The Iamaleava Brothers: A New Chapter at UCLA
In a surprising turn of events, Madden Iamaleava, the younger brother of Nico Iamaleava, is set to join his sibling at UCLA. This news was confirmed by a source to ESPN’s Chris Low on Monday. The younger Iamaleava, who is currently an Arkansas freshman quarterback, has decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal, as multiple sources confirmed to ESPN earlier in the evening.
For those who have been following the Iamaleava brothers, this move might not come as a complete shock. Madden Iamaleava was ESPN’s No. 145 overall recruit in the 2025 class. He had initially committed to UCLA, spending nearly eight months pledged to the Bruins before flipping his commitment to the Razorbacks during the early signing period last December. As of now, Madden Iamaleava is the highest-ranked member of the 2025 ESPN 300 to enter the transfer portal during the spring window.
The timing of Madden’s decision is particularly interesting, as it comes just one day after his older brother, Nico Iamaleava committed to UCLA out of the transfer portal. Nico’s journey to UCLA was a whirlwind, landing with the Bruins on Sunday, just over a week after Tennessee coach Josh Heupel announced that the Volunteers were moving forward without the former four-star prospect. Nico had left the program after missing multiple team events earlier this month.
Madden Iamaleava’s Journey
Madden Iamaleava, standing at 6-foot-3, was ESPN’s No. 12 pocket passer in the 2025 recruiting cycle. Hailing from Long Beach, California, he initially committed to UCLA in May 2024. He was a key member of coach DeShaun Foster’s inaugural signing class until the early signing period on December 4, 2024, when he flipped his commitment to Arkansas. He signed with the Razorbacks alongside his Long Beach Polytechnic (California) High School teammate, Jace Brown.
At the time, Madden’s commitment to the Razorbacks was seen as a significant recruiting win for Arkansas coach Sam Pittman. Madden remained with the program through the end of spring camp earlier this morning. Now, he enters the portal as one of the most intriguing quarterback transfer prospects, with four years of eligibility remaining.
Challenges and Opportunities
Madden Iamaleava’s path hasn’t been without its challenges. He did not play during his senior season after being declared ineligible following his transfer from California’s Warren High School to Long Beach Polytechnic. However, his talent was evident during his junior year in 2023, when he led Warren to an impressive 11-3 record as a starting quarterback.
- Key Points:
- Madden Iamaleava was ESPN’s No. 145 overall recruit in the 2025 class.
- He initially committed to UCLA before flipping to Arkansas.
- He is the highest-ranked member of the 2025 ESPN 300 to enter the transfer portal during the spring window.
- Madden has four years of eligibility remaining.
As Madden prepares to join his brother at UCLA, the Iamaleava brothers are poised to make a significant impact on the Bruins’ football program. With both brothers now part of the team, UCLA fans have much to look forward to in the coming seasons. The dynamic duo brings a wealth of talent and potential, and their journey together at UCLA will undoubtedly be one to watch.
Originally Written by: Eli Lederman
