Former Michigan QB Ryan Mallett drowns in Florida

Ryan Mallett, who began his college football career as a quarterback at Michigan, drowned in Florida on Tuesday.

Mallett, 35, was the head football coach at White Hall (Arkansas) High.

According to a report on WJHG in Panama City, Fla., the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said first responders were called to the beach in Destin, Fla., around 2:12 p.m. Tuesday when a group of individuals in the water near a sandbar had been struggling to make their way back to shore.

The report indicated that lifeguards on scene said an adult male, later confirmed to be Mallett, went under and was not breathing when he was pulled out. He was pronounced dead at the Destin Emergency Room.

"It is with great sadness that we share the loss of Coach Ryan Mallett," the White Hall School District shared in a statement. "Coach Mallett was a beloved coach and educator. We ask that you remember his family, team, students, fellow coaches, and the White Hall School District staff in your prayers."

After playing in a backup role for the Wolverines in 2007, Mallett opted to transfer to Arkansas after Michigan coach Lloyd Carr retired. Mallett told The Detroit News in an January 2008 phone interview as he drove from Ann Arbor to his home in Arkansas that he didn't feel he fit the spread offense that Rich Rodriguez planned to install.

"I felt like I was forced out because of the offense that's coming in," Mallett said at the time. "I was recruited to be a drop-back passer."

He appeared in 11 games with Michigan as a freshman playing behind starter Chad Henne, throwing for 892 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Scot Loeffler, now the Bowling Green head coach, recruited Mallett to Michigan.

"Prayers to the Mallett family," Loeffler wrote on Twitter. "I loved recruiting Ryan and his family for more than three years. I am heart broken by his tragic passing. God rest his soul."

Mallett had to sit out the 2008 season per NCAA transfer rules, and then started 26 games for the Razorbacks in 2009 and 2010. He threw for 7,493 yards and 62 touchdowns (with 19 interceptions). He finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting in 2010 after throwing for 3,869 yards and 32 touchdowns.

"Our @RazorbackFB family lost an incredibly special person today," Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek said in a Twitter post. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and teammates of Ryan Mallett."

Mallett was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played parts of five seasons in the NFL with New England, the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens. He appeared in 21 games, including eight starts. He threw for 1,835 yards with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

achengelis@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @chengelis