Arkansas’ Mallett headlines another stacked SEC talent pool

Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett could be the league's Player of the Year in Bobby Petrino's high-powered offense. (Icon SMI)

By Matt Lowe, Lindyssports.com

When the dust settled on the 2010 SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala., it became very apparent that the league is stronger than ever.

Yes, rogue agents and/or “pimps” for that matter were the topic of conversation on an hourly basis, but the sheer talent walking around the Wynfrey Hotel was off the charts.

Seriously, how many other conferences can say they hosted the Heisman Trophy winner (Alabama’s Mark Ingram), three of the past four national championship coaches (Florida's Urban Meyer, LSU's Les Miles, Alabama's Nick Saban), the potential No. 1 pick in next April’s NFL Draft (Arkansas' Ryan Mallett) and arguably the nation’s top corner (LSU’s Patrick Peterson), receiver (Georgia’s A.J. Green) and center (Florida’s Mike Pouncey) all in one place over a three day span?

None. That’s right. Nada, zilch.

And if sheer talent alone doesn’t prove that the SEC is a giant amongst its peers, then the number of players drafted into the NFL over the last 20 years does.

Since 1990, the SEC has had 782 players selected in the NFL Draft. The next closest conference is the Big Ten with 672 selections. Just last year, the conference produced 49 draft picks — the most ever in league history. And that could be topped this year with players like the afore mentioned balling for their respective teams on a weekly basis.

When looking at the future pros at this year’s Media Days, none stuck out more than the 6-7, 238-pound Mallett.

In addition to the junior QB being one of college football’s brightest stars, he also has the look of a big-time NBA small forward. Tall — I mean very tall — and lanky, Mallett uses his tremendous size to his advantage. Not only does it sometimes allow him to elude would-be tacklers in the pocket, but it also enables him to sling a football about as far as anyone in the college game. Perhaps that’s why he is considered the league’s top signal-caller heading into fall camp, which he didn’t necessarily agree with at Media Days.

“You know, I don’t think you can name a best quarterback in the SEC until the season’s over,” said Mallett, who was selected as the All-SEC first team quarterback by both the league’s coaches and media. “I had an okay year last year. The expectations of me are high. They’re even higher for myself. That’s just how I was brought up. That’s how I am. But I don’t think that’s a fair assumption.

“I think you have to wait until after the season for y’all to decide that.”

While Mallett’s modest approach serves him well in the media world, it’s his golden right arm that holds the key to Arkansas’ success in 2010. Following surgery on his foot this offseason, Mallett began swimming and jogging to ensure a healthy return to the Razorbacks on Aug. 5, the first day the Hogs go in full pads.

“I’m right on schedule,” said Mallett. “I can jog a little bit. Obviously, I’m doing my pool work (five days a week) still for conditioning. I’m not conditioning running yet, but the first day of camp I’ll be out there with cleats on, pads on.”

After spurning a chance to jump to the NFL a year ago, Mallett returns as one of the league’s top dogs. And while guys like Ingram, Peterson and Green received a lot of the headlines a year ago, don’t be surprised to see Mallett as the league’s poster boy this year.

Mallett’s rare ability to throw the deep ball, combined with the offensive coaching prowess of head coach Bobby Petrino, might be the right mix to push the Razorbacks into the upper tier of the conference this season. Yes, Arkansas needs to improve on defense for that to happen, but any time a team has a player of his caliber at the QB spot, it has the capability to win a lot of games.

“He (Mallett) is a young man that’s a tremendous leader for us; has amazing talent,” Petrino said. “Every Saturday when you watch video of the game, he makes two or three throws that make you say, ‘Wow, nobody else might be able to make that throw in America.’”