‘I just want to win’: Mark Fletcher Jr. ready for next step as Hurricanes’ lead running back
Mark Fletcher Jr. is entering his third season with the Miami Hurricanes, but Monday marked a first for the junior running back.
When he stepped inside the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice facility on Monday, Fletcher was taking part in his first spring practice with the Hurricanes. He was not on campus for the spring before his freshman season as he was still in high school at Plantation American Heritage. He was sidelined for spring ball before his sophomore year while recovering from a Lisfranc injury to his left foot that he sustained in the Pinstripe Bowl to end his freshman season.
“Three years,” Fletcher said, “and this is my first one.”
It’s also his first year as the Hurricanes’ presumptive lead back. Fletcher was part of a four-man attack with Henry Parrish Jr., Don Chaney Jr. and Ajay Allen during his freshman season. Last year, the Hurricanes used Damien Martinez and Fletcher as their primary one-two punch in the punch in the backfield.
Going into his junior season, it will be Fletcher leading the way, and he’s looking forward to building on what he has done so far in his college career.
“Just win. I just want to win,” Fletcher said. “No personal goals for myself, really. I just want to win. I’ve never been that way — to have personal goals. I know that might sound weird, but I just want to win. So, my personal goal is just to help my team in any way, shape or form.”
Through two seasons, Fletcher has run for 1,121 yards and 14 touchdowns through 23 games (eight starts). Last season, he ran for 607 yards with nine touchdowns on 112 carries. His 5.42 yards per carry ranked eighth in the Atlantic Coast Conference among running backs with at least 100 carries, while his nine rushing touchdowns tied for 10th in the conference.
“I was pleased just to be able to do as much as I could,” Fletcher said. “I had a couple injuries coming back, couldn’t move how I wanted to, but I think I was productive as much as I could [be]. But this year, I just want to take off, take off as much as I can, do better things [than] I did last year, for sure.”
He learned a lot last season by playing with Martinez, who ran for 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns after transferring from Oregon State and is now working toward his dream of being taken in the NFL draft this April.
Fletcher’s biggest takeaways from working with Martinez: “The patience and the art of being a running back.”
“You watch Damien’s film, he’s a very patient runner, and that was just something to add on to my game,” Fletcher said. “I’m just taking those little things, little things like that and just adding on to my game.”
He will also add a leadership role to his game. He’s the veteran of the running back room now, and he will pave the way for the youngsters who will be following behind him. Jordan Lyle, who ran for 400 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 7.41 yards per carry as a true freshman, figures to be the Hurricanes’ No. 2 back behind Fletcher. True freshman Girard Pringle and redshirt freshman Chris Wheatley-Humphrey round out the room as it currently stands. Miami will likely seek another running back in the transfer portal to beef up its depth before the season begins.
“Any way that I can just give back to them, help them in any way I can,” Fletcher said, “that’s what I’m here to do.”
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