FAYETTEVILLE — Robert Mann didn’t know what apparel would be arriving to outfit his Hog Heaven store as he waited for the first boxes of Nike gear to begin arriving at Arkansas on Tuesday.

But the Hog Heaven manager knows one of the first items he’d like to see this week: Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett’s No. 15 jersey.

Mallett’s jersey is expected to be one of the top-selling items in the store as Arkansas’ switch from Adidas to Nike begins today. He said Mallett’s Adidas jersey was wildly popular last year — especially in kids sizes — and nothing should change with the quarterback entering 2010 as a preseason Heisman Trophy hopeful.

“The No. 15 last year was huge and it will be huge again this year,” Mann said. “Especially since it’s going to be on a Nike (jersey). We’re already getting requests for them. I had two people in here (Tuesday) asking for No. 15.

“So I anticipate it to be large. I just hope we can keep up with the demand. We’re going to do our best to keep up with the demand.”

Trying to fill requests for specific player jerseys is be nothing new to Mann, who has been in the business for more than 15 years.

The two jerseys he remembers selling the most during his career — which included a three-year stop at Florida — were former Gators quarterback Rex Grossman’s No. 8 and former Arkansas running back Darren McFadden’s No. 5. It’s no surprise both, like Mallett, were Heisman candidates.

“But the No. 5 was the biggest I’ve ever been involved with,” Mann said.

Will it be topped by Mallett’s new No. 15 Nike jersey? Only time — and the frequency of UPS and FedEx shipments of the apparel — will tell.

But Mann is certainly hoping it is one of the items his store employees will have in hand when they begin stocking their shelves with Nike gear.

“If I had my way about it, the 15 jersey will be in here (today) and the coaches polo right beside it,” Mann said. “But I don’t know if I’ve got that kind of pull.”

— Robbie Neiswanger • Arkansas News Bureau