FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas football has exuded a defiant tone in the days since Madden Iamaleava entered the transfer portal and ultimately followed his brother, Nico Iamaleava, to UCLA.
Razorbacks athletic director Hunter Yurachek released a statement Tuesday signaling the Hogs would attempt to enforce agreements with student-athletes in the NIL generation of college sports. On3Sports later reported Arkansas is demanding about $200,000 from Madden. The buyout clause was reportedly outlined in Madden’s NIL contract with the university he only spent four months attending.
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On Thursday, Sam Pittman addressed media for the first time since Madden’s departure, but there was no hint of revenge or anger in the head coach’s words. Instead, he expressed an understanding of the complex situation.
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“The portal, and I know Nico was high-profile, but I don’t want to blame the players, I don’t, for leaving,” Pittman said. “I mean, you could say, ‘Well, he was here three months and blah, blah, blah,’ but the opportunity to leave is there twice a year. The (opportunity) to leave for more money is there twice a year. I’m not positive what we all would do in that situation.”
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Pittman said rumors of Madden’s potential departure reached Arkansas’ football facility before the decision became public. The smoke led to a eventual fire, and Arkansas lost one of its top high school recruits before his first fall on campus.
Pittman also noted Madden “handled it well,” coming to visit Pittman and informing him of his decision to enter the portal.
Oct 5, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman during the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas won 19-14. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
But the Hogs quickly adjusted, pivoting to the transfer portal to add depth to their room. On Thursday, they secured the commitment of Florida State transfer Trever Jackson, a former four-star recruit who arrives with four years of eligibility.
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Jackson will compete with KJ Jackson and Grayson Wilson this fall to be Taylen Green’s backup. There was already an established relationship between Trever and Arkansas. Bobby Petrino recruited the quarterback out of high school when Petrino was the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M.
“If Bobby Petrino wants a guy, and especially at the position that he coaches, it’s pretty much that’s what you should do,” Pittman said. “He certainly knows a lot more about quarterback than I do.”
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@gannett.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: What Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman said about Madden Iamaleava’s departure
