Latest / Scouting the League / 2027 Draft Scouting - Mark Fletcher Jr. - Miami, FL RB
Transcript
- Rodrik David: Hey everyone and welcome to Scouting the League. And today we dive back into our 2027 Draft Scouting series and take a look at running back Mart Fletcher Jr. of Miami. Before we throw on that film and talk traits, make sure you head over, like, subscribe, and share this podcast wherever you're listening and watching. Whether you're listening on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, watching that video portion on YouTube, which will get some nice Miami film today. Make sure you hit those buttons. Subscribing and commenting are the ways you can really help us out. So make sure you go and do that. Share that with a friend that loves scouting and the process as much as you do. Head over to Twitter. Give me a follow at right stepadv. That's where you can find me. Rsafootball.com is my website. I am Roderick David, doing all things for everybody in the football world that I can, but focusing on my background, the scouting side of the game, which is why. I created the one-stop shop for all reports, including where I got Mr. Fletcher done. That is RightStepscouting.com. Full reports, one-liners, video reports, draft focus, portal focus. No matter where whether you're an agent, parent, athlete, school, university, program, no matter who you are, if you want a report, rightstepscouting.com is the spot for you. Head over today, hit a request, get signed up, any player you want, hit it in there. I will get back to you with whatever you're requesting. With the recruiting and simp personnel symposium behind us, scouts, aspiring scouts, everybody in the industry working to network, working to continue to do those things to be where they want. The Scouting Community.com is the resource you need. Again, whether you are a scout currently in the NFL, whether you're working in scouting in the college landscape, I am working to improve the industry. I am working to get people connected, working to help those in the scouting industry, thescouting community.com. Is the spot to do that. So go check that out. And then make sure you check out our partners over at blue maca.com. Use code scouting20 at checkout to let them know we sent you. Get a little discount on the order. You're going to be on the sidelines. You're going to be traveling. You're going to be on your feet a lot. The Blue Mac insoles, whether it's for comfort, whether performance, turf toe non-slip, no matter what it is, BlueMaka.com insoles are the spot for you. Scouting20 will let them know we sent you and get that discount on the order. Tomorrow, tune in for an Iowa Hawkeye Focus, where Neil and I sit down with Tyler Barnes, GM and Chief of Staff for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Really great conversation on all that Coach Ferrance is, how the Iowa program operates somewhat uniquely and all that they have going on. Going to be an exciting year for Iowa. So make sure you tune in with Tyler Barnes. That one is tomorrow. But today, it's all about running backs. We talked about Ahmad Hardy of Missouri, is our first running back today. we talk about Mark Fletcher Jr., of course, Maud having some of his own issues to deal with as we get ready for the season. I fully expect him to be back and ready to go. But today it's all about Mark Fletcher Jr. So let's go ahead and get some film rolling of the Miami hurricane as we start talking. Mark Fletcher Jr., of course, we're always going to talk with Trey. So who is Mark? Fletcher Jr. rolled at Miami in 2023 as a four-star recruit out of American Heritage High School. Yes, that is a powerhouse high school, so plenty of good players there. Played in 10 games with four starts in his first year. Did miss three games due to injury. But again, that looks like it may have just been something that year. 2024, he played 13 games, four starts, started 12 games, played in 14 last year in 2025. True senior in 2026. Career, 433 attempts for 2005. 313 yards, 26 touchdowns. That comes down to a 5.3 career yards per carry average. We're going to talk about that number and kind of where we want that as scouts. He's got another 34 receptions for 308 yards. Again, solid numbers, good numbers. Again, we'll talk about kind of where that goes. Again, a reminder for running backs, as always, what do we want to be looking for? Vision matters. Inside and outside runnability, his elusiveness, how does he work to break tackles? His pass catching and pass blocking ability, and then his ball security. So let's start at the top with his vision. I think this is a player you're gonna hear the term good a lot. That is on our scale that is above the line. Again, as you start talking our one to nine right step advising scale, he's got good vision. Again, I think he misses some stuff, but he is consistently finding pressing and getting the hole. He's got good gap vision, good zone vision, steady eyes. On the move, when he is working, he has good visions. You're gonna see it here as he cuts back, as he breaks tackles, he presses the hole. There's times where hey, you just got to get what's there, or you got to find the daylight. You got to cut back, you got to bounce to the outside. So, again, his vision, I think, is good overall. His inside, outside run again, both good. This is not a game-breaking speed player, and this isn't just an overwhelming size player again at about 220, 225. Again, this is a good size running back, and he's gonna fall into that bigger running back in the 2027 draft class. But again, he's not a 230, 240. Like, this is just a big inside power back. Again, his inside run, outside run ability are both good. Again, he's going to consistently get yardage. Again, we talked about that with that you know five-yard average at the college level. I think it was 5.3. Again, good. Not great numbers. Again, you'd like to see that number just a little bit higher, but again, he's going to be good in both those areas. Again, his elusiveness, this guy is a slippery power back. He's not going to necessarily lower the shoulders and truck you consistently. He's not going to avoid contact. But again, this guy is slippery. He's got some bursts. He's got some one one jump cut, one cut ability to make defenders miss. So again, that elusiveness. Again, imagine that falls at a good level. His pass catching. That's going to be his one spot. We're going to put him at sufficient right now. And this is going to be the spot, as we talk about his summary, where he could really ascend this year. But again, we're going to talk about him being again, he can catch the screen game, not utilized out wide on routes a lot. So the overall pass catching routes, what he can do in the passing game on third down on known passing situations is going to be a little bit of a limitation, but he's going to be able to do it at a good level. When we talk about pass blocking now. This is a good player. He's got good vision, good feel. He does miss a couple, but he sees it. And I think it may just be a progression and when the you know, one of those things in the way they work through their protection at Miami. I think it's going to get better, but I think it's good level right now. I think NFL coaches are gonna feel comfortable bringing this guy in, putting him in that spot to, you know, protect because he does have the size to do it. And at the end of the ball security. I think he does have a good ratio carries to fumble. He protects the ball. He doesn't put it on the ground a lot. He can carries a high-end tide, good situational awareness to carry the rock and put it down. and put it, you know, keep keep the rock in his hands. So as we talk about, he's got a lot of good level traits for this player. Again, see a nice run here against Texas AM. Again, not quite the game-breaking speed, but he's gonna be physical all the way to the end. So as we We throw a pause on that film and jump over to our our draft board here, brought to you by our friend Kyle Morgan. We're gonna put a 3-0 solid starter grade on this player again. When we start talking about why we think it's gonna be that 3-0 grade, this is a solid pick, not a sexy pick. This is not going to be a special run, special pass player, but this guy is going to help you win. This is Some Najee Harris Flash. I think there's a little bit of Derrick Henry running style, just not the same size. But I like this player. He's certainly going to be among the top groups in backs in this group. But again, it's just going to be a solid, consistent back. That's what he's done at Miami. I think that's what he's going to do this year. One thing I like again for the consistent career production, he has not had all the wear and tear, just 11.7 career rush attempts per game. So Well, he's a good track record, a lot of production to point to. He hasn't been beaten into the ground like a lot of good college running backs that are true seniors. and again, that one spot where I think you get a send. If we see a player that's more dynamic as a route runner and pass catcher, we could certainly see this player get into that gray two point second round grade is again make that argument to be the top running back in this class just because he is good across the board. So I have a 3-0 grade on him. We're going to stick him right there. We're going to move him up to the top of our running back as we've only done again. Three guys looked at Yoder of Lehi, Mod Hardy, Mark Fletcher there. So again, he is going to be a part of that group. But again, not always about what I think. What do you think? Where do you put Mark Fletcher Jr.? What are you expecting? I've got a 3-0 grade. What do you want to see? Where do you put him? Let me know on Twitter, in the comments, wherever it's at. Mark Fletcher Jr. 3-0 grade, third rounder. We'll see where he ends up with the rest of this Miami team. Tomorrow, Tyler Barnes of Iowa, football and perhaps later this week a faith and Friday rap from somewhere in the trees here on the Copper Coin Ministries Homestead. Stay tuned for we are in camp time, which means there's gonna be news, there's gonna be happenings. Soon we're gonna have some fresh film, but we will forge ahead with what we have. And you know, here at Scouting the League, we will keep scouting.