Arkansas Quarterback Ryan Mallett: Heisman Trophy Contender or Pretender?

The news earlier this year of Ryan Mallett's broken foot and missing spring football in 2010 caused a variety of reactions throughout the Arkansas Razorback Nation. Some fans were in near-panic mode, a state that unfortunately some fans of the team live in most of the time.

What if Ryan Mallett's foot is not completely healed by fall? What if Mallett is out of synch with his prized group of receivers as a result of having a few months off?

Personally, I'd much rather this mishap happen early in the year in offseason conditioning drills than during the football season.

Forget it. Ryan Mallett, like most established stars in college football at the quarterback position would have had a caution jersey on this spring anyway. Any defender hitting a Ryan Mallett in a spring practice or scrimmage would have faced the wrath of everyone but the security guards coming down on him immediately. If the security guards were awake, the poor schmuck would face their wrath as well, surely.

So how will missing spring drills affect Ryan Mallett and his bid for college football's Heisman Trophy? Probably not a bit. Now Mallett may not win the Heisman. After all, no Arkansas player has ever won college football's most coveted trophy.

When it comes to that particular piece of hardware, the Razorbacks' main claim to fame is that Darren McFadden became the first player to ever finish second in the Heisman Trophy balloting twice.

In order for Mallett to become the Hogs' first Heisman winner, the team will need to win 10 games or more in 2010, most likely. Mark Ingram of Alabama still has two years of eligibility to add another Heisman to his trophy case, so Mallett could be overshadowed in his own conference and the SEC's Western division.

I don't know if a transfer has ever won the Heisman, if not, Ryan Mallett could claim that distinction after leaving Michigan upon Rich Rodriguez' arrival. Rich Rod's spread option attack would have been a terrible fit for Mallett, who for all his throwing prowess will never be described as a running quarterback.

Mallett, born in Batesville, AR and raised in various locales in the Natural State before graduating from high school in Texarkana, TX, rewrote the Arkansas passing record book in his first year at the school.

Ryan Mallett has been spotted on the UA campus on a scooter since his mishap in offseason conditioning work and is said to be hoping to graduate to a walking cast soon.

The injury, oddly enough,might prove to be a blessing in Mallett's quest for the Heisman Trophy. He will recieve more publicity if he successfully comes back from such an injury than if he had stayed healthy in the spring. In addition to that, Mallett can focus on film study and the mental parts of the game more now that he is idled.

There is no doubt Mallett has all the physical tools to be a top draft pick in the NFL, maybe even the first pick in the 2011 NFL draft. Where Ryan needs to improve is in the mental parts of the game, such as checking down to shorter routes when receivers are covered downfield.

The layoff this spring might have the effext of making Mallett hungrier. Mallett knows the Arkansas offense quite well in his third year in Fayetteville after redshirting the 2008 season as a transfer.

A big reason Mallett returned for his fourth collegiate season is the presence of an experienced and deep offensive line. Then there is a group of receivers as good as any in college football, if not the best. Led by juniors Greg Childs, Joe Adams and Jarius Wright, this crew of pass catchers could make any quarterback look good.

If Mallett would seek out tight end D.J. Williams a bit more, an already potent offense would become downright lethal. In Bobby Petrino's quarterback friendly offense, Ryan Mallett should improve on last year's numbers of 30 touchdown passes versus 7 interceptions and 3,627 yards passing.

If Ryan Mallett is to become the first Razorback to earn the Heisman Trophy, mark the date of September 25 on your calendar. That is the date the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide visit Fayetteville with a possible audience of ESPN's Gameday crew and a definite national TV audience.

Mallett had his worst game against the Tide in 2009 at Tuscaloosa, but big number 15's statistics at home were staggering. In home games, Mallett averaged 327 yards passing a game with a total of 22 TDs and 4 interceptions. On the road, Mallett was down to 216 yards a game with an average of one touchdown pass, versus over three touchdowns a game at home.

For Ryan Mallett to win the Heisman, he must have a good game vs. 'Bama and probably lead the Hogs to victory. If that happens, his chances are as good as any player in the country.