After shattering postseason records and propelling UM back to national relevance, Mark Fletcher Jr. brings elite power and NFL upside to a 2026 Heisman Trophy race.
MIAMI, Fla. – Despite having a historic stretch in the College Football Playoffs – rushing 75 times for a record-breaking 507 yards and scoring three total touchdowns – Miami Hurricanes star running back Mark Fletcher Jr. might not be receiving the deserving recognition. Whenever the team desperately needed a spark, especially against Texas A&M and Indiana, the local Fort Lauderdale native delivered.
Fletcher Jr. has a case to be college football’s best running back ahead of the 2026-27 season. He’s currently listed at 6-2, 225 pounds, and possesses great speed and power coming from the backfield. Regardless of the game’s situation, Fletcher Jr. can be relied upon.
Among the finalists in last season’s Heisman Trophy race was Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. The All-American finished third in voting after rushing 199 times for 1,372 yards – ranked eighth in the Football Bowl Subdivision – and scoring 21 total touchdowns. Despite a remarkable individual season, the Fighting Irish missed the College Football Playoffs.
Love had declared for the 2026 NFL Draft and was selected with the third pick by the Arizona Cardinals – one of two running backs selected in the first round (Notre Dame’s Jadarian Prince selected by the Seattle Seahawks at No 32). He was viewed as the best overall prospect among the class.
Despite having a higher upside, Fletcher Jr. isn’t that far off. He’s capable of taking over games, especially under the bright lights. If the postseason showed anything, it’s that Fletcher Jr. can emerge from the shadows – potentially as a Heisman Trophy candidate.
The last running back to win the award was junior Alabama Crimson Tide’s Derrick Henry in 2015. In that season, he led the Football Bowl Subdivision by rushing 395 times for 2,219 yards, scoring 28 total touchdowns. Henry was named an All-American and the recipient of the Maxwell Award for College Football’s Player of the Year.
Although those are steep accolades for Fletcher Jr. to hurdle over, the Heisman Trophy shouldn’t be viewed as out of reach for him. Since officially joining the program in 2023, the local star has been a significant factor in carrying the Hurricanes out of mediocrity.
Coach Mario Cristobal consistently put Fletcher Jr. in positions to be successful. Regardless of slow starts or fumbles, the trust has never faltered. The 21-year-old senior is looking to close this chapter on a significant note – returning to the National Championship game but with different results. A run to the Heisman Trophy could come along the way.
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Anthony Aguirre is the Miami Hurricanes beat writer for Roundtable Sports. Contact info: [email protected] | 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
