Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

7/15/2010 at 3:22pm

For a man whose arm got him famous, Ryan Mallett is still answering a lot of questions about his injured foot. 

The Arkansas quarterback's teleconference Thursday afternoon with University of Arkansas associate athletic director for media relations Kevin Trainor attracted more than 30 reporters from 10 states, including Michigan, New York and Oregon, and many were curious about his recovery. In fact, despite preseason awards hype, the condition of Mallett’s foot was the main topic of conversation, especially after Mallett decided against attending the Manning Passing Academy.

In answering questions about why he failed to attend the camp as a counselor, Mallett was quick to shrug off concerns.

“I wanted to go really bad,” Mallett said. “When it came down to it, I felt it was in my best interest to stay here and focus on my studies.”

Academics have been a priority for Mallett, and he said he plans to graduate in December. "I promised my mom I would graduate," Mallett said. “That’s a very important thing to our family.”

But what’s important to Razorback fans is Mallett’s ability to lead the team in the fall. Concerns about his rehab schedule were answered when he discussed the removal and reinsertion of the pin into his foot.

“I’m right on schedule with the rehab, and I’m really just looking forward to getting out there, that’s the main thing," he said. "We knew from the beginning that we might have to do it, and we decided to go ahead and do it just to be safe.”

Asked if he was “off the scooter and out of the boot”, Mallett only replied, “I’m off the scooter, yes,” leaving his status in the boot a mystery. Mallett has been training with the team and “doing everything the [other Razorback players] are doing except running.”

To make up for the lack of leg exercise, Mallett has taken up swimming.

“I feel like I could try out for the Olympics right now,” Mallett said with a chuckle. “It’s definitely not easy. I’ve gained a whole new respect for swimmers. I’m used to just kicking around in the pool. Really, it’s kept me in great condition since I haven’t been able to run. I’ve been running in the pool and swimming … so when the time comes [to run] there really won’t be a drop-off.”

So when can he run?

“It’ll be soon,” Mallett said. “Everybody’s worried. We laugh at everybody because they don’t think we’re gonna be ready, but we’re gonna be ready.”

Mallett’s nondescript answers about timelines for recovery raise concern, but he sounded confident in his ability to recover. And just like all sport analysts and fans tend to do, concerns of the future and the question of Mallett re-injuring his foot came into play.

“No doubt, I’m gonna play the game of football like I’m supposed to play it,” Mallett confidently said. “No holds barred, no fear. I’m not even gonna worry about it; it’s not a concern of mine. I’m gonna give it everything I’ve got to help this team be successful.”

More From Mallett

Also Thursday, Mallett talked to reporters about playing his character on the new NCAA Football 2001 video game from EA Sports.

Tagged: Kevin Trainor, NCAA Football 2011, Ryan Mallett, Arkansas Razorbacks, football, SEC