Puff Puff Pick w/Wells with Guest Sports Agent Terrell Suggs

The Spaces features sports agent Terrell Suggs (not the NFL player) in conversation with host Radio Wells, co-host KRB, and guests Nikki, KP, and Kelly. Terrell shares how he moved from running a seven-figure landscaping company and studying athletic training at the University of North Alabama to athlete management inspired by his son’s path through D3 ball and the Birmingham-Southern closure. He focuses on under-recruited “underdog” athletes, emphasizes ethics (engaging parents first) and education/major fit before money, and builds NIL value early via branding, content cadence, and engagement metrics. He reports roughly $100K in NIL deals in two years post-relaunch, partners with certified league agents for pro contracts, and manages athletes holistically (appearances, travel, camps). He requires professionalism and consistency (weekly posts, monthly follower tracking), addresses compliance risks such as gambling, and uses a contract clause to protect long-term investment. The discussion covers alternative deal value (local businesses, in-kind benefits), timing for getting an agent, pitfalls of big agencies, and developing young athletes’ business etiquette and networks.

Pop-Up Pick with Wells: Conversation with Sports Agent Terrell Suggs (not the former Ravens LB)

Who Spoke

• Host: Radio Wells (aka "I could’ve went pro")
• Co-hosts and regulars:
  • KRB (aka Parley Jesus / KM Fit)
  • Nikki (aka "Voice," lab owner)
  • KP (financial professional; licensed; offers planning/discipline perspective)
  • Kelly
• Special Guest: Terrell Suggs — independent sports/athlete manager and NIL agent (clarified multiple times he is not the Ravens’ Terrell “T-Sizzle” Suggs)

Guest Background and Path

• Past entrepreneur: Founded and ran a landscaping company for ~23 years, scaled to ~$1M revenue, sold the business.
• Education/industry roots: University of North Alabama, major in Athletic Training; worked with Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds — the agency work brings him back to those roots.
• Why agency/management: Entered the space for his son (a D3 football player). Witnessed how under-recruited kids lack support; decided to specialize in the “underdog” segment (D3/D2/low-exposure D1) who grind and follow direction.

Operating Model and Philosophy

• Role framing: Calls himself a sports/athlete manager more than a traditional agent. He goes beyond contracts: brand strategy, NIL, appearances, travel, camps, on/off-field activities, professional etiquette, and life skills.
• Underdog focus: Targets athletes with few offers, low/highly variable exposure, or no NIL yet. He values attitude, responsiveness, and willingness to follow a plan as much as raw talent.
• Two-way selection: Parents/athletes assess him; he also evaluates them. Conversations often change his view more than highlight reels do.
• Parents-first ethics: Always engages parents for high school athletes out of respect and alignment. He sees many agents bypass this step.
• Education-before-money: Starts with “What’s your major/purpose/talent?” not “How do we get paid?” Filters college choices by whether the school offers the right major, then football/basketball fit, then money.

NIL Strategy and Brand Building

• Early brand compounding: Advises athletes to build brand 2–3 years before college to raise NIL market value ahead of arrival.
• Engagement over follower count: Brands value metrics and interactions (e.g., consistent 800-like engagement can beat a larger but inactive following).
• Posting discipline: Requires at least one athlete post per week to stay relevant in algorithms. He keeps his own pages active to boost athlete visibility.
• Tracking: Audits follower counts weekly (logs on Sundays, reports by Friday) to show athletes tangible growth and keep them accountable.
• Deal mechanics: All NIL funds go directly to the athlete (not the agent). Athletes receive 1099s/appropriate tax forms and pay him per agreement. He leans on his own licensed accountant (not in-house) and his business consulting experience to set processes.
• From portfolio to hands-on: Early on he tried a portfolio model (text out deals for athletes to self-apply). It underperformed. He “reset,” adopted the hands-on management approach, and now personally sources, negotiates, and organizes deals so athletes can focus on execution.
• Results-to-date: Roughly ~$100,000 in NIL deal value in the last two years (after taking a year off to retool the model).
• Not just cash — in-kind wins: He actively secures non-cash value that reduces real expenses, e.g.,
  • Local restaurant feeding an athlete 2x/week (saves on meals)
  • $350/month apparel allowance at a local clothing store in exchange for regular posts
  • Message: Don’t ignore local/smaller brands; the value stack isn’t only direct dollars.

Recruiting, Markets, and Geography

• No disadvantage in the South: Sees opportunity everywhere; targets overlooked local/regional brands around schools like Kennesaw State instead of only chasing Nike/Adidas.
• Small-business approach: Pitches local companies with clear athlete deliverables; many schools have existing vendor relationships that can be leveraged.

Compliance, Conduct, and Professionalism

• Gambling: Constantly warns athletes in group chats about betting risks; emphasizes that violations can end careers (college leniency is not guaranteed; pro leagues can involve suspensions/ban and legal consequences).
• Group communications: Maintains an all-athletes group chat and individual text channels; touches base at least monthly, often twice, sharing reminders, opportunities, and compliance alerts.
• Professional etiquette: “Yes sir/No sir,” handshakes, eye contact, appropriate dress. He trains athletes to meet brand partners and decision-makers as young businesswomen/men, not just athletes.
• Egos and accountability: Has cut clients for lack of transparency or poor fit. Example: a D1 track athlete transferred without notifying him — a red flag that led to separation. He’s even “fired” his own son from brand work for not wearing/promoting his own line.

Contracting and Long-Term Alignment

• Early-start retention: If he begins with an athlete in high school (often 9th grade), his contract requires the athlete to remain with him through at least one year after their freshman year of college. Rationale: protects the years of brand/NIL groundwork he invests before payday.
• Forecasting by class: Manages capacity by NIL value forecasts per graduation year (e.g., current plans through class of 2028). He prioritizes value and timing over raw headcount.

Pro-Level Interface

• Licensing stance: For NFL/NBA/MLB representation, separate league exams are required. He intentionally does not hold those licenses. Instead, he partners with licensed agents and continues in the manager role (brand/appearances/travel/camps, etc.) when an athlete turns pro. This keeps continuity and trust while ensuring contract expertise is covered.

Parents as De Facto Agents — Pros and Cons

• Some parents handle outreach well; many overvalue their child or approach schools/brands too aggressively and harm opportunities.
• Case example: A parent mishandled discussions with Ole Miss; when they tried to return, the program had already moved on.

When Should a Parent Consider an Agent?

• Depends on state NIL rules (some allow youth NIL, even Pop Warner/flag football).
• If brands have begun reaching out, it’s time to at least consult with an agent.
• Even very young athletes (e.g., strong social followings at 8–10 years old) can justify agent conversations, but readiness varies; start with an exploratory talk to assess fit and guardrails.

Draft-Stock Talk: Shedeur Sanders and Ace Bailey

• Assessment: They “did everything right.” Shedeur had a powerful brand foundation via Deion “Prime” Sanders and executed on-field/off-field. Despite feeling “blackballed,” he handled the situation with composure — avoiding public negativity preserved and even enhanced his brand value and future opportunities. He wouldn’t have advised major changes to their approach.

Additional Services and Mindset

• Business consulting/web: Builds starter websites affordably for young entrepreneurs/athletes (believes every business needs a site). Encourages launching personal merch/brand early — and wearing your own brand first.
• Partnership mindset: Open to finance pros (e.g., KP and certified IARs) to provide a more complete package (saving, compounding, discipline) and to build investor-like coalitions around bigger opportunities.

Quick Hits and Miscellany

• Favorite team: “Used to be Baltimore (Ravens).” Current allegiance sounded fluid; he didn’t pick a Super Bowl winner.
• Community ties: Nikki notes her daughter plays with Mr. Side’s daughter; Kelly has seen highlights — shows the community context around the space.
• Show sign-off initiation: Hosts joked about the group’s “shout out to the people dem/people here” tagline.
• Contact: He shared that he’s on X/Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook as “Terrell Suggs” (spelled out on-air).

Key Takeaways

• Start early: Brand-building in high school (or earlier) compounds NIL value.
• Fit over hype: Education and major fit narrow choices and build life after sport; the “underdog” who listens can outpace a 5-star who doesn’t.
• Engagement is currency: Algorithms reward consistency; brands buy interaction metrics, not just follower counts.
• Respect the long game: NIL isn’t only cash — in-kind deals reduce real costs. Relationships and professional behavior are long-term assets.
• Protect the investment: Reasonable retention clauses ensure early-stage brand builders share in later upsides.
• Collaborate: Licensed finance/tax pros and licensed league agents round out the athlete’s team.

Actionable Insights for Athletes/Parents

• Audit your social metrics and post weekly with intention (game, training, community, brand-friendly content).
• Clarify major/career direction first; use that to shortlist schools.
• Map local sponsors around your school — restaurants, apparel, clinics, regional businesses.
• Track engagement and deals; save for taxes (expect 1099s) and consult a licensed professional.
• Prioritize etiquette and compliance (no gambling; keep communications transparent with your manager/agent).
• If brands are contacting you, or your child’s following is growing fast, schedule an agent consult.