Black NFL agents help teams focus on prospects from historically Black colleges

North Carolina Central University quarterback Davius Richard was one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in the Mid Eastern-Athletic Conference when he declared for the NFL draft in January. 

With his goal of becoming the first quarterback drafted from a historically Black college or university in nearly two decades, Richard knew it was vital to choose the right agent. After interviewing dozens of agents, Richard signed with Rasheeda S. Liberty, a Black woman who started her own agency, Lady Lib Sports and Entertainment. When he interviewed Liberty he was impressed that, unlike the other agents in the running, she invited her entire team to join the interview via Zoom and had already devised a pre-draft plan to help him maximize opportunities to meet with NFL team personnel.

“She’s been the hardest-working person in my camp,” Richard said. “It’s more than just an agent-client relationship. I can really say it’s like a family-type relationship. Anything I need to talk about, but if I don’t feel comfortable talking with my people about something, I know I can call her to talk about any and everything that’s going on in my life, whether it’s pertaining to football or not. At the end of the day, that’s the kind of relationship you want with your agent, who’s going on your behalf every single day.”

Despite Black athletes making up 53.5% of the players in the NFL in 2023, Black agents make up only 7.5% of the agents in the NFL. In light of that disparity, Black NFL agents who represent underrated talent are giving many HBCU players additional opportunities to pursue a pro football career.

Richard is one of a handful of Black quarterbacks who are represented by Black agents, a list that includes Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who is represented by Nicole Lynn, and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, who is represented by Deiric Jackson, to name a few. Only 16 players from historically Black colleges and universities were on the opening day rosters for NFL teams during the 2023 season – and none of them were quarterbacks.

Liberty has welcomed the challenge of getting NFL teams to look at underrated prospects. She found her niche representing players who are late-round picks or preferred free agents. Hearing stories from clients about how former agencies made them feel less important because they weren’t big names helped shape policy for her agency.

“It taught me a valuable lesson that no matter where our players are, no matter if you are a drafted player, undrafted free agent, a rookie minicamp guy, all of our players are treated the same,” Liberty said. “That has been our sweet spot of value with getting our guys that are not seen initially coming out of college and getting them visibility.”

Before becoming an agent, Liberty had a strong background in finance and contract law. After providing guidance to the numerous collegiate athletes her husband, Greg, coached, she decided to become an NFL agent. In 2018, she began shadowing agents and studying for the agent certification exam. She spent three years building contacts with team personnel before passing the exam in 2021, and she began signing clients within three months of becoming a licensed agent. 

After deciding to be an independent agent, she focused on building her brand and sports management group. Being a Black woman in a male-dominated industry hasn’t discouraged her.

“There is still a piece of Black culture that may not have enough trust there or may feel like you have a barrier there,” Liberty said. “I have a double whammy. I happen to come from an underrepresented population, but I’m also a woman. But I have found that clients understand the power of women to cross the t’s, dot i’s for them and to take care of their full circle.”

During her time as an active agent Liberty has been able to build connections with more NFL teams. While Richard was participating in throwing drills at the HBCU combine and Legacy Bowl in New Orleans in February, Liberty was networking with all of the scouts present.

She also has other former HBCU players on her roster, including Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith, who is an alumnus of Florida A&M University. She also represents former Fayetteville State University defensive end Keyshawn James and former North Carolina Central University wide receiver Ryan McDaniel, who have played in other pro football leagues.

“People would think that it’s a lot more difficult than it is, but it has not been difficult for me to have influence in the front office,” Liberty said. “It is strange – I don’t know if I got some secret endorsement or something happened – but they [scouts and team executives] will pick up their phone and they will not only listen, discuss, but they also advise … and [are] helping to make sure our guys are set up for success.” 

Liberty also represents Joshua Cephus, a receiver out of UTSA who finished 2023 with 1,151 yards, a single-season school record. Cephus said having a Black woman he could relate to and trust is why he signed with Liberty.

“She’s a Black woman, and their love is way different from anybody else. She’s very thoughtful, loving, attentive, and she cares. I think I made the right decision for sure,” Cephus said. “She’s been very important. She’s working hard, talking to every team possible. I feel like she’s been giving me great feedback from how they feel about me, and whenever she feels like something may change, she’s keeping me updated. … She’s been everything to me through this whole pre-draft process.”

For clients who are undrafted preferred free agents, she analyzes contracts, benefits and development opportunities while helping her clients choose a team to sign with.

“I never promise the guy that he’s going to be drafted. What I tell them is my job is to make sure you make the team,” Liberty said. “Playing in the NFL, making a roster, that’s all they care about. No one cares where you were drafted when you go into that locker room.”

Liberty also is used to having tough conversations with potential clients about the likelihood of them playing in the NFL. She has represented players who have played in both the NFL and other premier pro leagues such as the Canadian Football League and the newly formed United Football League (UFL).

“Sometimes feeding that ego is really hard, because they’ve been great college players. But I’ve explained to every single player I sign … if you tell me that you’re in the top 5% in the country at your position today, then we may have an opportunity,” she said. “But if you’re not that, we’re going to have to build you to become that because you’re not an automatic shoo-in.” 

An HBCU alum also has been trying to help HBCU football players pursue pro careers. Southern University alumnus Paul DeRousselle knew he wanted to become a lawyer after growing up in the 1990s and watching the O.J. Simpson trial on television.

DeRousselle played tennis for the Jaguars in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and eventually would become a double alumnus after graduating from the Southern University Law Center in 2009. However, he quickly realized working as a lawyer in corporate America didn’t fulfill his passions.

As a former athlete, DeRousselle wanted to help other athletes. He became a certified NFL Players Association contract adviser in 2012 and spent years working as a corporate lawyer while pursuing his dreams of being an agent. He decided to take the agent certification exam with the goal of signing a prospect from his hometown of Eunice, Louisiana. Though the player ultimately didn’t sign with him, DeRousselle has been a certified NFL agent since 2019.

DeRouselle said he became an agent because he wants to help give HBCU players opportunities to play pro football.

“I understood what it felt like to be overlooked or maybe to not have the same level of resources, so part of me wanted to help those guys to the best of my ability because that’s where I came from,” DeRousselle said. “I stood in them registration lines. Sometimes my refund check didn’t come on time. … I’m gonna always kind of gravitate toward HBCU guys, especially the guys that can play.”

DeRousselle spent his first few years as a certified agent building relationships with scouts, team executives and other agents. He said the No. 1 question most prospective clients would ask was how many players he was currently representing, so he went to work trying to sign clients and build a roster.

“I just try to organically just be myself in this business. A lot of people don’t do that,” DeRousselle said. “They feel like the agent got to act a certain way, walk a certain way and talk a certain way. I’ve tried to pour into everybody when I meet them and be my authentic self to show him that there is a space for you to be yourself [and] succeed in this business.”

When scouting prospective clients DeRouselle wants players who have a true passion for football and who aspire to earn Pro Bowl honors or play in the Super Bowl. Last year, DeRousselle negotiated the second-largest contract for a defensive end in NFL history for Tennessee Titans player Jeffrey Simmons. But true to his HBCU roots, he also wants players others may overlook. 

“I also gravitate toward guys who are underdogs … guys who didn’t have everything handed to them,” DeRousselle said. “Like everybody’s not a five-star, right? Some people had to get it out of the mud. Guys that may have had a few moments here and there, they’ve battled adversity and so it’s on themselves to, like, come back from whatever they went through, whether it be injury or personal demons.”

DeRousselle represents former Alabama A&M University wide receiver Dee Anderson, who is currently on the Memphis Showboats’ roster in the UFL. Anderson tied for first in touchdown receptions in the SWAC in 2021. 

“What stood out for me was the fact he felt like home, from the hours we spent off the field, him gaining my trust and just taking the time to know me,” Anderson said. “He’s helped in various ways. He has helped mature me into the man I am present-day. He has played a pivotal role in connecting me with teams. He is the voice behind the scenes.”

DeRousselle bonded with Anderson since they both live in Louisiana and were SWAC athletes. Anderson played at LSU for three seasons, transferred to Oklahoma State University, and then transferred to Alabama A&M. Being an HBCU athlete also helped DeRouselle earn Anderson’s trust because he understood how HBCU athletes can sometimes be overlooked.

“Paul was able to understand the adversity I was going to face going from a top SEC program to a small HBCU. He helped me navigate through that transition, keeping me focused on the fact that my work remains the same,” Anderson said. “Being a Black athlete already comes with a lot of pressure, especially at the level I’m playing for. You need people that truly understand not just where you are at but where I’m going. Paul gets that. I trust that he has my best interests in mind, which puts me at ease to do my job.”

DeRousselle has returned to his alma mater numerous times to discuss with students what it’s like to be an NFL agent and has hosted talks at SWAC rival Grambling State University. He also will speak during the 2024 Black Sports Business Symposium in May in Atlanta.

“I want to continue to educate and elevate and show people, specifically those from small towns and the ones that went to HBCUs,” DeRousselle said. “I don’t want to be an outlier in this business. I want to look up [and] you see a lot of Black agents and a lot of Black agents from HBCUs doing big things.”