Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Former Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett made his way around the lower level of Razorback Stadium posing for pictures and signing autographs for nearly 40 minutes during the Red-White game on April 21.

It didn’t matter if the fan was a grown man, college girl or a child Mallett took time for them. Mallett, the record-setting Razorback quarterback now a reserve with the New England Patriots, was particularly generous with the kids and even when he tried to break away from the crowd, he couldn’t. There was always one more person to pose with or sign for and Mallett did his best to oblige.

Remembering Mallett working his way around the stadium became a great starting point for an interview we did a few weeks later. Mallett, who threw for 7,493 yards and 62 touchdowns in two seasons at Arkansas, called on Monday and we chatted as he worked in shots on the golf course in New England.

Mallett enjoyed making his way to the Super Bowl with the Patriots, but wants more. He still dreams of leading a championship team as a starter, but admitted it is best for his growth that he didn't have a "Cam Newton-type year" (Newton threw for 4,051 yards and 23 touchdowns and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie).

Part of getting ready for an eventual season like that includes Mallett improving his body and continuing to study football. Mallett didn't get a full preseason last year because of the NFL lockout and thinks another year will help him make a big jump in his knowledge of the pro game.

Below is a partial transcript of our chat (I cut out the banter between shots and his thoughts on Jarius Wright, Greg Childs, Joe Adams and new teammate Jake Bequette appeared earlier this week.). Mallett's chat with ArkansasSports360.com is the only scheduled interview he did with media in the state of Arkansas and his only chat with a local print/Internet outlet.

Bahn: You still own this place, huh? Surprised you still get that response having been gone for a year? You were signing autographs for a while.

Mallett: I’m an old guy now [laughing], but I know the state of Arkansas pretty well and they always love their Razorbacks. Once you’re a Razorback, you’re always a Razorback. That’s what is great about the program. They’re always behind you.

It was about this time last year you were going through the draft process, anxious about what the future held. As you enter your second preseason as a pro, a full preseason, any fewer nerves?

I can’t wait. I’m ready to get it going again. I’m always anxious when it starts getting closer to football season. The closer we get, the more anxious I get. I’ve been in New England two weeks and I’m just working, grinding and ready to go.

What was this past year like for you? A lot of people thought New England would wind up being a great place for you to mature in life and football.

Going to the Super Bowl was a learning experience. It showed me how much work you have to put in to get there. I had one of the best guys in the world in front of me [Tom Brady] to learn from. So I’m soaking up as much as I can. When my number is called I’ll be ready. I learned a lot. I’m learning even more now. We’ve got a new offensive coordinator, but the same system. This past year was a grind. You learn to go to work every day. It’s not like college where you have class and other things to work around to get to football. It’s all football every day.