LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Bobby Petrino has already landed a
major recruit for Arkansas -- former Michigan quarterback
Ryan Mallett.
Mallett has transferred to Arkansas and will have three years of
eligibility after sitting out the 2008 season. The 6-foot-7
freshman played in 11 games for the Wolverines before leaving after
Rich Rodriguez replaced retiring coach Lloyd Carr.
Although he went to high school on the Texas side of Texarkana,
Mallett lived on the Arkansas side. Now he returns to his home
state.
"He's happy to be there," Jim Mallett said Thursday night.
"He says, 'Dad, I'm back at home.' "
Arkansas spokesman Kevin Trainor said Thursday that Ryan Mallett
was in the process of enrolling.
Petrino was hired to replace Razorbacks coach Houston Nutt last
month, and he faces a rebuilding project now that star tailbacks
Darren McFadden and Felix Jones have decided to skip their senior
seasons and go to the NFL.
Mallett figures to provide a boost once he's eligible. He was
61-of-141 for 892 yards with seven touchdown passes and five
interceptions last season while filling in for Chad Henne when he
was injured.
Jim Mallett said his son had a great experience at Michigan.
However, Rodriguez runs a spread offense that works well with
mobile quarterbacks. Ryan Mallett is best suited for a pro-style
offense.
"Different system, can't do anything about that," Jim Mallett
said."Had to find somewhere Ryan would fit in."
When Mallett was coming out of high school, Arkansas already had
quarterback Mitch Mustain, who signed with the Razorbacks in 2006. Mustain transferred to Southern
California after one year at Arkansas, leaving Casey Dick as the
Razorbacks' starter this past season. Dick will be a senior next
season.
Jim Mallett said his son considered Tennessee, Texas A&M and
UCLA, but after visiting Arkansas, Ryan Mallett didn't make any
trips to visit the other schools.
"Arkansas has always been a favorite of his," Jim Mallett
said, "because he grew up a Razorback."