Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett may not be running this summer, but the junior said he has done enough swimming to qualify for the 2014 Olympics.

“I going to give it a shot,” Mallett said, drawing a few laughs in the print media room.

All kidding aside, Mallett knew his foot was going to be a big issue at SEC Media Days and did his best to address the situation by making an opening statement in each room he appeared in. With it, Mallett said his foot is doing fine and added he was “right on schedule” in rehabilitation. What does that mean?

Mallett – who wasn’t wearing a protective boot Thursday – explained a little more.

“I can jog a little bit,” Mallett said. “Obviously, I’m doing pool work still for conditioning. I’m not conditioning running yet. But the first day of camp, I’ll be out there with cleats on, pads on.”

Mallett and Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino were both asked about the quarterback’s conditioning and whether it would be an issue when practice begins. That is where the swimming comes into play, Mallett said. The Razorbacks aren’t asking Mallett to be a running quarterback. He certainly won’t run as much as running backs and receivers do. But Mallett admitted he’ll have to work on one thing when he is cleared to run full speed: “Learning how to run again.”

The topic has obviously grabbed headlines all summer in Arkansas and Mallett acknowledged the non-stop questions – from media, fans and students – have been challenging. The good news for Mallett: They’ll end soon because preseason practice is about to begin.

Petrino said he’s confident Mallett will be ready to go when that day arrives on Aug. 5.

“We’re excited with the fact that he is healthy, that he has been throwing the last three weeks now,” Petrino said. “We feel like when we step on the field two weeks from now, he’ll be 100 percent.”

Get frequent updates from Robbie Neiswanger throughout the day at SEC Media Days by following him on Twitter (@NWARobbie)