Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, poised to perhaps become the face of the SEC in 2010 with Tim Tebow’s departure from Florida, sustained a broken bone in his left foot during conditioning drills on Wednesday and will miss the Razorbacks’ spring practice.

According to school officials, his expected recovery time is three to four months.

If there are no setbacks, Mallett should be back in plenty of time for the start of preseason practice in August.

Mallett, the former Michigan transfer, is coming off a prolific 2009 season in which he threw for 3,624 yards and 30 touchdowns in leading the Hogs to an 8-5 mark. He led the SEC in total offense (276.5) and passing yards per game (278.8).

The redshirt sophomore set or matched 16 different school records this past season and was a projected first-round pick by many draft experts had he left school. However, he decided against entering the draft, saying he wasn’t done in Fayetteville.

With Mallett on the sideline, look for head coach Bobby Petrino to line up sophomore Tyler Wilson and redshirt freshman Brandon Mitchell under center to share the reps this spring.

In a limited role last season, Wilson threw for 218 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

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