Source: Mallett enrolled at Arkansas
Former five-star quarterback Ryan Mallett has left Michigan and is taking classes at the University of Arkansas today making his transfer official, according to sources close to the situation.
Mallett will redshirt during the 2008 season and then have three years of eligibility remaining. For Mallett, the decision to transfer to Arkansas means he has come almost full circle since high school.
Mallett grew up following the Razorbacks and attended football camps at Arkansas five years in-a-row. When Arkansas signed Mitch Mustain, also a former five-star quarterback in the class ahead of him, Mallett grew apart from Arkansas signing with the Wolverines over Nebraska, Texas, Alabama, Florida State and the Razorbacks. Mustain has since transferred to USC, and Arkansas will have a vacancy at quarterback when Mallett is eligible in 2009.
As a senior at Texas High School in Texarkana (Texas), Mallett passed for 3,353 yards and 31 touchdowns. Rivals rated him the No. 4 player in the Class of 2007, the No. 2 pro-style quarterback and No. 1 player in Texas.
Mallett played as a true freshman at Michigan this season when starter Chad Henne was injured. In 11 games, Mallett completed 61 of 141 passes for 892 yards and 7 touchdowns with 5 interceptions.
Rumors of Mallett transferring to Arkansas started almost as soon as he arrived on the Michigan campus. However, once former Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr retired and Rich Rodriguez was hired from West Virginia, it became obvious that the rumors of Mallett leaving Michigan would turn into facts. Rodriguez runs a spread offense based on a mobile quarterback, and Mallett is a pocket passer.
In addition to Arkansas, Mallett reportedly considered UCLA, Tennessee and Texas A&M before choosing Arkansas. Mallett arrived in Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday and spent much of Friday on an unofficial visit to Arkansas.