COLUMN: 'One Five' required viewing for every Razorback fan
It’s not a secret that Ryan Mallett is one of the biggest names and legends in Arkansas football history. A little over two years after his death, the team at Hogs Plus — in conjunction with the Mallett Family Foundation — released a documentary commemorating his life.
HawgBeat was invited to the premiere of the documentary, which is available now on Hogs+. It was at the Fayetteville Public Library, complete with a red carpet, a photo wall, some light refreshments and, of course, a theater-style showing of the film that Hogs+ worked on for around two years.
One Five got the name, of course, because of Mallett’s number with the Razorbacks, 15. 2025 is also the 15-year anniversary of Arkansas’ berth in its first and only BCS bowl game, when Mallett led the Hogs to a 10-2 record and came within a touchdown of beating Ohio State.
Admittedly, I’m not a film critic. I’ve not done a film review. My favorite film is Lion King, and my current rotation of movies consists of Moana 2 and whatever other kids movie my son wants to watch that day.
But I figured I’d try my hand at breaking down what I loved about this movie. I shed tears multiple times, I laughed multiple times, and the 90-minute film elicited other emotions throughout. So here’s my thoughts on “One Five.”
One Five pulls no punches starting out
This is the one part of the film I hated, admittedly. Not because it was poorly done or in bad taste, but the directors start out with an absolute haymaker less than a minute in.
When the news of Mallett’s passing first started circulating in 2023, the body camera footage and 911 call audio started to make the rounds on social media. I intentionally had never listened to or watched it, mostly because I knew it was going to be traumatic.
How could it not be? This larger-than-life quarterback that everyone in the state looked up to was gone. Mallett wasn’t just the guy that got me into Arkansas football in my formative years. He was the guy that got me into football in general.
That said, I understand why they included that footage and audio, and looking back, I think they did it tastefully. They didn’t shy away from the scene surrounding Mallett’s passing, but plunged straight into it. They had to. Without the heaviness of that day included, the highs later on in the film wouldn’t have been quite as high.
Mallett’s early years perfectly illuminated
I loved how the directors shed the light on Mallett’s formative years. He was, at heart, the son of a coach who wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. He did that at both Mountain Home (assistant and offensive coordinator) and White Hall (head coach).
Mallett played his high school ball at Texas High in Texarkana, and I’ll admit, it felt a little gross seeing him wearing that burnt Texas orange. I know it’s not the same school, but it still felt unnatural. That was the first time I’d really seen footage of those days.
Through this part of the film, I loved the balance between showing Mallett the football player and Mallett the person. His story — much like every high school football player, if we’re honest — is so much more than just what he did on the field.
I think the part that got me the most was the conversations with Tom and Julie Middlebrooks, who are the parents of Mallett’s best friend Will, and Susan Waldrep, Mallet’s teacher and friend. They talked about Mallett as a person and really shed light on the kind of guy he was. Both the Middlebrooks and Waldrep also pointed out two different mementos, of sorts, they had from Mallett’s childhood years, and without spoiling the film for you, that’s a part that really tugs at the heartstrings.
Other things I liked about the film
Back in June, HawgBeat ran several stories remembering Mallett’s life. We talked to his mom, Debbie, to learn more about his recruitment process and how he went from Texas High to Michigan and later to Arkansas. Reading and editing that story was fun, but it felt different to hear and see her talk about it on screen.
He went to Michigan, in part because of Mitch Mustain at Arkansas, but also because of Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, whose grandson, CJ Carr, will presumably play inside Razorback Stadium at the end of this month when Notre Dame comes to town on Sept. 27. After Carr retired, Debbie called the parents of Brian Brohm, who emphatically gave the seal of approval for then-head coach and now-offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino at Arkansas.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Reliving the moments of Mallett’s time at Arkansas was cathartic and fun to watch on the screen again. I also thought it was fun showing the Liberty Bowl game against East Carolina in 2009, simply because the Hogs have played there so often in the last three years, and they’ll be back in two weeks to play Memphis.
It was bittersweet because it showed the losses to LSU, Alabama and Ohio State, but it also showed the grit and competitiveness that Mallett played with.
One moment in the film that was really fun for me personally was showing the pass to Cobi Hamilton right at halftime against LSU in 2010. I’d previously talked to former Arkansas wide receiver Jarius Wright to recount that moment, and that conversation was playing in the back of my mind for that entire segment.
I’d be remiss to not point out a couple of times in the film, where they showed Mallett talking to the media. There’s one voice that asked him a question from another legend that is also no longer with us.
The second I heard it, I knew it was Bob Holt, who died less than a year ago. I didn’t know him personally, but I feel like I did because I read pretty much everything ever wrote. His voice was often the first in every press conference I’d ever watched.
Every single person I’ve talked to that did know Bob glows about him and his caring nature for everyone he’d ever come into contact with. I just know he’s up in heaven asking Ryan a two-part question, and he’d circle back at the end if there was time.
The final part that really sent me into a crying fit was how they covered the death of Ben Redix, a White Hall football player who was killed in an accidental shooting the month before Ryan’s passing. The documentary said Mallett talked to every single player on his team and talked with them one-on-one, which just further showcases how much he cared about every single person in his life.
Final thoughts: One Five is required viewing for every Razorback fan
Whether you’re like me, and old enough to remember the incredible moments that Mallett provided on the field, or you’re too young to remember them, One Five should be at the top of the list when you’re searching for a look back at one of the greatest eras in Arkansas football history.
Not just because of the wins and losses on the field, but because Ryan encapsulated everything it meant not just to be a Razorback, but an Arkansan.
As they say, heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Ryan was more than a hero to so many, and is a legend all the same. This film shows exactly why.
Mallett’s legacy will also be remembered through the Mallett Family Foundation, which helps young people by hosting athletic camps, giving scholarships to attend team camps and much more. If you’re interested in learning more or donating to the foundation, you can click here.
