Top prep QB's commitment to Arkansas in question

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The mother of a high school football player considered one of the best prep quarterbacks in the nation distanced herself Tuesday from a report that said her son might reconsider his decision to attend Arkansas.

Beck Campbell had told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper in Little Rock that Springdale quarterback Mitch Mustain was "in limbo" about where he would play next. She told the paper Mustain was influenced by uncertainty regarding Arkansas quarterbacks coach Roy Wittke and the return of assistant David Cutcliffe to Tennessee. Cutcliffe coached both Peyton and Eli Manning.

Tuesday morning, however, Campbell told The Associated Press, "We're in the process of trying to put out fires that somebody decided to start -- beyond our control. Right now, until that gets straightened out, I can't comment on anything.

"I'm not going to comment on anything. Obviously, anything I say is going to get taken out of context, so I can't say anything," she said.

Mustain, who led Springdale to a Class AAAAA state championship, said before the season he planned to attend Arkansas. He was named Gatorade national player of the year after throwing for 3,817 yards, 47 touchdowns and six interceptions this season. He also ran for six touchdowns.

Cutcliffe coached Peyton Manning at Tennessee and Eli Manning at Ole Miss. He had been on the Notre Dame staff before leaving for health reasons and had recruited Mustain for the Irish.

The Democrat-Gazette also cited an unnamed source close to Mustain who said the quarterback would reopen the recruiting process.

Campbell told the newspaper that the family has been in the dark about possible changes on the Arkansas staff.

"Nobody has told us anything," Campbell told the newspaper. "We read in the paper that Coach Wittke is gone. Nobody has called and told us that. We're like everybody else, waiting to see what they are going to do."

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press

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