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Arkansas adding Alex Collins, Ryan Mallett initials to Frank Broyles Field as tribute

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•09/05/23•

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Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Over the summer, Arkansas lost two former players. Both Alex Collins and Ryan Mallett passed away in two unrelated incidents. The two players were part of what the Razorbacks have been able to accomplish over the past few years and will be missed.

Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek has decided Collins and Mallett will be honored by the program throughout the 2023 season. The two players’ initials will appear on the home side of Frank Broyles Field, placed on the yard line of the number they wore in college.

Collins, a running back, sported No. 3 while Matt was No. 15 as a quarterback. Both sides will have the initials — a touching honor to remember two great players from the Arkansas program.

“Beginning Saturday & throughout the 2023 season, we are paying tribute to former @RazorbackFB greats (#3) Alex Collins & (#15) Ryan Mallett with their initials painted at the 3- and 15-yard lines on the home sideline of Frank Broyles Field,” Yurachek said via Twitter.

You can check out the graphic Yurachek posted along with the tweet here.

As Yurachek mentioned, the initial will be painted ahead of Sept. 9’s game against Kent State. While Arkansas has already technically played a home game, the Western Carolina matchup occurred in Little Rock. Saturday will be the first in front of the Fayetteville faithful.

Following Ken State, five more games will take place on Frank Broyles Field. The rivalry game against Missouri will be the season finale, scheduled to be played the day after Thanksgiving — Black Friday. In between now and then, there will be a lot of remembrance of both Collins and Mallett.

Collins passed away in mid-August after being involved in a motorcycle accident. The incident occurred in his home state of Florida. Following his time at Arkansas, Collins made the move to the NFL and had most recently played for the Baltimore Ravens. The death is still under investigation per the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.

As for Mallett, he played quarterback under head coach Bobby Petrino. Mallett led Arkansas to a 10-win season in 2010 and faced off against Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. New England drafted him coming out of college but Mallett also played for Baltimore and Houston.

After their tragic deaths, Yurachek has decided to honor them. A touching tribute that will turn from a graphic to real life before the ball is kicked off on Saturday against Kent State.