FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Ryan Mallett took a close look at the NFL last year before deciding to return to Arkansas.
The Razorbacks junior liked what he saw this time around, declaring for the NFL draft Thursday night.
Mallett, who led the Razorbacks to their first BCS bowl game this season, leaves the school after two seasons as the starting quarterback. He led the Southeastern Conference in passing, throwing for 3,592 yards and 30 touchdowns. He added to that in Arkansas’ 31-26 loss to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl, throwing for 277 yards and two touchdowns.
“A year ago, when I returned to school, I said I wanted to help lead this team to a place among the nation’s elite and for the Razorback community to have a mind-set to expect greatness,” Mallett said. “There is no doubt we got there together and this program will continue to play games on the biggest stages and when it does we’ll come out swinging.”
• Alabama scheduled a news conference for today amid reports defensive end Marcell Dareus, the MVP of the BCS championship game last year, is heading to the NFL.
• Defensive end J.J. Watt said he will leave Wisconsin early to enter the NFL draft.
• Virginia Tech running back Darren Evans, who missed all of his sophomore season while rehabbing from knee surgery, isn’t taking the chance that it could happen again and declared for the draft.
• All-America receiver Ryan Broyles, who set school records this season with 131 receptions for 1,622 yards, is returning to Oklahoma for his senior season, saying he believes he can get himself “better prepared for the NFL.”
LeGrand making progress
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Injured Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand has movement in his shoulders and sensation throughout his body.
Rutgers announced the improvement in LeGrand’s condition, citing an interview the player had recently with ESPN.
LeGrand, 20, was hurt Oct. 16, making a tackle on a kickoff return against Army.
LeGrand tried to give the crowd a thumbs-up signal when he was taken off the field. But he couldn’t because it felt like “1,000 pounds was on this thumb,” he said in the interview.
Footnotes.
The inaugural Pac-12 football championship game is heading to Fox in a one-year deal valued at $25 million — $14.5 million for the title game and $10.5 million for additional games that comes with the conference’s expansion.
• North Carolina safety Deunta Williams had surgery to repair his broken right leg.
