Finally, a quarterback shows up in our countdown of the SEC’s 25 best players, and he might be one of the best three or four quarterbacks in the country.
No. 3: Ryan Mallett, QB, Jr., Arkansas
2009 numbers: Led the SEC with 3,624 passing yards and 30 touchdowns while throwing just seven interceptions. Completed 55.8 percent of his passes.
Most recent ranking: No. 6 on the 2009 postseason countdown.
Making the case for Mallett: Really, not much of a case needs to be made. The 6-foot-7, 238-pound Mallett is one of the most talented quarterbacks in college football and showed just how talented last season in his first tour through the SEC after transferring from Michigan. He set or tied 16 Arkansas school records and finished seventh nationally in pass efficiency (152.5). Mallett is still recovering from a broken bone in his foot that he suffered during offseason conditioning, but should be back to full strength by the time preseason practice begins next month. Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has raved about Mallett’s feel for the offense, and he should be even better in that department next season, in particular when it comes to spreading the ball around to his deep stable of playmakers. Mallett was the only player in the SEC last season to throw five or more touchdown passes in three different games. He also led the league in passes of 50 yards or more with 10. As good as he is at hitting the deep ball, he’s also extremely effective when it comes to throwing the ball on the move. One of Mallett’s goals this coming season is to improve his overall accuracy and take the shorter throws when they’re there instead of trying to force the ball down the field. He thinks his mechanics have improved and is bursting at the seams to lead the Hogs to a special season. Mallett threw 30 touchdown passes a year ago. Don’t be surprised if he makes a run at 40 in 2010.
The rundown
No. 4: Patrick Peterson, CB, Jr., LSU
No. 5: Marcell Dareus, DE, Jr., Alabama
No. 6: Julio Jones, WR, Jr., Alabama
No. 7: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Jr., Alabama
No. 8: Mike Pouncey, C/G, Sr., Florida
No. 9: Pernell McPhee, DE, Sr., Mississippi State
No. 10: Jerrell Powe, NT, Sr., Ole Miss
No. 11: Trent Richardson, RB, So., Alabama
No. 12: Stephon Gilmore, CB, So., South Carolina
No. 13: Kelvin Sheppard, LB, Sr., LSU
No. 14: Randall Cobb, WR/QB, Jr., Kentucky
No. 15: Janoris Jenkins, CB, Jr., Florida
No. 16: Mark Barron, S, Jr., Alabama
No.17: Darvin Adams, WR, Jr., Auburn
No. 18: Alshon Jeffery, WR, So., South Carolina
No. 19: D.J. Williams, TE, Sr., Arkansas
No. 20: Cliff Matthews, DE, Sr., South Carolina
No. 21: Clint Boling, OT, Sr., Georgia
No. 22: Greg Childs, WR, Jr., Arkansas
No. 23: Washaun Ealey, RB, So., Georgia
No. 24: Chris Marve, LB, Jr., Vanderbilt
No. 25: Luke Stocker, TE, Sr., Tennessee
No. 3: Ryan Mallett, QB, Jr., Arkansas
2009 numbers: Led the SEC with 3,624 passing yards and 30 touchdowns while throwing just seven interceptions. Completed 55.8 percent of his passes.
Most recent ranking: No. 6 on the 2009 postseason countdown.
Making the case for Mallett: Really, not much of a case needs to be made. The 6-foot-7, 238-pound Mallett is one of the most talented quarterbacks in college football and showed just how talented last season in his first tour through the SEC after transferring from Michigan. He set or tied 16 Arkansas school records and finished seventh nationally in pass efficiency (152.5). Mallett is still recovering from a broken bone in his foot that he suffered during offseason conditioning, but should be back to full strength by the time preseason practice begins next month. Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has raved about Mallett’s feel for the offense, and he should be even better in that department next season, in particular when it comes to spreading the ball around to his deep stable of playmakers. Mallett was the only player in the SEC last season to throw five or more touchdown passes in three different games. He also led the league in passes of 50 yards or more with 10. As good as he is at hitting the deep ball, he’s also extremely effective when it comes to throwing the ball on the move. One of Mallett’s goals this coming season is to improve his overall accuracy and take the shorter throws when they’re there instead of trying to force the ball down the field. He thinks his mechanics have improved and is bursting at the seams to lead the Hogs to a special season. Mallett threw 30 touchdown passes a year ago. Don’t be surprised if he makes a run at 40 in 2010.
The rundown
No. 4: Patrick Peterson, CB, Jr., LSU
No. 5: Marcell Dareus, DE, Jr., Alabama
No. 6: Julio Jones, WR, Jr., Alabama
No. 7: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Jr., Alabama
No. 8: Mike Pouncey, C/G, Sr., Florida
No. 9: Pernell McPhee, DE, Sr., Mississippi State
No. 10: Jerrell Powe, NT, Sr., Ole Miss
No. 11: Trent Richardson, RB, So., Alabama
No. 12: Stephon Gilmore, CB, So., South Carolina
No. 13: Kelvin Sheppard, LB, Sr., LSU
No. 14: Randall Cobb, WR/QB, Jr., Kentucky
No. 15: Janoris Jenkins, CB, Jr., Florida
No. 16: Mark Barron, S, Jr., Alabama
No.17: Darvin Adams, WR, Jr., Auburn
No. 18: Alshon Jeffery, WR, So., South Carolina
No. 19: D.J. Williams, TE, Sr., Arkansas
No. 20: Cliff Matthews, DE, Sr., South Carolina
No. 21: Clint Boling, OT, Sr., Georgia
No. 22: Greg Childs, WR, Jr., Arkansas
No. 23: Washaun Ealey, RB, So., Georgia
No. 24: Chris Marve, LB, Jr., Vanderbilt
No. 25: Luke Stocker, TE, Sr., Tennessee
- ESPN.com SEC blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2007
- Wrote for The (Nashville) Tennessean
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Chris Low
Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
Edward Aschoff
Aschoff joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending four years covering the University of Florida for The Gainesville Sun. He grew up in Oxford, Miss., before attending UF, graduating with a B.S. in journalism.
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