30 key Miami Hurricanes for 2025 season: Mark Fletcher primed for starting role
The Miami Hurricanes kick off the 2025 season on Aug. 31 with a marquee matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium (7:30 p.m., ABC).
With the calendar officially flipped to August, the Miami Herald is counting down 30 of the most important players on the Hurricanes’ roster, one per day leading up to the season opener, to provide a closer look at the team heading into coach Mario Cristobal’s fourth season.
Today: The No. 9 player on our list, Mark Fletcher Jr.
What to know
Position: Running back
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale
Year: Junior
How he got to Miami: 2023 recruiting class
Key stats: 1,121 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns, 5.17 yards per carry in 23 games (eight starts) at Miami
In summary: Mark Fletcher Jr. has been a steady fixture in the Hurricanes’ running back rotation throughout his first two seasons at Miami. He was part of a four-person committee in 2023, leading the team in rush attempts (105) and finishing second in rushing yards (514) and touchdowns (five) as a freshman. Fletcher was then the No. 2 back last season behind Damien Martinez but still upped his numbers across the board as a sophomore (112 carries, 607 yards, nine touchdowns) despite coming back from a Lisfranc injury in his left foot that he sustained at the end of his freshman year. He’s poised to start the season as the Hurricanes’ lead running back in a room that also features talent in sophomore Jordan Lyle and redshirt sophomore transfer CharMar Brown.
What they’re saying
“Just win. I just want to win. 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.” — Mark Fletcher Jr. on his aspirations for the 2025 season
“I was pleased just to be able to do as much as I could. 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.” — Mark Fletcher Jr. on how he would evaluate his 2024 season.
“The fact he was able to have a full offseason will help him be able to take that next step. A lot of it was able to really transform his body and get into where he wants it to be with his speed, strength, all of it. I think he’ll be able to take that next step forward that he wants to.” - Hurricanes running back coach Matt Merritt
The rest of the series
No. 10: Tight end Elija Lofton
No. 11: Defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor
No. 12: Wide receiver Joshisa Trader
No. 13: Offensive lineman Markel Bell
No. 14: Defensive back Xavier Lucas
No. 15: Defensive lineman Justin Scott
No. 16: Wide receiver CJ Daniels
No. 17: Defensive lineman David Blay
No. 18: Defensive lineman Ahmad Moten
No. 19: Center James Brockermeyer
No. 20: Wide receiver Keelan Marion
No. 21: Defensive back Jakobe Thomas
No. 23: Defensive back Keionte Scott
No. 24: Running back Jordan Lyle
No. 25: Defensive back Damari Brown
No. 26: Defensive lineman Armondo Blount
No. 27: Wide receiver Malachi Toney
No. 28: Defensive back Ethan O’Connor
No. 29: Linebacker Kamal Bonner
No. 30: Running back CharMar Brown
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