Mallett waits on NCAA

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett has received no word from the NCAA regarding his appeal of the transfer rule, which would require him to sit out this season.

Mallett, who played one season at Michigan before transferring in January, would like to be granted immediate eligibility.

“It’s something that you’ve got to go through if you transfer,” Mallett said. “Of course it’s frustrating because I don’t know if I’m going to play.

“ I’ve still got to prepare the same. Sitting out a year, if I have to I have to. It’s definitely frustrating, but hopefully we’ll hear something soon.”

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Mallett called Thursday a “great first day” of practice at Arkansas.

“It’s a childhood dream come true, so I was excited,” he said. “I can’t wait to hopefully get on the field this year.”

Coach Bobby Petrino said Mallett needed to get reps.

“There is a possibility he can be eligible,” Petrino said. “Ryan is working hard on his technique, on his footwork, making sure he’s in the right spot to throw the ball. He certainly has the arm strength. Actually, sometimes he throws it too hard and that hurts him.” Cleveland practices

Redshirt sophomore tight end Ben Cleveland practiced Thursday for the first time since early August. He didn’t play last season because of neck and toe injuries.

“It felt great being back out here with the guys and feeling that you can contribute to the team instead of sitting out and just being a cheerleader pretty much on the sideline,” Cleveland said. “But it’s been stressful because I’m really not even full speed.”

Cleveland, who didn’t go through every drill Thursday, estimated he’s about 50 percent. He said his neck feels much better, but that his right index toe on which he under surgery for a dislocation has a tendency to tighten up.

“It’s just a slow process,” Cleveland said. “But we’ll get it right.”

First-year Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino recruited Cleveland three years ago when Cleveland was at Springdale High School and Petrino was at Louisville.

“I certainly have great respect for how he can run down the field and catch the ball,” Petrino said. “We need him to get healthy and get in position where he can help us as a tight end / H-back / fullback, because he can do a lot of different things.”

Interesting drill During the first few minutes of practice, Arkansas assistant coach Tim Horton swung a big pad and hit his running backs as they came by him in a line drill. Horton said it’s a “sideline explosion drill” designed to help backs with their balance and ball security. “I think it brings an element of toughness as well,” Horton said. Horton said he’s used the drill for several years at other coaching stops. He wasn’t hired at Arkansas until last July as a replacement for Danny Nutt, who stepped down for health reasons.

“I enjoy it as a coach,” Horton said with a laugh when asked about swinging the pad and delivering a blow. “You’ve got to learn how to break tackles, and that’s a drill you can do to simulate that.”

Horton said he might have used the drill once last fall, but he wasn’t sure.

Hitting All-America running backs like Darren McFadden and Felix Jones — who are projected first-round NFL Draft picks later this month — wouldn’t have gone over too well.

Now Horton is coaching a group led by junior Michael Smith that includes junior Brandon Barnett and sophomores Torian Wilkins and Chip Gregory. “I thought it was a positive first day,” Horton said. “The big thing is just that we show improvement. “ Our learning curve is such that we have a long, long, long way to go.”

Going indoors Bobby Petrino had hoped his first practice as Arkansas’ coach would be outdoors in front of a big contingent of fans, but rain forced the Razorbacks to go in the Walker Pavilion on Thursday and fans weren’t allowed to watch because of space restrictions. “I almost forced the issue [and started practice outdoors ], and I’m glad I didn’t after hearing all the rumbling out there,” Petrino said. “We would rather be outside, and I wanted the fans to be out there and the players to be in front of the fans. It’s unfortunate it happened.” The Razorbacks hope to get outdoors when they hold their second practice at 4 p. m. today. They’re scheduled to practice at 10: 30 a. m. Saturday and Sunday. Outdoor practices will be open to the fans. Indoor practices will be closed.

Number, please At least four Razorbacks have switched jersey numbers since the Cotton Bowl. Sophomore kicker Alex Tejada has dropped his No. 7 from last season and taken No. 18. Sophomore defensive end Damario Ambrose traded in his No. 99 for No. 58. Sophomore tailback Torian Wilkins is in No. 14 after wearing 20 last season, while redshirt freshman receiver Joe Chaisson, who was a quarterback part of last season, went from 14 to 89. Running in yellow Safety Walner Leandre is recovering from shoulder surgery, but that didn’t keep him completely out of practice. The senior wore a yellow “no contact” jersey and ran some scout team quarterback against the defense, including some option work. Leandre likely will project on the two deep at strong safety, a position where Dallas Washington is at first team.

Brace yourself As a precaution, most of Arkansas’ offensive and defensive linemen wore braces on both knees. Spring schedule Arkansas held the first of 15 scheduled spring football practices Thursday. Following is a schedule of the remaining practices leading up to the April 26 spring game:

WEEK 1 TODAY helmets, no contact, 4 p. m. SATURDAY 10: 30 a. m. SUNDAY 10: 30 a. m.

WEEK 2 THREE PRACTICES Tuesday; Thursday, April 10; Friday, April 11 (scrimmage )

WEEK 3 FOUR PRACTICES Tuesday, April 15; Thursday, April 17; Friday, April 18; Saturday, April 19, (scrimmage )

WEEK 4 THREE PRACTICES Tuesday, April 22; Thursday, April 24; Friday, April 25 (helmet, no contact ) APRIL 26 RED-WHITE SPRING GAME 6 p. m., Reynolds Razorback Stadium