Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Expect the quarterback competition at Arkansas to be ongoing.

Coach Bobby Petrino again stressed that he will continually evaluate sophomore Ryan Mallett and redshirt freshman Tyler Wilson. Both are getting first-team snaps this fall and with a little less than a month to go until the season opener, Petrino said he doesn't expect that to change anytime soon.

"Everyday is an evaluation," Petrino said at Arkansas media day on Saturday.

Asked specifically about Mallett, the strong-armed Michigan transfer, Petrino didn't hold back. He wants to see Mallett perform much better in order to hold down the starting job.

"It's a ‘show me' world. He needs to prove it," Petrino said. " He needs to go out there and play well."

Petrino named Mallett as the starter coming out of spring practice. The caveat was that Wilson would start the first series of the second quarter in every game.

Both quarterbacks have struggled in the opening days. Mallet has been noticeably inconsistent as he works to correct footwork problems and attempts to take some velocity off his passes.

Mallett, who has been selected as a team captain, understands he has room for improvement. Competition isn't a bad thing, though.

"It's only going to make us better," Mallett said. "We're competing every day and that can do nothing but help the team."

Whoever is selected as the starter, Petrino has a lofty goal for them. Petrino would like to see his quarterbacks challenge former Razorback quarterback Kevin Scanlon's 66.2 completion percentage. Scanlon set the record during the 1979 season.

EARNING RESPECT Being chosen as a team captain is an honor few players get to experience. It's even more rare for somebody to earn that recognition twice, something senior defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard has done.

Shepard was chosen for a second time as team captain after serving last year. It is believed he is the first two-time team captain at Arkansas since Frank Broyles began his coaching career in 1958.

"It's very humbling," Sheppard said. "I've just tried to go out and work as hard as I possibly can to make myself and my team better. I appreciate my teammates selecting me."