Ryan Mallett, considered one of the top young quarterbacks in college football, left the University of Michigan on Wednesday with plans to transfer, possibly to UCLA.
His father, Jim Mallett, said Ryan will visit at least three schools and consider Tennessee, UCLA, Arkansas and Texas A&M.
Last week, the Toledo Blade reported that the 6-foot-6-inch freshman would transfer to UCLA, according to a source close with the team.
But now it appears Tennessee may also be a likely destination, since the Volunteers may hire former Michigan offensive coordinator Mike DeBord and quarterbacks coach Scott Loeffler.
“If they’re hired, (Tennessee) would be a real good possibility,” Jim Mallett said. “Ryan really clicked with both coach DeBord and coach Loeffler during the last couple months of the season, and during bowl practices, I’ve never seen Ryan throw the ball or read defenses as well as he did.”
Ryan was named Texas Class 4A offensive player of the year as a high school senior and was considered one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. He chose Michigan over LSU, USC and Florida State.
As a freshman, Ryan played significant time for the Wolverines because of injuries to starter Chad Henne. He finished the year with seven touchdowns and five interceptions and saw significant action in six of the team’s 11 regular season games.
But when Michigan hired West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, who is known for his spread-option offense and use of mobile quarterbacks, rumors began to swirl that Mallet was considering a change.
“It just wasn’t a fit and yet, it was a hard decision,” Jim Mallett said. “When he came home for Christmas, he told me and my wife that he really was falling in love with being at Michigan.”
Ryan Mallett’s decision to leave Ann Arbor will force him to sit out the entire 2008 season. He will have three years of eligibility after that.
A decision might not come until later in the week when the American Football Coaches Association convention ends and assistant coaching vacancies around the country are filled.
“We don’t know where he’s going to go yet, but we need to do something quick,” Jim Mallett said.
NORTON, NEUHEISEL MEET: The Los Angeles Daily News has reported that coach Rick Neuheisel met with former Bruin All-American linebacker Ken Norton Jr. about a possible position on the UCLA staff.
Norton is currently the linebackers coach at USC and is known as a very strong recruiter.
The specific position Norton would have on the Bruin staff is uncertain.
Defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker may try to retain Chuck Bullough, who coached the UCLA linebackers last season.
Bullough, a Michigan native, has interviewed for a defensive coordinator position at Northwestern, according to the Daily News.
With reports from Bruin wire services.