Paul Finebaum has warned Arkansas against recouping a buyout from some of its NIL deals. Arkansas has the chance to recoup a buyout from some of its NIL deals, and the most prominent of them all involves quarterback Iamaleava. He is the younger brother of Nico Iamaleava, who left Tennessee to join UCLA.
Madden followed quickly in his footsteps as he entered the transfer portal and left Arkansas to join his brother at UCLA.
Paul Finebaum Advises Arkansas To Avoid Pursuing Madden Iamaleava Over NIL Buyout
Since Madden Iamaleava’s departure, there have been multiple reports that Arkansas is looking to recoup $200,000 in buyout figures for their former players who violated NIL agreements.
However, Finebaum believes that the Razorbacks should move on from trying to recoup NIL buyout money from Iamaleava, as the move could affect their image in recruiting.
Iamaleava was a member of Arkansas’s recruiting class of 2025. The quarterback was about to start his college career in Fayetteville this fall but changed his mind and entered the transfer portal before eventually joining his brother out west.
Although Finebaum admits that Arkansas is doing the right thing by setting a precedent that players must honor their contracts, he also believes that the move could eventually backfire.
“I know a lot of people say that they’re doing the right thing, and we all understand that,” Finebaum said. “I think the problem for universities (is) when you try to go to court, when you try to start suing players that you recruited and offered, you run a big risk of getting a very bad reputation. I would let it go.
“Arkansas can live without the money. You just make it too draconian. I know he had an agreement, and I know he made money, and that’s fair, but honestly, this goes on every day, everywhere. Do you want to be the school that young players are afraid of going in case a mistake is made? I think it’s a bad look for Arkansas.”
Iamaleava is yet to respond to Arkansas’s demand for the buyout clause. The 19-year-old was a four-star prospect when he played high school football at Warren. The quarterback was also ranked as the No. 377 overall player and No. 24 quarterback in the 2025 cycle.
KEEP READING: What Is an NIL Buyout in College Football? Arkansas Case with Madden Iamaleava Explained
According to several reports, the Razorbacks’ NIL collective has already sent a letter to Iamaleava and another freshman transfer to request approximately $200,000 as a buyout clause from their NIL deals. Iamaleava and the other players had both signed NIL contracts with Arkansas, which they refused to honour by leaving.
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