Record-setting former QB’s death stuns teammates, coaches, fans

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The details on former Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett’s drowning Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico are still a little thin, but many fans are shocked and saddened at the news.

The guy who set school passing records for the Razorbacks in just two seasons was now the head football coach at White Hall High School that was also stunned at the news from his vacation.

We are shocked and saddened by the passing of Ryan Mallett. He was a Razorback legend with larger-than-life talent and a personality to match. He led our program to some of our best moments in recent memory. He will be missed by everyone who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are… pic.twitter.com/aYlMOBkHAV

— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) June 27, 2023

His death was confirmed by the White Hall School District in a post to its website. The Okaloosa (Fla.) County Sheriff’s Office identified Mallett as the victim of an apparent drowning offshore of Destin, Fla., a popular summer destination for beachgoers.

The sheriff’s office said it was investigating the accident. First responders were called to the beach behind 775 Gulf Shore Drive around 2:12 p.m.

“A group of people in the water near the second sandbar had reportedly been struggling to make their way back to shore,” the sheriff’s office wrote. “One of the individuals, an adult male, went under and lifeguards say he was not breathing when pulled out. Lifesaving measures were immediately undertaken but the man was pronounced deceased at the Destin Emergency Room.”

The White Hall School District described Mallett as a “beloved coach and educator” in a message to its website. It concluded with, “We ask that you remember his family, team, students, fellow coaches, and the White Hall School District staff in your prayers.”

Our @RazorbackFB family lost an incredibly special person today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and teammates of Ryan Mallett. #OneRazorback pic.twitter.com/cpo3WcjMoj

— Hunter Yurachek (@HunterYurachek) June 27, 2023

Directing Bobby Petrino’s offense, Mallett directed an offense that blew up scoreboards and re-wrote the offense for the Hogs in 2009-10. For a lot of fans, it was a welcome relief after they had been jumping up and down proclaiming their superior coaching knowledge wanting more of an air attack for nearly a decade. That’s just fans.

The proof is in your final record and Mallett was 19-8 in two seasons and broke a lot of the passing records. He was the best deep passer seen for the Hogs since the days of Joe Ferguson in the early 1970’s.

I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of one of the greatest competitors I’ve had the privilege of coaching. Not only was Ryan a great leader and teammate on the field, he was a thoughtful and generous person off the field as well.

Personally, I know how much he loved being a… pic.twitter.com/qtmRiT4uPn

— Bobby Petrino (@CoachBPetrino) June 28, 2023

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He was the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2006, was ranked the No. 2 quarterback nationally in his class and played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where he was named the best player on his team.

Mallett played some as a true freshman at Michigan in 2007, but transferred to Arkansas with great fanfare following coaching changes for the Wolverines and the Razorbacks late that year.

He redshirted the 2008 season while learning coach Bobby Petrino’s offense, then mastered it as he started every game his final two seasons with the Razorbacks.

After starting his coaching career at Mountain Home, he had just completed a year at White Hall High School, just north of Pine Bluff, which also lost a key player just over a month ago. His offensive coordinator was former Razorback teammate Jarius Wright, who also was shocked at the news.

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— Jarius Wright (@Jay_wright4) June 27, 2023

No more details are available at this time, but will be passed on as they become available here, social media and ESPN Arkansas programming.