Arkansas
Where Arkansas' spring transfer portal players landed
Where Arkansas’ spring transfer portal players landed
The spring transfer portal window has come and gone, and while Arkansas brought in eight new players after spring practice ended, it also had several players hit the road for perceivably greener pastures.
The most high-profile transfer that left the program is true freshman quarterback Madden Iamaleava. He followed his brother, Nico, who was entrenched in drama of his own after his departure from Tennessee, to UCLA after he went through spring practice with the Razorbacks.
The transfer portal was open from April 16-25, and Arkansas addressed some positions of need, primarily on defense and in the wide receiver room. Head coach Sam Pittman grabbed two more pass-catchers and replaced Iamaleava with Florida State transfer Trever Jackson. Outside of those three, every other transfer into the program was a defensive player.
With the transfer news seemingly winding down, HawgBeat takes a look at the Arkansas players that transferred out and where they ended up…
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Madden Iamaleava — Quarterback
From: Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, CA)
Transferred to: UCLA
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 0 (only went through spring practice)
Career stats: N/A
Shamar Easter — Wide Receiver
From: Ashdown, AR
Transferred to: North Carolina
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 1
Career stats: 2 GP, 1 rec, 16 yds
Tyrell Reed — Running Back
From: Hutchinson Community College (Hutchinson, KS)
Transferred to: Louisiana-Monroe
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 1
Career stats: 3 GP, 6 Car, 36 Yds, 1 TD; 1 Rec, 47 yards, 1 Rec. TD
Zuri Madison — Offensive Line
From: Frederick Douglass HS (Lexington, KY)
Transferred to: Arkansas State
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 1
Career stats: N/A (Redshirt)
Christian Ford — Defensive Back
From: McKinney HS (McKinney, TX)
Transferred to: Missouri State
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 2
Career stats: N/A
Uncommitted Transfers
Quentin Murphy — Defensive Back
From: Parkview HS (Little Rock, AR)
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 0 (only went through spring practice)
Career stats: N/A
JuJu Pope — Running Back
From: South Panola HS (Batesville, MS)
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 1
Career stats: N/A
Blake Boda — Quarterback
From: Cocoa HS (Daytona Beach, FL) — Transfer from Coastal Carolina
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 1
Career stats: N/A
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Freshman Darius Acuff Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including a key 3-pointer with just over two minutes left in the second half, to help No. 18 Arkansas to an 86-75 win over No. 19 Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams on Saturday.
Arkansas (11-3) used a 18-5 run over a 6-minute, 37-second span midway through the second half to turn a five-point deficit into an eight-point lead with 5:40 left. Tennessee shot just 2 for 10 from the field during Arkansas’ run, missing eight shots in a row before finally scoring.
The Volunteers (10-4) took advantage of an Arkansas cold shooting spell — the Razorbacks picked up 12 of their 18 points during the run from the free-throw line — to close within two points with under four minutes to play. Acuff made a 3-pointer from the wing with 2:09 remaining to give the Razorbacks a 79-68 lead.
Tennessee shot 49% from the field and was outscored at the line, going 12 for 23 while Arkansas shot 29 for 33.
Acuff was the only Arkansas player to shoot better than 50% from the floor, going 9 for 16. The Razorbacks shot 42% overall. Acuff was joined in double-digit scoring by Meleek Thomas, who scored 18 points. Malique Ewin added 12 points and Karter Knox 11.
Amari Evans’ 17 points on 7-for-7 shooting led three Tennessee players in double figures.
Arkansas won its opening SEC game for the first time since the 2020-21 season. The Razorbacks have reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in four of the five seasons since and made two Elite Eight appearances.
Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas (1) shoots over Tennessee defenders Ja’Kobi Gillespie, left, and Felix Okpara, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Fayetteville, Ark. Credit: AP/Michael Woods
Up next
Arkansas: At Ole Miss on Wednesday.
Tennessee: Hosts Texas on Tuesday.
Sheila Yount
Sheila Yount is a features editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. An Arkansas native and communications professional with 42 years of experience, she edits and writes for the Style sections with a primary focus on the Saturday home and garden section and the Monday style section, which includes content on outdoor recreation, physical fitness and health, as well as history and other topics.
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