Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — As some of his Arkansas teammates casually walked onto the practice field Thursday, quarterback Ryan Mallett jogged past them onto the turf.

Was he that ready for the first practice of 2010? Was he simply trying to show off his boot-free left foot?

Perhaps it was a little of both.

"Oh man, I was ready to get out there," Mallett said. "I didn't want to wait any longer. I was excited. What's it been, eight months?"

Mallett, who underwent two offseason surgeries, returned to the practice field for the first time since preparation for the Liberty Bowl in January. Questions about Mallett's availability lingered during the summer, but he maintained throughout the rehabilitation process — even after a seemingly unexpected second surgery to replace a screw — that he would be ready.

After a summer of swimming to condition and wearing a boot as a precaution, Mallett was anxious to get back onto the field. He said he was pleased with his return for the most part.

“It feels great,” Mallett said. “It’s been a while. I was a little rusty, but it’s a process in fall camp anyway.”

Mallett, who threw for 3,624 yards with 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions last year, admitted to some soreness in his legs after practice. He was quick to clarify the issue was with his “muscles. Not my bones.”

Coach Bobby Petrino liked what he saw from Mallett. While the all-Southeastern Conference quarterback maintained he was rusty, Petrino didn’t seem bothered by what he saw from the strong-armed junior quarterback.

“I thought he did good,” Petrino said. “I thought he was on balance. His timing was pretty good. He made good throws for the most part. It was great to have his leadership back out there. It was a good start.”

For teammates, it felt like little had changed. Mallett and his targets seemed to have no timing issues and other than a ball that was tipped to safety Tramain Thomas for an interception, Mallett seemed to be in rhythm.

“It was the same old Mallett to me,” receiver Greg Childs said. “He’d been throwing some with us this summer. It didn’t take him long to get into it and it didn’t look like he’d been hurt.”