Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek was not a happy man after Razorbacks quarterback Madden Iamaleava defected from Fayetteville for DeShaun Foster’s UCLA football program, joining his brother, polarizing Tennessee transfer Nico Iamaleava, back at home.
“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. We appreciate Edge's investment in our student-athletes and acknowledge the enforcement of these agreements is vital in our new world of college athletics. We look forward to continued dialogue with all parties in resolving these matters,” Yurachek said in a statement, per the Southwest Times Record.
As Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger relayed, plenty of language isn’t enforced in NIL deals – exactly the callout Yurachek was making.
“Many athlete contracts with school-affiliated NIL collectives do feature buyout language. Though often privately done, some of those buyouts have been enforced. Most have not,” Dellenger wrote.
“Arkansas announces its support to enforce buyouts a day after Madden Iamaleava entered the portal.”
ESPN’s Chris Low, meanwhile, claimed that Yurachek’s message was a bid to reclaim the money Iamaleava took from the program.
Iamaleava is likely set to be Nico’s primary backup in Westwood, with his role with the Razorbacks having very likely been QB3 behind Taylen Green and KJ Jackson had he fulfilled his obligation to Arkansas.
Would Madden have left the Hogs if not for his brother?
Judging by how this offseason has played out with their representation, probably.