The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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12 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2023 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS FORMER QB RYAN MALLETT DIES Former Michigan, Arkansas and NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett died in late June after drowning at a Florida beach. He was 35 years old. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's office said that first re- sponders were called to a beach in the Gulf of Mexico to help a group of people swimming and struggling to get back to shore. One of the individuals was not breathing when pulled out of the water and later pronounced dead at the hospital and identified as Mallett. Mallett played for Michigan for one season before trans- ferring to Arkansas following the 2007 campaign. He com- pleted 61 of 141 passes for 892 yards with 7 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, making three starts in relief of Chad Henne. Mallett left U-M when Lloyd Carr retired and Rich Rodriguez arrived with his spread option offense. He went on to earn All-SEC honors at Arkansas in 2009 and '10, when he threw for 7,493 yards, 62 touchdowns and 19 interceptions over two seasons. The New England Patri- ots made him a third-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. He also spent time in the NFL with the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens before retiring in 2017. In 21 career NFL games, he threw for 1,835 yards with 9 TDs and 10 INTs. Mallett was entering his second season as White Hall (Ark.) High's head football coach. "It is with great sadness that we share the loss of Coach Ryan Mallett," White Hall wrote in a post on its website. "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." COMPHER COMES BACK TO MICHIGAN AS DETROIT RED WING Michigan hockey will get to see one of its own close to home for the foreseeable future. Forward J.T. Compher, for- merly of the Wolverines and most recently with the Colorado Avalanche, signed a five-year deal worth $25.5 million with the Detroit Red Wings. Compher won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Ava- lanche in 2022 and recorded a career-high 52 points last season. He joins former Michigan standouts Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp in the Motor City. "There's a lot that attracted me to be a Red Wing," Com- pher said during a media session. "First of all, playing at Michigan and growing up in Chicago, both things helped me see the great legacy and tradition the Detroit Red Wings have. I have a lot of respect for the organization. I had some really good talks with [general manager] Steve [Yzerman] and the coaching staff and what they are trying to build and how they are trying to build it. In terms of this year and the fu- ture, it sounds like a great place to play hockey. On the other side of it, I do have good friends on the team, and I'm excited to get on the ice with those guys as well. "But overall, it was the direction of the team, the desire to win. I could hear it in their voice. That's what you want as a player, a chance to build and try to win a championship." Compher recorded 88 goals and 106 assists in 423 career games in Colorado. He was a captain with the Wolverines and posted 39 goals and 79 assists in 107 career games. His best season came in 2015-16 as a junior captain when he scored 16 goals and racked up 47 assists in 38 games played. This earned him AHCA All-America and All-Big Ten first-team honors. Compher was one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, tallying points in 26 of his last 27 games. He was selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, who traded his rights to Colo- rado. He left after his junior season to sign his entry-level contract with the Avalanche. — Anthony Broome MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK Mallett played at Michigan in 2007 and went on to play at Arkansas and in the NFL. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN