HOOVER, Ala. &ndash All eyes in Fayetteville, Ark., are on sophomore signal caller Ryan Mallett.
The Michigan transfer redshirted last year and will now take the reins of Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino's pass-happy offense.
"One thing Ryan can really do is throw the deep ball," Petrino said. "If we can run the ball better and run the ball more consistently, it should open up our deep passing game and our ability to get the ball down the field."
Mallett threw for 892 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games as a true freshman for the Wolverines during the 2007-08 season. He played sparingly as a backup to starter Chad Henne but threw for three touchdowns against Notre Dame in his first career start.
"He's got one of the strongest arms I've ever seen," tight end D.J. Williams said. "In practice, I've got to bring a couple pairs of extra gloves because he tears the gripping off with his passes."
Arkansas went 5-7 last year in Petrino's first season at the helm, and quarterback Casey Dick threw more interceptions (14) than touchdowns (13).
Now the Hogs are hoping that Mallett, a quarterback tailor-made for Petrino's pro-style offense, can right the ship.
"He's just as accurate as he is powerful, and he's going to be a great quarterback to watch next year," Williams said.
At 6-foot-7, Mallett towers over the line of scrimmage. But at 265 pounds, his mobility in the pocket was limited last year.
The sophomore has shed close to 30 pounds since his arrival in Fayetteville, and Petrino is confident that a more mobile Mallett is the key to running his system effectively.
"In this league, with the defensive ends we face, the speed and athleticism of the defensive fronts, it's important that you change the launch point, and you can set your quarterback at different spots, take some pressure off the offensive line and running backs," Petrino said.
Mallett left Michigan when the Wolverines hired Rich Rodriguez, who brought his spread offense from West Virginia in 2008.
"Ryan had always had a want and a love to go to the University of Arkansas. He has a lot of relatives in the state. So when he decided to transfer from Michigan, he says that the first phone call he made was to us," Petrino said.
Mallett threw for 3,353 yards and 33 touchdowns as a senior at Texas High School and was the Texas Class 4-A offensive player of the year.
