We recently connected with D’Angelo Jordan and have shared our conversation below.

D’Angelo, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

Great question, I find it satisfying when brainstorming names for a venture. The name must practically apply to the vision, mission, and services of the company. It was a late Friday Night on November 14, 2020, my wife and I were watching one of our shows at the time. I was sitting at the foot of our bed thinking, “…what can I do to impact the lives of young people in the field of sports…”. My aspirations were rooted in thoughts of life after leaving the public school system and athletic coaching. I meditated on how I could put my family and I in a position to create wealth while doing something that I enjoy.

The Lord gave me the blueprint on the who, what, when, where, why and how to start a business, the name (Central Florida Scouting, LLC) and resources needed to be successful. He drafted a plan for me by speaking a word (name) and everything flowed from there, “Director of Central Florida Scouting”. The most interesting part of it is this, I partnered with DNA Sports Management (DNA) out of Lutz, FL. David H. Walkowiak, Esquire (Dave), part-owner of DNA, gave me an ‘off the cuff’ unofficial position title prior to becoming an independent contractor with him at DNA — Regional Director of Central Florida Scouting. Central Florida Scouting, LLC (CFS) was born from my desire to attribute the root of my work and location in the name of the company. We are central to Florida and scouting is the bloodwork of my student-athlete research. I believe the LORD used that moment to spark my recall which led to the vision! As we sit in this moment, history is being written in creation.

Prior to the aforementioned date I had no idea the steps I would need to take in establishing a company. I had a paradigm shift, of sorts, in my heart and mind that began to take precedence. My approach to labor, economics, opportunity, vocation, et cetera, it all changed. I wanted to build something of my own, a company of character and principle. Preceding the day I received the vision, I stumbled over many avenues that lead to forming a business. Yet, I did not recall any of this until the LORD brought it to fruition. Once I received and accepted that, I began to lay the foundation to set up an infrastructure that I believe will lead to milk and honey.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I will give you the condensed version due to the breadth of my journey. I was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL. I played five sports throughout high school and excelled as a two-sport college athlete. I’ve always held a different level of affinity for fitness and sports. I began my college degree journey as a criminal justice major. For a time, I wanted to be an FBI Special Agent. Yet, I began to think long-term a month after making my major declaration. I thought of everything I desired to do as a professional in fitness and sports. So I decided to major in Fitness and Sports Management. From that point on, I endeavored to pursue and obtain everything I needed to do to be successful in the field.

I started training individuals and groups at the age of seventeen, which parlayed from high school to college. After a successful college playing career, I helped spearhead the training for our 2013 Inaugural Pro Day at my alma mater. I had an “opportunity” to play professional football with the Oakland Raiders (at the time). The national scout Mickey Marvin offered me a preferred rookie contract twice, lacking complete knowledge of NFL business operations, I declined partially due to a position change request. As well as a severe ankle injury I harbored the length of my senior season. I played with two “major” injuries that took place within the first two games of the season. I tore the flexor tendon in my right ring finger (self-healed) and I tore the anterior talofibular ligament, anterior tibiofibular ligament, calcaneofibular ligament, fibularis longus, brevis tendon and severely torn cartilage in my right ankle (arthroscopic surgery). That uninformed decision severely affected the rest of my NFL recruitment.

After arthroscopic surgery, I had a CFL tryout in Charlotte, NC and a mini-camp tryout at the IMG Academy. That is where I knew my football career was over. My ankle was not the same due to a multitude of factors, specifically the cartilage repair, wear, and tear. At that point, I made a pivot to pursue my Master of Arts in P-12 Physical Education. Along the journey, I helped unofficially scout and recruit athletes for DNA Sports Management. The newly founded sports agency I signed with many months after I graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree. This is where my interest ignited, to learn the business of the sports and entertainment industry.

Central Florida Scouting, LLC (CFS) is a sports management company that specializes in scouting to procure prospective collegiate and professional athletes for next level sports marketing, brand management, and professional representation. Nothing we do in life is easy or done without the possibility of perilousness, the danger would be to not take a chance. I believe risks are defined a bit differently in my dictionary, I have a saying, “…risks don’t exist, only opportunities…”. We take risks, gamble, operate with a high level of uncertainty, venture into unpredictable situations and clutch insecurity by chance. I have been exposed to imminent risk of disaster and ruin my entire conscious life. Starting this company, for me, would’ve been a risk if I didn’t have the support of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I aspire to have an ethical business built on the brand of integrity, honor and respect — the goal is to have an ethical name in Sports and Professional Representation, one that provides an intimate service while helping effect positive change in the lives of young men.

I was given an opportunity to create a brand that will help others see risks as opportunities. I’m prepared to reap what I have sown in risk (opportunity), because risk has a role to play in life. My faith in Jesus Christ is the driving force behind everything we are striving to do at CFS. The principles of the Way, the Truth and the Life are what inspires us to operate with integrity, honor and respect. We are developing good relationships in the Agent, Sports Management, Marketing & Advertising field of Professional Representation. The number one thing I’ve retained from everything I am actively learning, is that one must value building, keeping and cherishing “relationships”. It will make or break a career in this industry.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

In short, I had to understand that the process of this company will take time and some nurturing. The things that I seek to accomplish will not come overnight. For years I believed success was birthed through material gains. That displayed the evidence and fruits of ones labor. I was gravely mistaken, down to how I dressed myself in designer apparel and footwear. Many of us in business desire to be successful, but my definition of success had to change over the course of my respective journey through life, business, and leisure. It now consists of people and how many I will have the opportunity to organically and positively impact. My definition of success is determined by the impact we as individuals affect on humanity through our life’s work.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

I have a holistic approach to who and how I scout to recruit prospective athletes. We desire to get in front of high character elite athletes that don’t mind a sophisticated representation approach. CFS is a boutique sports management company for athletes that desire a personalized experience. I aspire to keep the company small and customized to meet the individual requirements of prospective athletes. We are partnered with DNA Sports Management in Lutz, FL. They are NFL and CFL Certified Contract Advisors. Our unique approach to customizing an individualized plan for each prospective athlete is what differentiates us from competitors. Our fee structure is flexible and we offer a modified experience to suit our athletes. To our future customers, experience comes with opportunities, giving us the opportunity to showcase our experience. We believe that ownership belongs to the athlete, as an agent we are hired by the athletes. Therefore we work for the athlete in partnership. With this in mind, the athletes we pursue or those that reach out to us must align with this standard. I currently have one NIL Athlete: Xavier E. Velazquez at Tusculum University. A firm foundational athlete who exhibits what we are endeavoring to build at CFS.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.centralfloridascouting.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cfsdirector/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfsdirector/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cfsdirector
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cfsdirector
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/central-florida-scouting/

Image Credits
CFS Photographer