By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — There’s no doubt Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett has turned in one of the most productive offensive seasons in school history, rewriting the Razorbacks’ passing charts in coach Bobby Petrino’s system.
But his performance has left one important question as Arkansas opened Liberty Bowl practice Monday night: Could Mallett’s sophomore season also be his last with the Hogs?
Mallett, who is eligible for the 2010 NFL Draft, wasn’t ready to entertain the topic Monday. He did, however, indicate he would have to explore the possibility after the Razorbacks wrapped up their season in Memphis.
“Obviously, you’ve got to look at your options,” Mallett said in regard to draft-eligible this season. “But the Liberty Bowl is what we’re worried about right now.”
Mallett’s play of late has, at the very least, placed him in NFL Draft conversation. He finished the regular season, his first as a starter, as the SEC’s top passer by throwing for 3,422 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Mallett also leads the league in passing efficiency with a 157.8 rating and has been the driving force behind the league’s top-rated scoring offense (37.3 points a game).
It has been an impressive year. But not enough, according to ESPN NFL reporter Chris Mortensen. He told the Arkansas News Bureau last week that Mallett would probably be disappointed with the results if he entered the draft now.
“I would say it should be an easy decision for Ryan to stay in school,” Mortensen said. “Too many variables are working against him. If he puts another year behind him in terms of on-and-off field performance, he will be making himself a significant amount of money. And, let’s face it, working another year under (Bobby) Petrino with receivers who are only going to get better, he has a chance to separate himself from every quarterback in this country.”
It’s a sentiment shared by Todd McShay, who is the director of college football scouting for ESPN’s Scouts Inc. He believes Mallett would benefit by returning to Arkansas – especially from a physical standpoint.
“Mallett would be wise to go back to school after the year,” McShay said. “He’s only played one full season and is under-developed as a player. He needs to fill out physically and see where he is at the end of next year.”
Not everyone agrees, though. Mike Detillier, a long-time draft analyst who publishes the M&D Draft Report, thinks Mallett would be a first-round pick if he declared.
Detillier, who is based in Louisiana, said Mallett may have only one year of game experience but his physical tools are impressive and draft-worthy.
Detillier thinks Mallett would have a chance to shine in workouts and could climb as high as No. 2 among quarterbacks in the draft.
“He’s going to get a first-round grade,” Detillier predicted. “The big question mark would be where in Round One? I would think it would be a teens pick, 12, 13, 14. I think he’s just going to wow everybody. …
“A guy like (Ole Miss’) Jevan Snead, he has to come back because he played so poorly. But with Ryan, playing the way he did, it’s a much more difficult decision.”
For now, the top draft-eligible quarterbacks for the 2010 NFL Draft appear to be Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen, Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, Texas’ Colt McCoy and Florida’s Tim Tebow. Washington junior Jake Locker hasn’t made a decision regarding the draft, but is regarded as a first-round pick if he does leave the Huskies this season.
Mallett’s only concern is continuing to improve in Arkansas’ offense the rest of this month. The quarterback believes he has grown tremendously under the tutelage of Petrino and quarterbacks coach Garrick McGee this year.
“The knowledge I can pick from their brains is what I feel like is really helping me as far as defenses and the protection calls,” Mallett said. “And being able to do that is what made our offense so good this year.
“We can get into the right checks and little things like that that we didn’t do as much last year.”
The deadline for underclassmen to enter the 2010 NFL Draft is Jan. 15, two weeks after the Liberty Bowl.
Mallett said he hasn’t even started to look at any options because there’s one game left to play.
“We’re still in the season,” Mallett said. “So nothing like that is going through my mind right now.
“The only thing going through my mind right now is the Liberty Bowl and going out there to win the game.”
All-SEC Team Announced
Four Arkansas players were named to the Associated Press All-SEC team on Monday.
Mallett, wide receiver Joe Adams, guard Mitch Petrus and defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard were all second-team selections. Mallett said he was surprised receiver Greg Childs didn’t make the list after leading the Razorbacks with 45 catches for 862 yards and 7 touchdowns.
“He was one of the most dominant receivers that was out there in the SEC as far as catches and yards after catch,” Mallett said. “But that’s just my opinion.”
Mallett, who led the league in passing yards, touchdowns and efficiency, finished behind Florida quarterback Tim Tebow on the All-SEC team ballot. Tebow received nine first-team votes, while Mallett picked up three.
