Former Arkansas QB Mustain will visit OU
Oklahoma football

By George Schroeder

Published: January 18, 2007

Oklahoma might be among the options former Arkansas quarterback Mitch Mustain is considering as he weighs a transfer.

An Arkansas television station, KFSM-TV of Fort Smith, reported Wednesday that Mustain would visit OU today.

Mustain could not be reached for comment. Calls to his mother's home in Springdale, Ark., went unanswered Wednesday evening.

But the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported in Thursday's editions that OU was among the schools Mustain might like to explore. Mustain, who was considered the nation's top prep quarterback when he graduated from Springdale (Ark.) High School last May, asked for and received his release to transfer on Tuesday, apparently unhappy with recent turmoil within the Arkansas program.

Arkansas offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who was Mustain's high school coach, left Arkansas on Monday to become Tulsa's co-offensive coordinator and assistant head coach.

Mustain, who was named the national offensive player of the year by Parade Magazine, Gatorade and USA Today, was 8-0 as a starter as a freshman last season, but was benched late in the year. He split time in the Capital One Bowl with starter Casey Dick, and coach Houston Nutt had said he expected a battle for the starting job to take place during spring practice.

But Malzahn's departure apparently changed the quarterback's mind; a day later, Mustain asked for his release. Tulsa is also rumored to be a potential destination, but a source said Mustain had not been in contact with TU coaches.

Oklahoma has three scholarship quarterbacks on campus, including highly regarded Keith Nichol, a true freshman who enrolled for the spring semester. Nichol told The Oklahoman that OU coaches told him he was the only quarterback they would recruit.

Wherever he lands, Mustain would have to sit out next season because of NCAA transfer rules. He would be eligible as a sophomore for the 2008 season.

OU was not involved in Mustain's original recruitment. He considered Tennessee and Notre Dame in addition to Arkansas. But at the time, OU had Rhett Bomar penciled in as a starter through 2008.