There’s a new twist in Arkansas’ pursuit of an NIL buyout from two former players. The university has enlisted a high-profile lawyer who could significantly impact the case, as reported by CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello.
### Arkansas Brings On Tom Mars for NIL Buyout Battle
Anyone familiar with the legal landscape in Arkansas knows the name Thomas Mars. Originally from Bethesda, Maryland, Mars attended law school at the University of Arkansas after facing rejections from multiple East Coast schools. Over the years, he’s built a reputation advising public officials, high-profile clients, and major corporations, including serving as in-house counsel for Wal-Mart.
Recently, Mars has become a key figure in the ongoing NCAA NIL and transfer portal disputes. He’s represented numerous players and institutions involved in the wave of legal battles currently flooding the courts. Mars’ name became especially well-known among Arkansas fans during a defamation case between former Razorback head coach Houston Nutt and Ole Miss—Nutt’s former employer and rival.
Mars made a name for himself by securing a private apology from Ole Miss, which the university refused. He then forced the school and new head coach Hugh Freeze to publicly concede after exposing a scheme where Ole Miss was attempting to pin recruiting violations on Nutt. The investigation also uncovered Freeze’s infamous phone records, which included calls to an escort service.
Following the case, Nutt warned, “When you have Tom Mars on the other sideline, you better buckle up.” That warning now extends to the Iamaleava family.
Madden Iamaleava, a former Arkansas quarterback, had initially committed to the university before flipping to UCLA on National Signing Day. However, less than five months later, the 4-star QB entered the transfer portal and rejoined his brother, Nico, at UCLA. Shortly after, Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yuracheck shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) encouraging Arkansas Edge to push for the NIL buyouts.
Within days, reports emerged that the collective had sent demand letters to two former student-athletes, one of which demanded $200,000 from Iamaleava. Initially, it was believed the other letter was aimed at a different freshman player. However, according to Marcello, the second player targeted is Dazmin James.
James didn’t record a catch during the regular season, but when most of Arkansas’ key contributors left ahead of the Razorbacks’ bowl game against Texas Tech, James earned a starting spot. He seized the opportunity, delivering a breakout performance with three receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown, providing Arkansas fans with a glimpse of hope for the future of the wide receiver group heading into the 2026 season. However, those hopes were quickly dashed when James entered the transfer portal just four days later.
Leave a Reply