Hogs welcome QB Ryan Mallett

Felix Jones joined Darren McFadden on the early train out of Fayetteville Monday, but the news in Arkansas wasn't all bad for the Razorbacks.

He didn't know that Arkansas welcomed former Michigan quarterback Ryan Mallett to school on Monday. The Texarkana, Texas, native will sit out the 2008 season due to NCAA transfer rules and have three years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2009.

Mallett passed for 3,353 yards and 31 touchdowns as a high school senior and was ranked No. 4 overall by Rivals.com. Mallett was 61-for-141 passing for 892 yards, 7 touchdowns and 5 interceptions last season for the Wolverines.

Mallett chose Arkansas over the Tennessee Volunteers, UCLA Bruins and Texas A&M. He should be a natural fit in Bobby Petrino's pass-happy system.

Arkansas also picked up a verbal commitment from Texarkana, Ark., running back Dennis Johnson Monday.

The 5-foot-8, 180-pounder picked the Hogs after a face-to-face meeting with Petrino and assistants Tim Horton and Bobby Allen. Verbal commitments are non-binding. National signing day is Feb. 6.

"Coach Petrino wanted to meet Dennis and get a feel for him," Texarkana High School coach Bill Keopple told Rivals.com. "He'd already watched tape on him and really liked what he saw. (Petrino) just wanted to feel the kid out and see where he was academically. After that, he offered him a scholarship, and Dennis was ready to commit anyway, so he committed to them. Everything's real positive right now, real positive."

Johnson rushed for 4,737 yards and 66 touchdown in his career, including 1,529 yards and 20 touchdowns on 209 carries last season. Johnson also caught 6 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson is the 18th commitment for the 2008 recruiting class and the second player to commit in the 2008 class under Petrino.

While Arkansas picked up Johnson, the Razorbacks the commitment it had held from San Antonio, Texas, running back Devin Thomas. The 5-10, 185-pounder, who rushed 128 times for 1,447 yards and 17 touchdowns in just six games last season before suffering a season-ending ankle injury, was expecting a visit from Arkansas coaches on Monday. He also was planning to take an official visit to Arkansas this weekend. Monday's meeting didn't happen, and this weekend's get-together was canceled as well.

"I felt disrespected that they didn't come," Thomas told Rivals.com. "They were supposed to come see me (Monday), and they didn't make it. They offered another running back. I guess they saw him (Monday) because he was in-state, and he said he wasn't taking any visits. So, they offered him, and they told me they weren't going to make it today, and that's the second time they told me they were coming and they didn't come."

Thomas took an official visit to Ole Miss this past weekend and has one scheduled to Arizona State later this month. Thomas could also visit Texas Christian before the Feb. 6 signing date, but he will likely end up signing with former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt and the Rebels.