Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett gave up an early shot at the NFL to return to the Razorbacks in 2010. (Photo contributed)

Staff Report
(July 23, 2010)

HOOVER – Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett was asked the typical question that a quintessential All-American might be asked, since he wasn’t expected to return to Fayetteville this year.

NFL scouts say he could have been a Top 10 draft pick back in April. The Razorbacks, although improving, don’t look as though they will challenge for a national title or SEC title and are getting very little support to win the Western Division.

So, Ryan, why come back?

“I told my mom that I would get my degree and I am well on my way to doing that,” Mallett said during SEC Media Days on Thursday. “I’ve got an opportunity to improve on some things. I felt like it was the best decision for me. I like being an Arkansas Razorback.”

Right words for Hog fans but it might be the wrong ones to hear for the rest of the SEC.

With Tim Tebow gone, Mallett is now tops on the list of SEC quarterbacks, which lacks the number of names normally associated with the top conference in the country.

But no matter how many names are on it, the same one would probably be on top – Mallett, who transferred to Arkansas from Michigan after Rich Rodriquez arrived in Ann Arbor.

It starts with Mallett’s leadership, says his head coach.

“I think the greatest thing about Ryan is when he comes into a room or steps on the practice field, everybody’s energy goes up because of the smile that he has and how much he loves competition and loves the game of football,” Bobby Petrino said. “He’s a young man that’s a tremendous leader for us, has amazing talent. Every Saturday when you watch the video after the game, he makes two or three throws that you say, ‘Wow, nobody else might be able to make that throw in America.’ We’re excited with the fact that he is healthy, that he has been throwing the last I think three weeks now.”

Mallett spent most of the off season dealing with a foot injury but he made it official that he is 100 percent healthy and ready to start pre-season drills in a couple of weeks.

Swimming did the trick.

“I feel like I’m going to try out for the Olympics in 2014,” he said. “Is that when the next one is? I’m going to give it a shot (smiling).

“I’ve been doing a lot of swimming to stay in condition. I haven’t been able to run to this point, so I’ve been swimming a lot, doing a lot of weight room stuff with upper body, a lot of single-leg stuff. It’s really helped me out.”

Arkansas had a few big moments last year but a few could have been bigger such as the near-miss against Florida. Arkansas has Alabama at home this year and face Georgia in the SEC opener. But Mallett was on the Wolverines’ sideline when Appalachian State pulled what might be one of the biggest upsets in college football history.

“I was part of that team,” Mallett said. “We got beat in the first game of the season. I kind of learned my lesson from that as far as overlooking people. We have to set the tone in the first game and keep building, keep progressing, keep getting better every week.”

How well Arkansas does in 2010 may depend less on the quarterback and more on how well Petrino revitalizes the Hogs’ defense, which struggled last season, finishing last in the conference in total defense.

“We’re going to continue to emphasize what we did well a year ago, which was create turnovers and play very good red-zone defense,” Petrino said. “Then we must learn how to eliminate the big play. There’s times we played very, very good defense and got beat by the big play. We started that in spring ball, working on it. We’re going to continue to emphasize it.”