Ex-Michigan QB Mallett transferring to Arkansas
Posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE — Former University of Michigan quarterback Ryan Mallett is taking the formal steps to enroll at the University of Arkansas, sources have told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Mallett, who considered signing with the Razorbacks before joining Michigan as an early enrollee last January, visited the Arkansas campus last weekend. He will have to sit out the 2008 season, per NCAA transfer rules, before becoming eligible in 2009. He will have three years of eligibility remaining at that time.
Attempts to reach Mallett and his family were unsuccessful.
Mallett, 6-7, 252 pounds, who played at Texas High in Texarkana, Texas but lived on the Arkansas side of the state line, announced his intention to transfer from Michigan last week, saying his drop-back passing style would not fit well in new Michigan Coach Rich Rodriguez’s Spread-option attack.
“I was recruited to be a dropback passer,” Mallett told the Detroit News last Wednesday. “I have nothing against Coach Rod, but the system is forcing me out.”
Mallett played in 11 games as a true freshman, picking up playing time after senior starter Chad Henne was injured. Mallett completed 61 of 141 passes for 892 yards, with 7 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
Mallett threw for 3, 353 yards and 31 touchdowns in high school, where he was a three-year starter and earned Texas Class 4 A offensive player of the year honors. He was rated the No. 4 player in the nation by Rivals.
University of Arkansas director of compliance Marvin Caston said UA officials were attempting to obtain Mallett’s transfer release from Michigan Monday afternoon.
The University of Arkansas admissions office, citing federal privacy laws, would not confirm if Mallett had enrolled on Monday.
Mallett’s father, Jim Mallett, said last week, shortly after it became clear his son was leaving Michigan, that it was a good possibility his son would transfer to Tennessee if the school hired former Michigan offensive coordinator Mike DeBord and quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler, both of whom were considered for jobs.
The Volunteers chose former Richmond Coach Dave Clawson to run their offense. He used more of a Spread scheme behind quarterback Stacy Tutt in 2004 and 2005 before using more traditional schemes the past two seasons. ”
Information for this article was contributed by Democrat-Gazette Press Services.
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