By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett has seen the scooter video. Not long after it made its way to YouTube — with music and slow motion included — he was flooded with e-mails.
Yes, that was Mallett tooling around Arkansas’ campus on the four-wheeled contraption helping him stay off his surgically repaired left foot. And, yes, Mallett admitted, it’s a little embarrassing to do on a daily basis. But he’s dealing with it.
“You’ve got to take it with a grain of salt,” Mallett said of the video, which was shot by KFSM before being doctored and posted online by an LSU fan. “There’s going to be people from other teams putting it on the Internet. A million people have sent it to me in my e-mail. I just laugh every time.
“It doesn’t get to me or anything.”
That’s because Mallett is counting on getting the last laugh soon. If everything goes as planned, the quarterback will be trading the scooter in for a walking boot in the next couple weeks.
Mallett spoke to the media Wednesday for the first time since breaking his foot in a change-of-direction drill during a workout. It required his second offseason surgery in a matter of weeks. Mallett also underwent surgery to repair a slightly torn labrum in his left non-throwing shoulder.
The second surgery has knocked Mallett out of spring practice, which begins March 30. But it hasn’t dampened his mood. Mallett said he feels great and is on pace to be fully healthy by July.
“I’d rather it happen now than during the season,” Mallett said. “During the season the only thing I could do would be like when I sat out (in 2008 after transferring). It was be a cheerleader.”
Instead, Mallett is doing everything possible to prepare for a season loaded with expectations. He has been mentioned as a Heisman Trophy candidate after setting or tying 16 school records in 2009, while the Razorbacks are being considered a darkhorse in the Southeastern Conference.
Mallett described his left side as his “torn up side” Wednesday, but has continued to lift weights with his right arm and leg. He has been throwing the football from one knee. And Mallett, who weighs 228 pounds, has followed a strict diet to stay in shape.
“He’s had a good offseason,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. “He’s continued to work hard in the weight room, continued to do a nice job of leading without actually being out in front.
“So I’ve been impressed with Ryan.”
Mallett wants to be back on the field, but knows he can’t rush his return. It won’t change his responsibilities during spring practice.
“My role is going to stay the same,” Mallett said. “I’m just not taking snaps. I’m going to be the guy helping other guys in practice.”
Arkansas will rely on backups Tyler Wilson, Brandon Mitchell, Jacoby Walker and Nick Petrino to handle the repetitions in his absence spring practice.
Wilson — the most experienced quarterback of the bunch — will begin the spring with the first-team offense. Wilson said he won’t approach the job like he’s simply the caretaker for Mallett this spring.
“I’m going to come in every day and take it like it’s my team and take responsibility,” he said.
It’s not the first time Mallett has missed a portion of the offseason. In fact, the quarterback has suffered an offseason injury three times since transferring to Arkansas in 2008.
He hurt the ring finger on his throwing hand last summer, but was back for preseason practice. He also broke his ring finger during spring drills in 2008.
Mallett said he tweaked his left foot twice last season before breaking it last month. The latest injury came during bowl practices in Memphis, but none of them have cost him game time.
“I’m pretty good timing with my injuries I guess you could say,” Mallett said. “I’m good at that.”
That may not be all, though.
On Wednesday, cornerback Isaac Madison joked that Mallett is pretty good on the scooter, too, learning a couple of tricks. Wilson pointed out that Mallett recently got a new one, too. And it’s turquoise.
Mallett’s OK with the ribbing, promising he can handle it for a few more weeks.
He knows it won’t be long before it’s gone and he can walk around on campus again.
“I’m looking forward to that,” Mallett said. “I’m tired of riding the scooter around.”
