Next No. 1? Try Texas High QB
No favorites yet, but Mallett may pick college before season
11:15 AM CST on Thursday, February 2, 2006
By TODD WILLS / The Dallas Morning News
Ryan Mallett, the next big thing among Texas high school quarterbacks, might be the most self-effacing person in Texarkana.
Seriously.
Take his assessment when asked to compare himself and Highland Park's Matthew Stafford, this year's top-ranked quarterback in Texas and the nation. Stafford and Highland Park beat Mallett and his Texas High team in the first round of the Class 4A Division I playoffs last fall.
"He can run a little bit," Mallett said. "I can't run at all."
Mallett, a 6-6 ½, 235-pound junior, plays basketball and football. Does he picture himself as a two-sport athlete?
"Just football," he said. "I don't think I could play basketball in college."
He was 6-3 in the eighth grade. Was he coordinated?
"Probably not," Mallett said. "I used to be clumsy."
Now for the honest truth: Mallett is one of the top juniors in the country. He is one of the top two quarterbacks in the class of 2007, according to Rivals.com.
"He's probably got the strongest arm in the history of Texas high school football," said Bobby Burton, Rivals.com recruiting expert.
Texas High coach Barry Norton said, "His size and his arm strength stand out. He has a cannon for an arm. The deeper people dig, they realize he is a student of the game."
Mallett said he already has received between eight to 10 scholarship offers, including ones from Texas, Baylor, Nebraska and Oklahoma State. He has taken visits to Texas, Arkansas, Nebraska and Michigan. He says he doesn't have any favorites at this point. He'd like to make a decision before the 2006 season.
"It would be better to get it done so I can play my senior season with it behind me," Mallett said.
Mallett calls himself a country city slicker who grew up near Fayetteville, Ark. And yes, he was a Razorbacks fan. But he said that Arkansas is not his favorite team now. In fact, he doesn't know who it is.
He moved to Hooks, Texas – the hometown of Billy Sims – in the seventh grade. His family moved to Texarkana in the eighth grade. His father, Jim, is a middle school coach in Texarkana.
Mallett started for Texas High as a sophomore, guiding his team to the state quarterfinals. He was even better as a junior, throwing for 2,219 yards and 21 touchdowns. He said his improvement was noticeable running Texas High's pro-style offense.
"Just my knowledge of the offense," Mallett said. "Knowing where people are going to be, I can help them out. And my reads have gotten a lot better since sophomore year."
Mallett is considered a gunslinger. He likes to emulate Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre because, he said, "he's a competitor and never lets anyone intimidate him."
When asked how far he can throw a football, Mallett said only, "a long way."
In Mallett's honest opinion, there is more to him than that.
"It's probably what people see first," Mallett said. "But if they run the tape back two or three times, they'll see that I'm doing everything else right."
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RIVALS.COM STATE TOP 50 FOR 2007
Player Ht. Wt. High School Status
QUARTERBACKS
Nathan [deleted] 6-3 194 Allen Arkansas, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Nick Fanuzzi 6-3 200 San Antonio Churchill Iowa, LSU, Nebraska, Texas, Texas A&M
G.J. Kinne 6-3 195 Canton Alabama, Nebraska, Baylor, Tennessee, Texas A&M
Jaret Lee 6-2 200 Brenham Florida, Texas Tech, LSU, Texas, Texas A&M, TCU
Ryan Mallett 6-6 230 Texarkana Texas High Texas, Michigan, Nebraska, Baylor
Brock Mansion 6-5 225 Episcopal Dallas Nebraska, California, Texas, Texas Tech
Gilbert Moye 6-2 200 Jasper Houston, Oklahoma, Okla. St., Texas, Texas A&M
Logan Turner 6-1 185 Sulphur Springs Texas Tech
RUNNING BACKS
Lennon Creer 6-1 190 Tatum Texas A&M, Texas, Texas Tech, LSU, Baylor
Kendall Hunter 5-9 175 John Tyler Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Colton Johnson 5-10 225 Waller Texas A&M, Colorado, Iowa State, Missouri, Texas
Eli Lemon 5-10 175 Houston Yates Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, LSU
Marcus Mendoza 5-10 175 Spring Woods Kansas St., Oklahoma, State, Texas A&M
Joseph Reese 6-2 190 Pflugerville Hendrickson Arizona, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Texas
Bradley Stephens 5-10 180 McAllen Memorial Houston, Iowa State, Oklahoma State
Justin Sturns 5-11 205 Rusk Kansas St., Neb., Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Foswhitt Whittaker 5-9 170 Pearland Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, Texas
Johnny Wooten 6-0 205 Garland Texas Tech, Arkansas, Nebraska, Southern Cal
WIDE RECEIVERS
Romie Blaylock 5-11 175 Cedar Hill Houston, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Baylor
Curtis Brown 6-0 175 Gilmer Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Dez Bryant 6-1 195 Lufkin Texas Tech, FSU, Kansas St., Oklahoma, Texas
Terrance Toliver 6-5 180 Hempstead LSU, Notre Dame, Texas, Texas A&M
Malcolm Williams 6-3 205 Garland Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Texas
TIGHT END
Dante Pinchback 6-5 255 Irving Iowa, Notre Dame, Texas
OFFENSIVE GUARD
Jerrod Gooch 6-4 284 Vidor Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Trey Allen 6-4 285 South Grand Prairie Texas A&M, Kansas State, Oklahoma
Ben Bass 6-5 265 Plano West Florida, Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
Marquis Franklin 6-5 315 John Tyler Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State
Kyle Hix 6-6 290 Aledo Texas, Texas Tech, TCU
Matt Nader 6-6 295 Austin Westlake LSU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Duke
DEFENSIVE END
Marquis Frazier 6-3 240 Garland Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
Adrian Campbell 6-5 241 Richardson Berkner Baylor, Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, LSU
Patrick Dorsey 6-2 265 Houston Yates Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M
Andre Jones 6-4 305 El Paso Andress Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Texas, Miami
Stephen Thomas 6-2 275 Lancaster Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma
LINEBACKERS
Richetti Jones 6-3 220 Lincoln Texas, A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Texas
Keenan Robinson 6-3 215 Plano East Texas, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Notre Dame
Chris Sanders 6-0 200 Corsicana Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor
Kenny Sims 6-1 205 Arlington Seguin Baylor, BC, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Derrick Stephens 6-3 220 Cypress Falls Houston, LSU, Notre Dame, Texas A&M
CORNERBACK
Derrius Bell 5-11 170 Arlington Grace Prep Baylor, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Tekerrian Cuba 6-2 180 Tyler Lee Miami, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M
T.J. Johnson 6-1 180 South Garland Kansas State, Texas A&M
Larry Rosebud 5-10 170 North Mesquite Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Curtis Thomas 6-1 190 Aldine Nebraska, LSU, Fla., Colorado, Oklahoma St.
ATHLETES
John Chiles 6-2 190 Mansfield Summit Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas A&M
Justin Johnson 6-1 208 Rich. Berkner Baylor, Kansas, Texas A&M
Sam Proctor 6-1 190 Pearland KSU, Michigan, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Christian Scott 6-0 185 Skyline FSU, Arkansas, Boston College, Colorado
Earl Thomas 5-10 175 West Orange Stark Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
RIVALS.COM AREA TOP 50 FOR 2007
Player Ht. Wt. High School
QUARTERBACKS
Nathan [deleted] 6-3 194 Allen
Brock Mansion 6-5 225 Episcopal Dallas
RUNNING BACKS
Shaka Harris 6-1 195 Carrollton Ranchview
Michael Hicks 5-8 185 Carter
Keith Hodge 5-10 185 Lincoln
Shawnbrey McNeal 5-10 185 Madison
Charles Opeseyitan 5-10 185 Allen
Johnny Wooten 6-0 205 Garland
WIDE RECEIVERS
Hubert Anyiam 6-1 175 North Garland
Romie Blaylock 5-11 175 Cedar Hill
Ron Brooks 5-10 170 Irving MacArthur
Anthony Ford 5-10 185 Southlake Carroll
Jason Martinson 6-1 185 Birdville
Chris Tuck 6-6 200 Hillcrest
Garrick Williams 6-3 200 DeSoto
Malcolm Williams 6-3 205 Garland
TIGHT END
Dante Pinchback 6-5 255 Irving
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Trey Allen 6-4 285 South Grand Prairie
Ben Bass 6-5 265 Plano West
Josh LeRibeus 6-4 315 Richardson Berkner
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
John Jones 6-5 280 Cedar Hill
CENTER
Jeremiah Hatch 6-3 250 Carter
DEFENSIVE ENDS
Jerry Ayisire 6-5 255 Arlington Lamar
Marquis Frazier 6-3 240 Garland
Kyle Russo 6-3 240 Southlake Carroll
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
Adrian Campbell 6-5 241 Richardson Berkner
Darrell Davis 6-4 330 Hebron
Anthony Morgan 6-4 315 Lancaster
Stephen Thomas 6-2 275 Lancaster
LINEBACKERS
Jack Hlavaty 6-4 225 Woodrow Wilson
Alvin Jordan 6-3 230 Greenhill
Richetti Jones 6-3 220 Lincoln
Jermaine Love 6-0 200 North Garland
Keenan Robinson 6-3 215 Plano East
Chris Sanders 6-0 200 Corsicana
Kenny Sims 6-1 205 Arlington Seguin
Mychal Sission 6-0 205 Duncanville
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Brett Harris 5-11 180 Irving MacArthur
Matt Howe 6-3 200 Colleyville Heritage
T.J. Johnson 6-1 180 South Garland
Larry Rosebud 5-10 170 North Mesquite
Ryan Tennison 5-11 185 Kimball
CORNERBACKS
Derrius Bell 5-11 170 Arlington Grace Prep
Arius Ford 5-10 185 Southlake Carroll
Greg McCoy 5-11 175 Woodrow Wilson
FREE SAFETY
Eddie Morgan 6-0 175 McKinney
ATHLETES
John Chiles 6-2 190 Mansfield Summit
William Cole 5-10 165 Cedar Hill
Justin Johnson 6-1 208 Richardson Berkner
Christian Scott 6-0 185 Skyline
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