Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

5/19/2010 at 10:43pm

Time away from football has rarely meant time away from sports in general for Ryan Mallett. When not playing or preparing for the season, the Arkansas quarterback typically likes to pass his time with some other athletic pursuit.

This is not a typical year for Mallett, though.

Mallett has too much riding on this season, so he's changed his approach. Usual downtime activities such as golf and pick-up basketball have been off limits as Mallett works to heal his broken foot in time for summer workouts.

"I'm not going to take any chances," Mallett said in an interview with ArkansasSports360.com on Wednesday.

Mallett's approach has helped him remain "on schedule" while rehabbing his foot before his junior season. He said he expects to be cleared for running and throwing without a boot by June. Mallett is throwing some now, but not taking drops, in order to keep his arm sharp while not putting too much pressure on his foot.

Arkansas is expected to improve on last year's 8-5 finish with 19 starters returning. Razorback players are talking about competing for a SEC title. Mallett is chief among the reasons for optimism, so fully healing is crucial.

A cautious approach is also good for Mallett for another reason: He's being projected as one of the top quarterback prospects for next year's NFL Draft. Mallett said he isn't preoccupied with the NFL talk, though getting drafted is something he's viewed as a goal since junior high.

Mallett and his family are in the process of taking additional steps to protect him. He said he has filed paperwork with the NCAA in hopes of securing an insurance policy in case of serious injury.

The NCAA provides insurance through its "Exceptional Student-Athlete Disability Insurance Program." Athletes "who have demonstrated they have professional potential to be selected in the first three rounds of the upcoming" NFL, NHL, NBA MLB or WNBA drafts are eligible, according to the NCAA official website. An NCAA administrator is in charge of determining how much coverage a particular athlete is eligible to receive.

Mallett would likely be eligible for coverage. He is widely regarded as one of the top three quarterbacks in the country.

"We sent it in to the NCAA," Mallett said. "I actually need to check back and see what they said."

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, the top pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, was insured for between $5 million and $10 million, according to reports. Bradford secured his insurance policy through an independent company, a move that has become increasingly common among top professional prospects.

Even Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, no lock to be a first-round pick at the time, took out an insurance policy before his senior season.

Injury isn't something Mallett fears, he said, but he does want to be prepared. And he has a history of injuries away from the field.

Mallett, who passed for 3,422 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2009 and led the conference in total offense and passing yards, has dealt with an array of injuries since arriving on campus in January 2008.  Mallett most recently broke the small toe on his left foot during conditioning drills. He had a screw inserted on Feb. 18 after a stress-related fracture, shortly after being cleared to throw following shoulder surgery.

Arkansas players begin summer workouts on Monday. They'll have a team meeting and begin an assortment of summer activities and player-led 7-on-7 in the coming weeks. Mallett is anxious to begin after missing the spring.

"It was tough, real tough, going through spring and not being out there in the pads with the guys," Mallett said. "I really missed it."