Six-Figure Consequence Hits Nico Iamaleava’s Brother After Arkansas AD Forced to Take Urgent Legal Action

Well, well, well. This Nico Iamaleava fiasco already has a spin-off story in quick development. The Tennessee QB is already dealing with the brutal aftermath of his daredevil decision to leave Knoxville. Now, it seems like the apple truly doesn’t fall far from the tree. The Iamaleava controversy has turned into a full-fledged family affair, with another Iamaleava making himself a part of this mess. But programs are no longer just going to sit back and watch them do as they please.

Who thought there could be a ‘Part 2’ of the Nico Iamaleava drama? The former Tennessee QB literally asked for chaos to ensue as his team reached out to other programs, before alerting Josh Heupel. Dan Lanning stepped in like a knight in shining armor and snitched dutifully to his fellow HC. Folks at Tennessee tried to keep it civil and began negotiations, but Iamalaeava stayed put with his demand of an increased NIL pay of $4 million from his initial $2 million. Heupel gave him the boot, and he is now slated to go to the UCLA Bruins of all programs. The doors kept closing on him, and his intended move ultimately backfired. Iamaleava’s case is an example of what players should stay away from. But nope…

Nico’s younger brother, Madden Iamaleava, saw gains in his dirty exit from Tennessee. Madden announced his decision to depart from Arkansas days after the controversy caught fire. He is yet to begin a single snap in CFB, this year being his freshman year in college. In fact, it seems like Madden was playing hopscotch with UCLA and Arkansas this whole time.

The younger Iamaleava was initially committed to UCLA, saw more money offered by Arkansas, and jumped ship. Now, without ever playing a game for the Razorbacks, he’s saying ta-ta to them to go to UCLA. But now, programs have had it with enough. Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek had announced the program would be going after Madden for violating their agreement.

The program now demands a rough compensation of $200,000 for his antics, reported On3‘s Pete Nakos. Someone’s got to draw a line for these brothers. Yurachek had announced earlier, “I have spoken with the leadership team at Arkansas Edge [NIL collective] and expressed my support in their pursuit to enforce their rights under any agreement violated by our student-athletes moving forward.” Programs are done sitting around, as players skip from one program to another.

However, now that UCLA has not one, but two Iamaleava brothers, does it mean that Nico’s hopes here are truly better for his career? If Tennessee couldn’t give that money to its former QB, does it look like there’s more to what UCLA seems to be like?

Did UCLA have it all planned for Nico and Madden Iamaleava?

Initially, we all thought that UCLA was an obvious downgrade to Nico Iamaleava‘s flourishing career at Knoxville. The Bruins were circling above him right from the day the news of his departure broke. But as more details came, good programs like Oregon and UNC backed out. But the Bruins remained unflinching till the end. ESPN reported that HC DeShaun Foster said that he couldn’t sit out on something like “getting the No. 1 player in the portal.” And they did it. They have Nico Iamaleava on board.

Now, they even have the brother. Could it be, then, that UCLA had a purse large enough to accommodate both brothers? There are no reports to confirm this. But, it’s likely Iamaleava bit the bullet and accepted the cut in whatever they were making before UCLA. Ross Dellenger wrote on X, “Iamaleava’s UCLA compensation was not expected to match his UT pay.” Before he committed, On3 speculated that his salary was going to be 1 million. There are no clear details about Madden’s terms with UCLA.

But a plan looked to be set in place. UCLA wanted talents to turn its face around from the 5-7 finish last year. And who better to do it than two Iamaleavas? But their journey will be a definitive mark in CFB history, and is an important lesson about the value of loyalty to one’s program in the sport.