FanPost

The next big thing?

Here's the story of the 2007 recruiting class (it never ends does it?) from today's Dallas Morning News. Apparently, one of the top QBs in the land is the kid from Texas High in Texarkana. He's already compared to Highland Park's Matt Stafford.

Ryan Mallett of Texas High is 6-6, 230 and has Texas, Michigan, Nebraska, and BAYLOR??? on his early list.

Here's the link: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/020206dnsponsd2007.1722a783.html

here's the story:

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."

E-mail twills@dallasnews.com

RIVALS.COM STATE TOP 50 FOR 2007  
Player  Ht.  Wt.  High School  Status  
QUARTERBACKS  
Nathan Dick  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  

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