Tragedy strikes Arkansas football program
The University of Arkansas football program dealt with a rough year off the field in 2023 as a trio of Razorback football stars from the past 16 years died in tragic circumstances, and homegrown star Peyton Hillis barely escaped a brush with death.
Quarterback Ryan Mallett lost his life in a June drowning incident in the Gulf of Mexico near Destin, Fla. Mallett, 35, had completed his first season as head coach at White Hall High School after breaking records as a Razorback and going on to a seven-year NFL career with the New England Patriots, Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens.
Mallett had an 18-8 record as the Arkansas starter, passing for school single-season records of 3,869 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2010.
Mallett’s death came five months after Hillis survived after ingesting sea water while rescuing his son and niece from rip currents in Pensacola, Fla. Hillis, a Conway native and former UA running back, spent two weeks recovering in the hospital and later told “Good Morning America” it was “100% a miracle” everyone survived the ordeal.
Hillis, who scored 23 touchdowns at Arkansas in 2004-07, spent seven seasons in the NFL with five teams. His best pro season was in 2010-11, when he rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns and had 61 catches for 477 yards and 2 scores with the Cleveland Browns.
Former Razorback star running back Alex Collins died at age 28 at Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., in August in a motorcycle accident. The affable Collins, a five-sport star in high school who took up Irish dancing as a pro, was a 5-star signee for the Razorbacks in 2013 and a fifth-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2016.
Collins rushed for 1,577 yards in 2015, the third-highest total in UA history behind Darren McFadden’s 1,830 in 2007 and his 1,647 in 2006. Collins’ career rushing total of 3,703 yards ranks second at Arkansas behind McFadden’s 4,590.
UA officials put a circle with “AC” on the 3-yard line and one with “RM” at the 15-yard line at Reynolds Razorback Stadium this season to honor the jersey numbers worn by Collins and Mallett at Arkansas. In April, former UA defensive end Chris Smith was found dead in his apartment at age 31, one month after signing with the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL.
Taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Smith played eight seasons in the NFL with seven teams, totaling 80 tackles, 11 sacks and 4 forced fumbles.
A second-team All-SEC pick as a senior in 2013, Smith had 123 tackles and 21.5 sacks, which rank fourth in school history, between 2010-13.
Collins and Mallett were teammates on the 2017 Baltimore Ravens.
Mallett and Smith were teammates on the 2010 Arkansas team that went 10-3 and earned its only Bowl Championship Series bid in the Sugar Bowl. Smith and Collins were teammates on the 2013 team under first-year Coach Bret Bielema.
Arkansas commitment Dion Stutts of Memphis University School died following an ATV accident in June, and his family was recognized and honored during a Razorback game this fall.