2010 Heisman Hopefuls: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
One thing that college football programs in the state of Texas are generally pretty good about is making sure the top high school talent in the state stays in state when it comes time for college. Somehow they missed out on Ryan Mallett, the second best quarterback in the nation and fourth best high school player overall (according to Rival.com) in 2006.
His progression as a player in high school made him a shoe-in to play major college football. His numbers as a sophomore were decent; a completion percentage just under 50% for 2300+ yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Mallet would not throw 10 interceptions the rest of his high school career. As a junior he would improve to 60% completion percentage, but his yardage total would drop to 2219 yards. His touchdown total would increase to 21 and his interception total drop to just six.
If there were any doubts about his viability as a college quarterback he put them to rest during his senior season. He increased his accuracy slightly while throwing another 100 balls (in comparison to his junior year) to 63.6%; his yardage total shot up to 3353 yards while his touchdown total jumped to 33 and his interception total dropped to three.
University of Michigan
Mallett’s college career started out with just a little bit of trouble. He would play sparingly as a freshman seeing his first action in the second game of the season against Oregon after Chad Henne was injured. The following week against Notre Dame he would get the start, but would only throw 15 passes (completing seven) for 90 yards and three touchdowns.
Against Minnesota he would get the start again and would have a better statistical day going 11 for 20 for 233 yards. His last significant action would come against Wisconsin in a non-starting role; he would go 11 for 36 for 245 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.
His time at Michigan would come to an end after the 2007 season ended. Head coach Lloyd Carr retired and Rich Rodriguez from West Virginia took over. With the offense that Rodriguez was looking to implement there would not be much use for a player like Mallett on the team. As a result, Mallet departed Michigan and decided to become a Razorback at the University of Arkansas instead.
University of Arkansas
After sitting out the 2008 season due to NCAA rules on transferring, Mallett was set to shine in 2009 and he did. His strong arm quickly became evident in the first game of the season against Missouri State. The young quarterback showed off that strength completing 17 of 22 passes for over 300 yards. The Razorbacks would lose against Georgia a couple weeks later, but Mallett would throw five touchdown passes in a 408 yard effort.
Over the course of the season Mallet’s talents would be on display in almost every game. If it was not his eye-popping yardage numbers it would be the touchdown passes or impressive completion percentages. In three losses he would throw for around 250 yards each game, but would also average three touchdowns and an interception a game. Against Eastern Michigan he would miss only two of 16 passes on the day for 248 yards and three touchdowns. Versus South Carolina he would eclipse the 300 yard mark with a completion percentage of 85%. When the Razorbacks beat Troy he had one of his lower completion percentages (77%), but would throw five touchdown passes and for more than 400 yards.
In just one season with the Razorbacks, Mallet has shown why he was one of the most highly recruited quarterbacks coming out of high school. Over the course of the season he would match or beat 16 school records. He showed his intelligence and desire to improve his game by opting to stay in college rather than enter the 2010 draft.
If his value to the team was not evident enough in his play, the College Football Performance Awards named it clear when they named him the 2009 National Performer of the Year. The recipient of the award is the one who is scientifically proven to improve his team more than any other player.
Since science says he’s the best, the only thing left is for Heisman voters to do the same.
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