Mario Cristobal provides update on Mark Fletcher ahead of Hurricanes opener vs Gators
.JPG "Miami Hurricanes running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (22) carries for a first down in the first half against Miami of Ohio Redhawks in the first half at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on Friday, September 1, 2023.")
Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. appears ready to go for the Miami Hurricanes.
Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal, speaking Monday morning on the Joe Rose Show, said Fletcher is “all the way back and ready to play” as No. 19 Miami gears up for its season opener on Saturday against the Florida Gators in Gainesville.
Fletcher, a sophomore, sustained a Lisfranc injury in the Hurricanes’ 31-24 loss to Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 28 to end the 2023 season. He did not participate in spring practices and said he was off the foot for about five months while rehabbing. Fletcher rushed for 514 yards and five touchdowns on 105 carries as a freshman last season.
“They’re taking their time with me,” Fletcher said at media day. “They just want me to be safe. I’m going back into things slowly, but I feel great.”
That’s a good sign for the Hurricanes, who are deep at running back but are hoping to utilize Fletcher as part of a one-two punch with junior and Oregon State transfer Damien Martinez. Both are big backs — Fletcher is 6-2 and 225 pounds, Martinez is 6-0 and 232 pounds — but are also nimble on their feet.
Beyond them, redshirt sophomore Ajay Allen, redshirt freshman Chris Johnson, and true freshmen Chris Wheatley-Humphrey and Jordan Lyle are all in the mix to get playing time as well.
“We’ve got different guys that can do different things,” Cristobal said, “but what they all do really well is they all protect really well, and you’ve got to protect the quarterback if you’re on the field. They all catch the ball well. They run hard. They get downhill, but they can also bounce up and get it outside. They can go through you and around you. They’ve kept it really competitive. They’re improving on a daily basis. They’ve got a ways to go, but we feel that our backs are getting better and better and are gonna be a strong part of our program.”
Some other quick updates from Cristobal’s radio hit with Rose:
▪ Cristobal said he watched “very little” of Georgia Tech’s upset win over No. 10 Florida State on Saturday in Dublin, Ireland. The Hurricanes face both teams later this season — FSU on Oct. 26 at Hard Rock Stadium and Georgia Tech on Nov. 9 in Atlanta.
“Our entire focus has been on getting our team ready and our opponent,” Cristobal said. “In terms of future opponents, there’ll be time for that.”
▪ Cristobal on true freshmen seeing playing time this weekend: “The guys that are ready to go, we’re going to play them, just like we did last year. The guys that need some time, we’re gonna give them that time. We’re not in wait-and-see mode. Every guy is pushing to their max to get them ready. It’s a long season, and at some point, they’re going to have to be able to help us. But there’s no discrimination here as it relates to playing time. No matter where you’re from, what year you are, it doesn’t matter. If you can get it done and help us win, you’re going to play.”
▪ Cristobal said he’s most excited to watch the battles in the trenches on Saturday, adding he expects that matchup between the Hurricanes and Gators at the line of scrimmage to be a “muddy, bloddy battle.”
“Call it what it is,” Cristobal said. “They are enormous up front. They are a typical offense and defensive line for their program and for their conference. They’re massive. They’ve got power and they got speed on the edge, and we feel that we have power and size and speed on the edge and inside. It’s one of those things that you build up to, you work at, you recruit, you develop, and then you go prepare those guys. You let them play out. It should be absolutely awesome to watch.”
This story was originally published August 26, 2024 at 7:06 AM.
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