Mallett’s outing against Vandy shows little sign of injury

By Robbie Neiswanger

Arkansas News Bureau

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas receiver Jarius Wright said quarterback Ryan Mallett’s health could be summed rather simply after the Razorbacks 49-14 win against Vanderbilt.

All anyone had to do was glance at the stat sheet and notice Mallett’s line — 27 of 44 for 409 yards and 3 touchdowns.

“It didn’t look like he had no bruised shoulder to me,” Wright said. “It was just another day, really.”

Wright had a very good point. After being knocked out of two straight games because of injuries, Mallett bounced back in a big way against the Commodores. His 409 passing yards set the school’s single-game record, breaking the 408 he put up in the loss to Georgia in 2009. The 44 attempts also was a career high.

Mallett moved into second place on the school’s career passing chart in the process. He now has 6,073 yards, passing a trio of Razorbacks — Barry Lunney Jr. (5,782), Casey Dick (5,856) and Matt Jones (5,857) — with his performance Saturday night.

Not bad, considering Mallett had been limited to 39 passes and 292 yards the past two games because of a concussion and bruised shoulder. But Mallett said last Tuesday he was “100 percent” and lived up to the billing in Arkansas’ blowout win.

“It’s good to see him come back and have a good game after struggling last weekend emotionally,” Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said. “He just had a good week. He was prepared to play. His spirit was back. His smile was back.”

It took Mallett and the Arkansas offense a series to get going, but the quarterback guided the Razorbacks into the end zone on a 78-yard drive. The big play came on third-and-2, when Mallett faked a hand-off and hit tight end Chris Gragg for a 34-yard gain. He threw a touchdown to D.J. Williams two plays later.

Arkansas scored touchdowns on its next two possessions, had four in the first half and a season-high 32 points at the break.

“We wanted to come out and have a great game and perform really good,” Mallett said. “We were uptight at first, but after that first series, we settled in. They basically did what we thought they were going to do and we just played pitch and catch.”

But Mallett’s role was a little more involved than that.

In fact, Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino credited Mallett for the way he operated the offense. The Razorbacks played without second-leading receiver Jarius Wright, but Mallett still spread the ball around to eight different receivers Saturday.

“I thought he was really focused and really worked hard at executing,” Petrino said. “His progressions, reading the defenses, taking what was there and mixing the ball around. 

“We had a whole bunch of guys catch passes.”

Mallett now has four 400-yard passing performances in his 21 games with the Razorbacks. The feat is even more impressive considering no Arkansas quarterback has thrown for 400 yards.

Mallett also remained No. 1 in the Southeastern Conference in passing yards a game (306.1) and is second in touchdown passes (18). He ranks fourth in the NCAA in passing yards a game and is seventh in the nation in passing efficiency (163.37 rating).

He’ll get another test when the Razorbacks play at No. 18 South Carolina on Saturday. But Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said his defense, which is last in the SEC against the pass (259.9 yards a game), will have its hands full with a healthy Mallett.

“We’ve got to get a guy in his face,” Spurrier said Sunday. “We have pretty good pass-rushers. To have any chance, you’ve got to pressure the quarterback. He may have a field day if we don’t improve and get some pressure on him this week.”

Mallett, who also moved him past Dick into third on the career touchdown passes list (48), didn’t mind his early exit Saturday. 

Turning the game over to backup Tyler Wilson with the game in hand was much better than leaving with injuries, he said.

Afterward, Mallett was asked if he thought the performance answered any lingering questions remaining about his health.

“I hope so,” Mallett said, flashing a wide smile. “I hope there’s no more questions about it.”