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Report: Former Michigan quarterback Ryan Mallett has passed away

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas06/27/23

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Ryan Mallett of the Michigan Wolverines calls out signals during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 15, 2007. He recently passed away. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Former Michigan quarterback Ryan Mallett, one of the top prep quarterbacks ever to commit to U-M, has died in Florida, deltaplex news reports. Mallett reportedly drowned at a Florida beach.

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Mallett was in his second year as White Hall (Ark.) High head football coach, hired Feb. 23, 2022. Deltaplex News reported he was transported to a Florida hospital from a beach but was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Mallett played for the Wolverines for one year before transferring to Arkansas following Lloyd Carr’s retirement at the end of the 2007 season. He completed 61 of 141 passes for 892 yards with 7 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in a primarily backup role as a freshman.

Probably the strongest-armed quarterback Michigan ever had, Mallett helped lead Michigan to a victory over Penn State in his one start, a 14-9 upset in Ann Arbor after starter Chad Henne was injured. He completed 16 of 29 passes for 170 yards and a pick in that game. He also threw for three touchdowns after replacing Henne in a blowout win over Notre Dame in week three. Mallett also completed a 97-yard touchdown to Mario Manningham in a loss at Wisconsin after Henne went down early, still a Michigan record for longest touchdown pass.

Mallett was a standout in U-M camps for his big arm and stature. He played at 6-7, 252 pounds and thrived after leaving for Arkansas, closer to his Texarkana home.

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“Look what Tex did to my gloves,” former Michigan fullback Quintin Patilla told us during one camp, showing us how the quarterback shredded them with his big throws.

Mallett earned All-SEC second team honors two straight years at Arkansas (2009 and 2010). He threw for 3,869 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2010. The New England Patriots made him a third-round pick in 2011 … he’s play in four games for the Patriots before moving on to play for the Houstan Texans and Baltimore Ravens. His final season was 2017.

Mallett played 21 career games with eight starts, passing for 1,835 yards with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

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