FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett was one of five Razorbacks to undergo surgery since the season’s end, Coach Bobby Petrino said Saturday.
Mallett underwent a tightening procedure on his left shoulder, which is his nonthrowing shoulder.
Pe t r i n o said Mallett originally suffered the injury last spring, and that it didn’taffect his throwing.
“The only time it really affected him was handing the ball off with his left hand, there was some pain there,” Petrino said.
Other Arkansas players who had work done by surgeons were fullback Van Stumon (shoulder), tight end Chris Gragg (pin removal) and offensive linemen DeMarcus Love (knee) and Grant Cook (knee). Petrino said none of the surgeries was considered major, though Stumon will not likely be cleared for contact work in the spring.
Petrino met with the media for the first time since replacing three assistant coaches for his third season at Arkansas. Defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell and receivers coach Kris Cinkovich have been oncampus more than a week, while new offensive line coach Chris Klenakis arrived in Fayetteville on Friday.
“I’m very honored, very proud to be a Razorback right now,” said Klenakis, who worked with Petrino at Nevada in 1994 and, like Petrino, graduated from Carroll (Mont.) College.
Petrino said he passed up a chance to hire his best friend - though he didn’t name him - in refilling his staff.
“I guess it’s an indication we’re doing a good job where I was at and our offensive lines were productive,” Klenakis said.
Petrino said there were elements of the Pistol offense, a formation where a single back lines up behind the quarterback who is not under center, which Klenakis ran at Nevada that can be blended into the Arkansas attack.
The wide-ranging interview for Petrino included a projection of higher expectations for the Hogs in 2010 after their 8-5 finish and Liberty Bowl victory in 2009.
“I like it,” Petrino said. “I like the fact that there’s expectations out there, and obviously our expectations are very high.”
Petrino encouraged the Razorbacks to be placed under the pressure of calling the South Carolina game last season a must-win game for the team, and the same principle appeared to apply to the 2010 season.
“I would rather have people think we’re going to be a good football team,” he said.“We finished strong and we have a lot of returning players, a lot of good returning players, so I’m hoping that there’s some pressure on it and we’re ranked to start the season.”
Petrino said he did not anticipate any further staff changes.
“I hope it’s set,” he said. “It needs to be set.”
Petrino also made his first public comments on Mallett and tight end D.J. Williams returning to school, though he admitted it will almost assuredly be Mallett’s final season.
“I think they both made the right decision,” Petrino said. “I think there’s no question that Ryan coming back and continuing to work on his skills and development as a quarterback will help him and his future.
“I think he really wanted to come back and continue to be a Razorback and he saw all his weapons. I think that was a big part.”
Sports, Pages 27 on 01/17/2010