FAYETTEVILLE — Let the hype begin. Ryan Mallett is coming back for another season.
The strong-armed, record-setting quarterback turned down the opportunity to declare early for the NFL Draft, and opted to return for a shot at an SEC championship and perhaps more in 2010 at Arkansas.
"When I was younger, I wanted to play for the Razorbacks and knowing we've got a chance to win championships here, that was a big deciding factor," Mallett said Friday during a press conference announcing his decision. "... We're excited. We're trying to win championships. We don't want to win just eight games, nine games. We want to win 10, 11, 12, go to Atlanta and go to wherever the national championship is."
Mallett said he had his mind set on returning to Arkansas the night of the Razorbacks' Liberty Bowl victory on Jan. 2, but needed a couple of days to clear his mind.
He got away from the media circus following his every move in Memphis and Fayetteville, and even left his parents in Texarkana, Texas in the dark. He found a nice spot to relax and called his get-a-way destination a "secret spot" that was "definitely not in Arkansas."
"You won't get away from anything here," he said.
Having made up his mind relatively quickly, Mallett phoned Coach Bobby Petrino to alert him of his decision. A report circulating that Mallett had decided to enter the NFL Draft, however, had reached the coach at that time and uncertainty was surrounding the Razorbacks.
Petrino didn't answer his phone. Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee, who also coaches quarterbacks, called Mallett that same night.
"I called him in his secret hiding place, wherever he went to clear his head," McGee said. "And he said, 'No, I'm coming back. You know I'm coming back.'"
Mallett's decision and press conference announcing his intention to return for his junior year was a taste test of what the quarterback may face next season.
Mallett set or tied 16 school records in his first year as Arkansas' starting quarterback and turned heads along the way. He threw for 3,624 yards and 30 touchdowns with 7 interceptions in leading Arkansas to an 8-5 record and win in the Liberty Bowl. He was a second-team selection on the All-SEC teams picked by the media and league's coaches.
His announcement to return made national headlines. ESPN planned to interview Mallett on television and radio later in the afternoon, and ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach ranked Arkansas 16th nationally in his early pre-season rankings after Mallett's decision to return.
The hype entering next season is sure to escalate in the off-season.
"I'm just ready to get through the off-season, summer conditioning and fall training and get ready for the season," Mallett said. "... It's a journey we started at the Liberty Bowl. We're 1-0 in 2010 and we've got 13 to 14 more (games) left."
And with 17 starters returning, Mallett said he's ready for the hype and a special junior season at Arkansas.
"... I'm not going to say we're going to the SEC Championship game," Mallett said. "That wouldn't be fair to my team. We're looking to make a big stride from this past year to next year, I'll put it that way. And we're excited about it."
WholeHogSports.com will update this story, and post video and photos.