after this spring's draft.
Why did he become an agent?:
"I wanted to become an agent because (I am) dedicated to the success of the clients in my agency, and not only the clients that I represent, but throughout the entire company. I must ensure that these athletes are taken care of, on and off the field, and I want to create a family atmosphere."
Day job:
Full-time agent at Atlanta-based Enter-Sports Management.
His take on the NFLPA exam:
"The first misconception of the NFLPA exam is that because the exam is open-note, that it is not hard. But I knew going into it that it would be challenging and I prepared for it. I utilized the ITL practice examand it was extremely helpful. I would highly recommend it to those aspiring to be sports agents. There were a couple of curveballs on the exams regarding drugs, PEDS, and player suspensions, a couple more questions regarding those topics than I was expecting. The seminar and the NFLPA did a good job."
Hardest part of being an agent:
"For me individually, the hardest part of being a sports agent is a balance. What I mean by balance is, the fine line of being present with a potential prospect and their family while not being overbearing. As a first-year agent, I had to go that much further to make a presence to potential clients. This meant having debates such as, how often should I go visit them? I did not want to be intrusive, but as a first-year agent, you have to put yourself out there. Travel and logistics can be challenging, as well."
He felt like he'd had a successful first year as a contract advisor when:
". . . Nick Fitzgerald signed with Tampa Bay. I feel like I have had success from a personal standpoint in terms of how much I learned throughout the year, but having my first player sign with a team definitely contributed to the overall feeling of a successful year."
Lesson he learned that he wished he'd known last summer:
"Not to get too bogged down on stats. There are athletes that go on to have great careers and get drafted just as high as a guy who had 11 interceptions or 25 sacks. A player's film speaks more to NFL decision-makers than what the stats say on paper."
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Neil Stratton
