Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Ryan Mallett leaving Arkansas for the NFL seems like a foregone conclusion.

Some analysts project the Razorbacks’ junior quarterback as a first-round draft pick. He was on track to graduate in December and rewrote the school record book in just two seasons.

Mallett, who completed 24 of 47 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns in Tuesday’s Sugar Bowl loss to Ohio State, has said he would wait until after the season to make anything official. So it's no shock a question came up about his future at Arkansas.

It’s impossible to know exactly what Mallett meant by his answer, but it is sure to generate some parsing among fans.

“You know, it was a tough play. It’s not the way you want to end the year, obviously. And I haven’t thought about my future. This hurts as a team. We’ve been so close all year. And we’re going to continue to come back swinging and get ready to take another shot at the BCS.”

Is Mallett merely talking about the Razorback program in general when he uses the "we" term? Certainly, he can claim the program whether he’s still playing in Fayetteville or not.

Or is Mallett, who threw for 3,869 yards and 32 touchdowns with 12 interceptions, leaning toward a comeback? Perhaps when he says "get ready" to take another shot at the BCS, he’s including himself.

Hmmmmm ...