Arkansas Pulling Strings? Scholarship Offer to Iamaleava’s Teammate Raises Eyebrows

No one could have predicted this.

Another true freshman is gone from Arkansas football, but unlike before, this one didn’t come as a surprise.

Arkansas Parts Ways with WR Jace Brown Amid Growing UCLA Movement

Arkansas football has released 2025 wide receiver Jace Brown from his scholarship agreement, marking the program’s latest loss in a string of offseason departures. The move comes shortly after Brown’s Long Beach Poly teammate, quarterback Madden Iamaleava, transferred to UCLA following spring camp.

Both Brown and Iamaleava had originally committed to UCLA before flipping to Arkansas on National Signing Day in December — a decision that now appears to have been short-lived.

While Brown has yet to announce his next destination, speculation points strongly toward a reunion with Iamaleava in Southern California. That possibility gains further traction as UCLA is also welcoming Nico Iamaleava — Madden’s older brother — who initiated the ripple effect by transferring out of Tennessee in April after being released by the Volunteers.

Brown Departs, but Arkansas Remains Solid at Wide Receiver

Jace Brown, a 3-star prospect from Long Beach Poly, has been released from his scholarship agreement with Arkansas. According to the 247Sports Composite, Brown held a rating of .8786, ranking as the No. 684 overall player in the nation, the No. 101 wide receiver, and the No. 52 prospect in California.

Despite Brown’s departure, Arkansas remains well-stocked at wide receiver. The Razorbacks currently have 12 scholarship wideouts on the roster, including walk-on Monte Harrison — a former professional baseball player whose earnings are covering his tuition. Coaches have praised Harrison as a scholarship-caliber talent.

Brown becomes the third true freshman to back out of his agreement with Arkansas. The first was a defensive back/wide receiver who exited prior to Madden Iamaleava’s transfer to UCLA. Iamaleava was the second, with Brown now following suit.

Because Brown never enrolled at Arkansas, his departure will not count toward the NCAA transfer portal numbers. Instead, it will register as a decommitment, marking the eighth and final such exit from the Razorbacks’ 2025 signing class.