Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

7/22/2010 at 3:14pm

University of Arkansas officials do not expect an inquiry from the NCAA regarding any of its football players having contact with agents.

Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia are among the teams being investigated for players believed to have had improper contact with agents. Razorback Coach Bobby Petrino and athletic director Jeff Long said that, to their knowledge, the school was not being scrutinized by the NCAA.

“We have not had any inquiries or incidents, knock on wood,” Petrino said.

Arkansas has taken proactive steps in educating players about agents and what is and isn’t allowed. The school – on the recommendation of the SEC and UA compliance director Jon Fagg — brought in Joe Mendes, a longtime NFL scout and executive and now a sports consultant, to meet with players and guide them through the process of selecting an agent. Mendes has met with players twice this summer.

Mallett said he’s been contacted by agents but has tried to avoid it whenever possible. He has a simple philosophy for avoiding the conversation about representation with people he doesn’t know.

“Of course I’ve gotten calls,” Mallett said. “It’s my policy not to answer numbers I don’t recognize.”

Keeping players shielded from agents and their runners is a daily concern, Petrino said. It’s important to take a proactive approach, rather than act like the issue doesn’t exist.

“Let’s try to educate our players on what an agent [is],” Petrino said. “What does he do for you? How do you go through the selection process? … It’s up to us to help them with it.”

Tagged: Jake Bequette, D.J. Williams, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, Agents, Bobby Petrino, Ryan Mallett, SEC Media Days, Arkansas Razorbacks