Mitch Mustain asks for transfer
By The Associated Press
Mitch Mustain, shown early in the 2006 Razorbacks football season, has requested a release from the University of Arkansas.
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LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas quarterback Mitch Mustain, undefeated as a Razorbacks’ starter after a stellar high school career, has been given permission to transfer to another university, coach Houston Nutt said Tuesday.
The move came one day after offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, Mustain’s high school coach, left to become assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator at Tulsa. Mustain and Malzahn joined the Razorbacks a year ago from Springdale High School.
Mustain asked for permission to transfer and Nutt appeared to be holding out hope Mustain might decide to stay with the team even after receiving his release.
“I don’t know for sure where we are right now,” Nutt said. “Naturally, I don’t want him to go. I want him to stay here.”
Mustain was the Parade magazine prep player of the year in 2005.
Nutt said he met with Mustain to talk about the freshman’s future, but he wouldn’t go into detail about what was said.
“I’d rather keep that confidential,” Nutt said.
Mustain went 8-0 as a starter in 2006, helping Arkansas to a 10-4 season and a No. 15 national ranking.
But Mustain was benched in a November win over South Carolina, and he hardly played again until splitting time with starter Casey Dick in Arkansas’ Capital One Bowl loss to Wisconsin.
Last month, parents of Mustain and two other freshmen met with athletic director Frank Broyles amid concerns that Malzahn didn’t have enough control over the offense. One of the freshmen, receiver Damian Williams, has since transferred to Southern California, and now Mustain has asked for his release.
The third freshman was tight end Ben Cleveland. Nutt said Cleveland was in Kansas for a friend’s funeral, so his status is unclear.
This article was published Tuesday, January 16, 2007.
