Four-star quarterback Madden Iamaleava has made a surprise switch, abandoning his commitment to UCLA in favor of the University of Arkansas. This significant development was announced on Wednesday afternoon, sources close to ESPN have confirmed.
Iamaleava, ranked No. 143 in the 2025 ESPN 300 and eighth among pocket passers, was initially expected to join UCLA’s incoming class. His change of heart not only deprives UCLA of its top-ranked recruit but also leaves the program without a single ESPN 300 pledge for the 2025 cycle.
This setback is particularly significant for UCLA’s head coach, DeShaun Foster, who had been focusing on attracting local talent to bolster his team. Iamaleava’s decision to join Arkansas instead represents a major coup for the Razorbacks and their head coach, Sam Pittman.
In another twist, Iamaleava’s teammate at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, three-star wide receiver Jace Brown, also announced his commitment to Arkansas shortly after Iamaleava’s switch became public. This double flip is a substantial blow to UCLA’s recruiting efforts.
Iamaleava’s move to Arkansas marks a significant milestone for the program, as he becomes the second-highest ranked member of the Razorbacks’ 2025 class. He joins four-star passer Grayson Wilson and three-star dual threat Quentin Murphy as the program’s latest quarterback signees.
