McFadden, Jones will leave Arkansas for NFL

Darren McFadden isn’t sticking around for another run at the Heisman Trophy.

The Arkansas All-American announced Monday he’ll skip his senior season and make himself available for the NFL draft.

“When I was growing up, I dreamed of playing for the Razorbacks,” McFadden said. “Now, the time has come for me to pursue another dream of mine -- playing in the NFL.”

McFadden was the Heisman runner-up in 2006 and 2007. He ran for 1,830 yards last season, second on the Southeastern Conference’s single-season list. He is also second on the career list with 4,590 yards rushing.

Felix Jones, the Razorbacks’ other talented tailback, said he’ll also leave school a year early.

Former Baltimore Ravens quarterback coach Jedd Fisch and Cleveland Browns quarterback coach Rip Scherer are the top candidates to become UCLA’s offensive coordinator, a source said.

Fisch, 31, spent the last four seasons as a Ravens assistant, the last three working with Rick Neuheisel, who was the team’s offensive coordinator before becoming UCLA’s new head coach. Scherer, 55, has been with the Browns three seasons.

Neuheisel also expressed interest in Norm Chow, but the former USC offensive coordinator recently received a contract extension from the Tennessee Titans, who pay him well over $1 million annually. UCLA is believed to be able to pay an offensive coordinator between $300,000 and $400,000.

UCLA is expected to make a hire this week, replacing Jay Norvell, who has been hired by Oklahoma as passing game coordinator. Norvell was with the Bruins one season after spending three years as offensive coordinator at Nebraska.

-- Chris Foster

Where former Michigan quarterback Ryan Mallett will play next season still isn’t clear, but he has ruled out UCLA, with his father, Jim, saying it is “too far away.”. . . . Other underclassmen declaring for the NFL draft Monday included: wide receiver Mario Manningham (Michigan), linebacker Curtis Lofton (Oklahoma), cornerback Victor Harris (Virginia Tech), quarterback Xavier Lee (Florida State) and offensive tackle Michael Oher (Mississippi). The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft is today. . . . Two-time All-American linebacker James Laurinaitis will stay at Ohio State for his senior year. . . . Mississippi State Coach Sylvester Croom received a two-year contract extension through the 2011 season.