Former Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday by the New England Patriots with the 74th overall pick.

Also:

• Matt Jones: Mallett Drafted By Patriots
• Robbie Neiswanger: Mallett’s Slide Ends With ‘Good Fit’
• Chris Bahn: New England Patriots Select Former Razorback QB Ryan Mallett In Third Round, Mallett’s Patience Tested, Then Rewarded As Patriots Select Him In Round 3
• Razorback Nation (Video): Mallett and Family React to Draft Process
• NFL.com (Video): Why Mallett makes sense, Belichick likes Mallett’s ‘value’
• Boston Herald: Patriots select troubled Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett, Belichick Reaction, Mallett Conference Call
• USAToday.com: Patriots choose Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett with 74th pick

ESPN.com users have spoken and the face of Madden NFL 12 will be Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis.

Hillis was announced Wednesday as the winner of the fan vote, under way since March 21, on ESPN2’s “SportsNation.”  In all, 13 million votes were cast during the process.

Also:

• ESPN.com: Hruby: Vick or Hillis? Settle down, people!, Madden Cover Revealed (Video)
• ArkansasSports360.com: Peyton Hillis Picked For Madden ’12 Cover
• Matt Jones: Hillis Wins Madden Cover Vote
• Robbie Neiswanger: Hillis Lands on Madden 2012 Cover

Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett will forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: UA football statement
• ESPN.com: Ryan Mallett declares for NFL draft
• Chris Bahn: Ryan Mallett Declares For 2011 NFL Draft
• Robbie Neiswanger: Mallett Off to NFL Draft
• Razorback Nation (Video): Ryan Mallett Going Pro
• 4029TV.com (Video): Ryan Mallett Going Pro

And that unlucky somebody just happens to be the Western Illinois Leathernecks of the Missouri Valley Conference.  The game on Saturday marks the start of the Bobby Petrino Era at Arkansas.  And with the students back, Fayetteville is buzzing again.

The Leathernecks, located in Macomb, Illinois, come into the game ranked #25 in The Sports Network’s FCS Top 25 poll (that’s the Football Championship Subdivision…formerly Division I-AA).  For reference, our friends down in Conway — UCA — are ranked #22 in TSN’s poll.

WIU is led by Head Coach Don Patterson (61-42, 10th season).  Patterson, 57, won’t be on the sidelines though to start the season as he continues his battle with tonsillar cancer.  Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Mark Hendrickson serves as interim head coach, and leads a team that returns 20 starters from last year’s 6-5 squad.

All-American tailback Herb Donaldson is the best player on either side of the ball for the Leathernecks.  Donaldson, a Walter Payton Award finalist from last season, will most likely break the WIU career rushing record (4,189) during the 2008 season.  Sophomore quarterback Matt Barr is a run-pass threat.

One of the members of the Western Illinois coaching staff is a familiar face in Fayetteville.  Monte Henderson, former graduate assistant at Arkansas (2003-05) is the WIU defensive backs coach.  Henderson, a high school All-American from Conway, played cornerback at UAPB for a few seasons before transferring to Arkansas.  He worked with current Razorback assistant Bobby Allen in the secondary before joining the Leathernecks staff in 2006.

Like many smaller colleges, Western Illinois has produced some outstanding football players over the years.  Current NFL players Rodney Harrison (New England) and Aaron Stecker (New Orleans) hail from WIU.  As do former NFL linebacker Bryan Cox and wide receiver Don Beebe.

All in all, it should be a fun way to get the 2008 season kicked off.  But for now, hold on to your score predictions.  As always, we’ll make them with you every Thursday.

Former Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones was arrested by Fayetteville Police early Thursday morning and charged with felony possession of cocaine, according to a police report.

Also:

• AP: Jaguars receiver Jones arrested on drug charges
• Robbie Neiswanger: Jones’ Career At Risk After Cocaine Arrest
• Alex Abrams: Former Coach, Teammates Stunned By Player’s Arrest
• Tom Murphy: Ex-Hog faces cocaine charge
• Wally Hall: There’s still time for Jones to salvage legacy
• Nate Allen: Former UA quarterback Jones arrested

Blogs

• ArkansasSports360.com: Former Arkansas QB Matt Jones Arrested, The Matt Jones Arrest: What They’re Saying
• Razorback Expats: Maybe This Would Have Helped Matt
• Jacksonville.com: Jaguars receiver Matt Jones arrested

Updated 7/11/08 8:05 a.m.

– A lot of local sportswriters are filling their column inches at the moment talking about how to pass the time between now and fall football practice.  Robbie Neiswanger over at The Morning News gives Hog fans a few dates to remember between now and August 4th.  And the original Mr. Sunshine warms up a little stale football news for us.

– And speaking of stale, this report is a few days old but I didn’t see it blogged anywhere.  According to the Cowboys Blog, it sounds like a package is being added to the playbook that includes both Felix Jones and Marion Barber in the backfield at the same time:

Felix’s primary offensive role as a rookie will be a change-of-pace back. But the Cowboys also plan to put him on the field with Barber on occasion.

Barber and Felix lined up in the backfield together several times during today’s workout. Barber lined up in front of the offset I with Felix starting at tailback and motioning out wide.

[...] Felix didn’t put up big receiving numbers at Arkansas, which had a poor passing game. But the Cowboys’ scouts and coaches saw a back with good hands and route-running ability who could blossom as a receiver in the pros.

Hmmm…throwing the ball to Felix…why didn’t we think of that?  Three years…38 games…39 receptions.  Based on those numbers, a more accurate description would be ‘piss poor passing game.’

– Felix also made it to Canton, Ohio last Friday.  No…they weren’t inducting him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame just yet.  He was one of 18 Cowboys’ rookies who toured the facility.

– Finally, sportscaster Mike Irwin used his ‘blog’ yesterday to flame a “recruting guru” over comments made about recent Razorback decommit Darius Winston.  But since Irwin doesn’t mention Dudley Dawson by name, I guess it’s not really a personal attack, is it?

You don’t draft a complementary player in the first round when you have an opportunity to select a franchise back.

Ever.

But that’s what the Cowboys did Saturday.

So…apparently there’s some sort of ‘Draft bible’ that Jean-Jacques is quoting from here.  Although he doesn’t reference chapter and verse.

And, unfortunately, he also doesn’t bother to list many facts to support his argument that Mendenhall is a ‘franchise back.’  In truth, a comparison of career stats shows very little difference between the two rushers:

Jones: 38 Games, 387 Attempts, 2,954 Yards, 20 TDs, 7.6 yards per carry
Mendenhall: 35 Games, 388 Attempts, 2,539 Yards, 22 TDs, 6.5 yards per carry

Size?  Jones is slightly taller and Mendenhall is nearly 20 pounds heavier.

Speed?  Mendenhall ran a 4.45 at the NFL Combine and Jones ran a 4.47.

Now explain to me again how one of these players is obviously a 20-25 carry running back and the other one isn’t?  Or, more specifically, that either one of them has proven their NFL franchise back potential?

So maybe the truth is that both of them are equally good.  Which is exactly what the Cowboys said after the draft:

“Both of them were so close you could flip a coin over them,” Jerry Jones said.

But wait…Jean-Jacques uses his powers of deductive reasoning to prove (prove!) that the Cowboys had Mendenhall rated higher:

“I don’t want to get into which was the highest rated,” Jerry said. “I don’t want to do that.”

Trust me, that means Mendenhall was rated higher, which is one more reason Jerry should’ve trusted the draft board and taken Mendenhall.

Ah yes…just trust the board, Jerry.  But here’s the real question: if one player is ranked 22-A on this ‘almighty board’ and the other is 22-B…does it really matter which one you choose?

Hogwired.com: Four Razorbacks Drafted on Day Two of NFL Draft

Arkansas defensive tackle Marcus Harrison, offensive tackle Nate Garner, fullback Peyton Hillis and wide receiver Marcus Monk heard their names called on Sunday in day two of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Also:

• Robbie Neiswanger: Harrison One of Four Hogs Selected Sunday, Two Hogs Agree To Free Agent Contracts
• Bob Holt: Harrison gets call from Bears

Updated 4/28/08 8:10 a.m.

Ryan Malashock: Jones Headed To Dallas

As expected, the allure of drafting a running back from his alma mater turned out to be too hard for Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to pass up.

He couldn’t trade up for Darren McFadden. But he gladly settled for Felix Jones, making the Tulsa, Okla., native the No. 22 pick in the first round of the NFL Draft on Saturday.

Also:

• Bob Holt: UA backs make 1st-round splash
• The Dallas Morning News: Cowboys’ choices reflect immediate plan, Taylor: Wrong Selection for Cowboys?
• Fort-Worth Star-Telegram: Instead of a rewrite, Cowboys go by book, Engel: When great things are possible, good feels bad
• Tulsa World: Dallas takes Felix in first round

Updated 4/27/08 10:35 a.m.

Hogwired.com: McFadden Selected No. 4 in NFL Draft by Oakland Raiders

Arkansas’ two-time Doak Walker Award winner and Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden was selected with the No. 4 pick of the 2008 National Football League Draft by the Oakland Raiders.

Also:

• AP: Raiders take McFadden at No. 4 in NFL draft, McFadden: ‘I just surround myself with family members’
• Alex Abrams: McFadden Headed To Silver and Black, Fans Boo Raiders’ Pick of McFadden
• Mark Lelinwalla: D-Mac in silver and black
• Bob Holt: UA backs make 1st-round splash
• The Oakland Tribune: Raiders get their man by picking McFadden

Updated 4/27/08 10:20 a.m.

More than 50 scouts and National Football League team personnel were on the University of Arkansas campus on Tuesday for the 2008 Arkansas Pro Day.

Also:

• Chris Bahn: McFadden, Jones Draw NFL Crowd for Pro Day, Monk Uses Pro Day to Alleviate Concerns About Knee
• Alex Abrams: NFL Teams Get Another Look At McFadden, Hillis Frustrated With His Performance
• Bob Holt: Monk improves his draft stock
• Rob Keys: Performing like a pro
• Democrat-Gazette: Arkansas Pro Day report
• Brandon Marcello: UA’s Monk impresses NFL scouts

Updated 3/26/08 2:30 p.m.

“Wow.” — “Oh my.” — “Hellooooo!” — “Oh…my.”

D-Mac 40 yard dash!

Also:

• The Slophouse: McFadden is fast…really fast
• Chris Bahn: McFadden Wows At NFL Combine
• Tom Murphy: Showing his stuff
• Jason Cole: McFadden’s quick recovery

Hogwired.com: McFadden and Jones Forgo Senior Season for NFL Draft

Arkansas’ junior tailback combination of All-American’s Darren McFadden and Felix Jones announced their decisions to forgo their senior seasons and declare for the NFL Draft on Monday at a press conference inside the Broyles Athletic Center.

Also:

• ESPN.com: Arkansas loses bulk of backfield in McFadden, Jones
• RBN: Darren McFadden Photos, Felix Jones Photos
• Chris Bahn: McFadden, Jones Opt for NFL
• Alex Abrams: Going Out Together
• Tom Murphy: It’s official: They’re gone
• Wally Hall:  Hogs fans should be grateful for 3 superb years
• Nate Allen: Big league decision

Updated 1/15/08 8:10 a.m.

Bobby Petrino will resign his position as coach of the Atlanta Falcons and is close to an agreement to become the new coach at the University of Arkansas, multiple sources tell ESPN.

Also:

• ESPN.com (Video): Bobby Petrino to Resign as Falcons’ Head Coach
• AP: Bobby Petrino resigns as Atlanta Falcons coach after 13 games
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A sinking ship abandoned

National Opinion

• ESPN.com: Pasquarelli: Petrino couldn’t help but hit the road yet again
• CBSSports.com: Prisco: Petrino always a bird of a non-NFL feather
• FOXSports.com: Petrino resigns as Falcons coach, Czarnecki: Petrino had doubts about Falcons’ roster
• SI.com: Banks: Back to school
• MSNBC.com: Glier: Allure of SEC too much for Petrino to turn down
• AOL FanHouse: Bobby Petrino Resigns to Coach Arkansas
• Fanblogs.com: Bobby Petrino hired at Arkansas

Updated 12/12/07 12:45 a.m.

• Amazingly…5-foot, 7-inch Reggie Fish is designated (at least for now) as the Hogs’ first-team flanker.  After showing last year that he can ‘strike a pose,’ could a Heisman campaign now be far behind?
• After praising Casey Dick for his practice work on Monday, Houston Nutt wasn’t happy with the two interceptions thrown by his starting quarterback on Wednesday.  “We don’t accept that. That’s very disturbing,” Nutt said.  “It’s got to be to our guys or throw it away to grandmother, period.”  So…apparently Granny is able to ‘get separation’ up in the stands.  I say sign her up.
• USA Today has a nice article on Tony Ugoh and the pressure of being a NFL rookie left tackle who may soon be responsible for protecting Peyton Manning’s blind side.
• Jay over at Track’em Tigers (one of the recommended SEC blogs listed on our Links page) thinks former Auburn great and current Razorback defensive line coach Tracy Rocker should have his jersey retired by the school.
• A new Razorback blog popped up last week and they’ve come out of the chute with some really good posts.  Check out the guys over at RazorbackExpats.com.  They’re on our sidebar blogroll now, too.

So I guess it’s turned into ‘David Lee Week’ here on the Network.  After Sunshine posted on Monday about Lee’s record as a college assistant, it seemed like the next logical step to look at his recent foray into the NFL.

After leaving Arkansas the last time, Lee held the title of “Offensive Assistant / Quality Control” from 2003-06 for the Dallas Cowboys.  If you’re like me, you’ve probably wondered what that heck that really means.

As the title suggests, there are usually two QC coaches on a NFL team: offensive and defensive.  And interestingly, it’s former Cowboys coach Tom Landry who is credited with creating the job title during the 1970s.

Although the job descriptions can vary from team to team, the common theme for all QC coaches is film study.  Basically…the QC coach lives in the film room.  It’s his job to look ahead and study film of the opposing teams.  However, while the other members of the coaching staff are spending their time preparing for this Sunday, the QC coach has typically already moved on and is getting ready for the next Sunday and beyond.

And as you might expect, the QC coach also spends a lot of time studying film of his own team — breaking down their strengths and weaknesses and communicating that information to both the players and coaches during the week, and from the press box on game day.

Perhaps surprisingly, however, the job of quality control coach in the NFL is often filled by young, inexperienced coaches.  In fact, for the National Football League, it’s as close to an entry-level coaching job as you’ll find.  Future NFL head coaches Jon Gruden, Steve Mariucci and Eric Mangini all basically started their professional careers as QC coaches.

Case in point…anyone know who replaced Lee as the new Offensive QC coach for the Cowboys?  Uh…that would be 27-year-old Wesley Phillips, son of Cowboys Head Coach Wade Phillips, who coached quarterbacks for one year at Baylor before going to work for his dad.

(So apparently there are no anti-nepotism laws in Texas.  And if you look at the Cowboys senior executive list, you’ll definitely see that’s true.  All “non-Joneses” need not apply.)

So why did Lee, then a 49-year-old man with over 25 years of college coaching experience, have to take an entry-level job in the pros?  Simply put…in the NFL, everyone has to pay their dues.  All that experience — while certainly helpful — didn’t buy Lee any ‘street cred’ in the League.  And as Steve Spurrier and Lou Holtz have shown, it doesn’t matter how much you’ve coached in college…the NFL is a different animal altogether.

Of course, the question many Razorback fans now have is did this four year pilgrimage to professional football really help transform Lee — a self-described former ‘inside veer‘ guy — into a changed man in his offensive philosophy?  Or was he just a behind the scenes guy in Dallas who spent most of his time in a dimly lit room watching game tapes and writing scouting reports?

We’ll attempt to address — but, of course, not answer — those questions in the final post of this series on Friday.

Hogwired.com: Trio of Razorbacks Go on First Day of NFL Draft

Arkansas defensive end Jamaal Anderson and cornerback Chris Houston are on their way to the Atlanta Falcons while offensive tackle Tony Ugoh is headed to the Indianapolis Colts after the first day of the National Football League Draft on Saturday.

Also:

• AP: Anderson No. 8 pick in NFL Draft, heading to Atlanta
• AP Photos/Getty Images: Jamaal Anderson 1, Jamaal Anderson 2, Jamaal Anderson 3, Jamaal Anderson 4, Jamaal Anderson 5, Jamaal Anderson 6, Jamaal Anderson 7, Jamaal Anderson 8, Jamaal Anderson 9, Chris Houston 1, Chris Houston 2, Chris Houston 3, Chris Houston 4
• Alex Abrams: Falcons Flying High On The Hogs
• Vernon Tarver: Houston, Ugoh Settle For Second Round
• Bob Holt: It’s all tears, cheers for Jamaal, Houston, Ugoh go second round

Updated 4/29/07 3:45 p.m.

In other draft-related news, junior running back Peyton Hillis was interviewed on Saturday and stated he plans to return for his senior season.  While Hillis was ranked the #1 junior fullback before the season by draft expert Mel Kiper, Jr., he did not play the final four games of the season because of a severe thigh injury.

Update (4:15 p.m.): The Morning News is reporting that cornerback Chris Houston will also be declaring for the draft and has already signed with an agent.

Update (5:00 p.m.): Hogwired now confirming that Anderson is entering the draft.

While playing for the University of Arkansas, Hamlin was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving three times and convicted twice. He left the Razorbacks as a junior and was drafted by the Seahawks in the second round in April 2003. At the time, general manager Bob Ferguson said the team was hypersensitive to the questions of his character.

Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said he was surprised that his former player had landed in trouble.

“I thought he had matured. I thought he’d up and left all that behind,” he said yesterday.

Ken Hamlin of the Seattle Seahawks was in serious but stable condition with head injuries Monday following an early morning fight outside a nightclub.

Hamlin was involved in an altercation with two men who were not in custody, according to police. He had a fractured skull, a small blood clot and bruising of the brain tissue, and would remain in intensive care for the next day or two, team physician Stan Herring said.