Miami beats out Gators to keep 4-star American Heritage RB Mark Fletcher in South Florida
Mark Fletcher, the top running back in South Florida and one of the best tailbacks in the entire Class of 2023, is staying close to home with the Miami Hurricanes.
The four-star running back from Plantation American Heritage orally committed to Miami on Sunday as he wrapped up an official visit in Coral Gables and announced his decision on Twitter, just three days before the start of the early signing period Wednesday.
Fletcher was previously committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes before backing off his pledge in November, setting up a two-team battle between the Hurricanes and Florida Gators.
As Fletcher’s decommitment came just days after taking an unofficial visit to Gainesville, the popular thought — as chronicled in the 247Sports Crystal Ball — was Florida was the favorite. Instead, Miami managed to get Fletcher on campus for the final weekend before a dead period and snatched him away from the rival Gators.
Fletcher is the second running back to commit to Miami in the last two weeks, and the fourth blue-chip prospect and sixth recruit overall to commit since the Hurricanes’ season ended last month. He and four-star Dillard running back Christopher Johnson form a particularly complementary tandem, too, with Fletcher providing power at 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, and Johnson providing speed as a three-time state champion in track and field.
Johnson committed to Miami last Sunday as he wrapped up an official visit with the Hurricanes, too.
Fletcher wrapped up his senior season Friday with another spectacular performance in the Class 2M championship. Although American Heritage fell 38-31 to Miami Central, Fletcher ran for 110 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, and caught three passes for 24 yards as the Patriots nearly erased a 21-point deficit to pull off the upset at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
The tailback finished his senior year with 226 carries for 1,934 and 10 touchdowns, plus 13 catches for 157 yards and another touchdown. He’s the No. 15 running back in the 247 composite rankings for the 2023 recruiting class.
This story was originally published December 18, 2022 at 9:20 PM.
