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Madden Iamaleava transfer: Arkansas NIL collective seeking to recoup $200,000, per report
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Arkansas’ NIL collective is looking to recoup approximately $200,000 from former quarterback Madden Iamaleava, according to a report.
Per On3’s Pete Nakos, that’s the amount the Razorbacks’ NIL collective, Arkansas Edge, is demanding to be re-paid in the wake of Iamaleava’s transfer to UCLA. Front Office Sports first reported on Wednesday that Arkansas Edge has issued two “demand letters” as it seeks to be re-paid buyouts from players who violated NIL agreements with the collective.
Iamaleava was an early enrollee and spent the spring semester with the Razorbacks. He was a 4-star prospect in the class of 2025 who Arkansas flipped away from UCLA during the Early Signing Period last December. Iamaleava is reportedly headed back to Westwood where his older brother, Nico Iamaleava, committed to earlier this week.
This news comes just 1 day after Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek issued a statement supporting the Arkansas Edge’s right to enforce contracts that have been violated by student-athletes.
“I have spoken with the leadership team at Arkansas Edge and expressed my support in their pursuit to enforce their rights under any agreement violated by our student-athletes moving forward,” Yurachek wrote on Wednesday. “We appreciate Edge’s investment in our student-athletes and acknowledge the enforcement of these agreements is vital in our new world college athletics. We look forward to continued dialogue with all parties resolving these matters.”
However, there’s significant doubt over whether or not buyouts from NIL collectives are enforceable. Front Office Sports spoke with attorney Darren Heitner, who represents numerous college athletes.
“I’m not willing to generalize and state that all buyouts are unenforceable,” Heitner told FOS. “However, on the rare occasion that there has been a claim for repayment for one of my clients, that has been my conclusion based on the language of the agreement at issue as well as the specific facts of the situation at hand.”
Of course, it remains to be seen what kind of language was used in the NIL agreement between Iamaleava and Arkansas Edge. Regardless, it seems the collective is intent on recouping some funds that have already been paid to the former Razorback.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
