Homegrown star Mark Fletcher Jr. returns for a final season, aiming to dominate the run game and cap his Miami Hurricanes career with a bang.
As the Miami Hurricanes tinker with different players in multiple positions, there’s continuity from the running back core, led by homegrown star Mark Fletcher Jr. He’s coming off a career season: rushing 216 times for 1,192 yards, scoring 14 total touchdowns in 14 games. It was the 21-year-old’s first experience as a full-time starter for the program.
During the College Football Playoffs, Fletcher Jr. announced the decision to return for his final season. Despite falling short of a National Championship and having other opportunities, such as the NFL Draft, the senior running back took advantage of an open opportunity to finish strong with a program he helped rebuild.
“It was already made up in my mind that I was going to do four years,” Fletcher Jr. said on Tuesday. “Not to say that I wasn’t happy with how I was performing, feel like I underperformed. It was just the fact that I just wanted to come back and play with these guys, play under this team, and I had another opportunity to do it. Just [to] be a true senior and I wanted to take that opportunity.”
Fletcher Jr. went on a historic run in the College Football Playoffs, rushing 75 times for a record-breaking 507 yards, scoring three total touchdowns. He was named the Offensive Player of the Game in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinals against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Last season, the Hurricanes looked to establish the run game against every opponent. Despite only finishing 72nd in total rushing yards among NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision programs, they were effective, especially with Fletcher Jr. leading the charge.
During the offseason, Favian Upshaw was hired as the team’s new running backs coach, as Matt Merritt departed after accepting a job with the Arizona Cardinals. He played three years as a quarterback with the Georgia Southern Eagles, but was rather known for running than passing. The 32-year-old made a positive first impression on Fletcher Jr. on the first day of spring training.
“He’s [Upshaw] a great guy,” he said. “He just comes in, he’s a pro, and he’s just letting us be free. He’s not coming here to create any robots. Heard a lot of great things about him and he’s been nothing but good for us.”
The Hurricanes’ run game looks to improve internally with Fletcher Jr. continuing to lead the charge for one final time. He was part of the 2023 recruiting class, the same as offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa, edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., offensive tackle Samson Okunlola, and cornerback Damari Brown.
As the program successfully turned around, the Fort Lauderdale native will leave it in better shape.
“Whatever’s going to happen next year is going to happen,” he said. “My thing is just control what I can control. I get to play for the Miami Hurricanes again, one more year. It’s a blessing, I’m just going to go have fun.”
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