By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett is heading to the NFL.
The junior, who completed his second season as Arkansas’ starting quarterback with the 31-26 loss to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl, has decided to skip his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. The announcement came in a press release from Arkansas on Thursday evening.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to declare for the 2011 NFL Draft,” Mallett said in the statement. “Ever since I was a kid, my dream has always been to play for the Razorbacks and I am thankful I had the opportunity to do so. A year ago, when I returned to school I said I wanted to help lead this team to a place among the nation’s elite and for the Razorback community to have a mindset to expect greatness. There is no doubt we got there together and this program will continue to play games on the biggest stages and when it does we’ll come out swinging.”
Mallett set or tied 39 school or stadium records in his two years as Arkansas’ starter, throwing for 7,493 career yards and 62 career touchdown passes. He led the Razorbacks to an 18-8 record as a starter, including the 10-3 season in 2010 that ended with Arkansas playing in its first Bowl Championship Series game.
Mallett wasn’t at his best in the Sugar Bowl, completing 24 of 47 passes for 277 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. But Arkansas receivers also dropped six dropped passes and the offensive line struggled to hold back Ohio State’s defensive front. Mallett’s only interception came on his last pass of the game, ending Arkansas’ hopes of completing a comeback in the second half.
The quarterback — who transferred to Arkansas in 2008 after a season at Michigan — announced his decision to turn pro the same day Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck decided to stay in school.
Luck was regarded by many as the likely No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. It leaves Mallett competing with the likes of Missouri’s Blaine Gabbart and Washington’s Jake Locker for the top quarterback in the draft if he turns pro. Auburn’s Cam Newton will announce his plans after the national championship game.
“Playing in the NFL is a goal of mine and I am grateful to the people that have prepared me to take the next step,” Mallett said in the statement. “Coach (Bobby) Petrino is a winner, a man of character and the hardest worker I have ever seen. I’d also like to thank Coach (Garrick) McGee for everything he has done for me and in particular helping develop my mental approach to the game. The leadership of Chancellor David Gearhart and Director of Athletics Jeff Long is a model for me and I am extremely appreciative of the tireless work they do for all University of Arkansas students every day.
“The Razorback fans are the greatest in the country and their support for me and the team throughout my career has been humbling. Arkansas is where my heart is and I’m proud to say that I will always be a Razorback.”
Arkansas must now move on from Mallett, but feels confident the offense will continue to operate with success without him in 2011. Three quarterbacks — Tyler Wilson, Brandon Mitchell and Jacoby Walker — are slated to return to the team. Fayetteville High’s Brandon Allen has verbally committed.
Wilson impressed in a relief role at Auburn, throwing for 332 yards and four touchdowns after Mallett was knocked out of the game by a concussion in the first half. He and Mitchell are the frontrunners for the job, which was held by the most decorated quarterback in school history for the past two seasons.
“I am very proud of Ryan Mallett and I can’t say enough about what he has done for this program,” Petrino said in a statement. “Leaders do their job extremely well and lift everyone around them to compete better and Ryan does those things. One of the greatest parts about coaching is watching individuals become adults while they are in college and Ryan has certainly developed not just as a player, but as a person.
“I know Ryan will be successful in life and I wish him the best in the NFL.”
