MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — A day before the Miami Hurricanes’ 10-3 win over Texas A&M, Mark Fletcher Jr. and his mother, Linda Fletcher, spoke with Local 10 News about a season defined not only by production, but by loss, resilience and purpose.
The junior running back entered the game as Miami’s leading rusher, with nearly 700 yards on the ground, and a team-high 11 total touchdowns among backs and receivers.
He has been one of the Hurricanes’ most consistent offensive weapons, running with power — and motivation.
No doubt he is a powerful runner, but this season, Fletcher Jr. has also been running with a purpose.
Before every Miami home game, the Hurricanes take part in their pregame tradition known as the “Hurricane Walk.”
But Mark Fletcher and his mother also have a tradition of their own.
“That means a lot and the fact that she doesn’t only come to every single game like she drives to all my away games my support system is just so big and you could just never be down on yourself,” Fletcher said. “You always got people uplifting you.”
Linda Fletcher said being present is non-negotiable.
“It’s very important that I’m there and it’s important that I’m there for him,” she said. “And he wants me there, so it’s my life and I love it. I get so excited. The University of Miami is my happy place.”
It took time for Mark Fletcher to return to his own.
Long before he became the Hurricanes’ leading rusher, Fletcher was a Peewee Heisman winner in Lauderhill, developing under the guidance of his father, Mark Fletcher Sr.
“Dad would do practices, Little League, take all the guys around with him, and so yeah, it was going to be a big part of his life from day one,” Linda Fletcher said. “We knew it.”
Mark Fletcher grew into a highly sought-after four-star prospect at American Heritage and briefly committed to Ohio State before choosing Miami — a decision deeply rooted in his upbringing.
“All I knew was Miami, so that was how I was brought up,” he said. “He was very proud of me regardless. He said wherever I go, he was going to be very proud, but I know when I made that decision to come here, he was the happiest man on earth.”
Known affectionately as “Big Mark,” his father became a fixture around the program.
“You know, everybody loved him,” Mark Fletcher said. “He just, he just was such a big part of everybody. Like he just put a smile on everybody’s face.”
On Oct. 24, 2024, that presence was gone.
“It was the worst day of my life, like the worst day of my life,” Mark Fletcher said. “I remember it like it was yesterday.”
Big Mark died in his sleep at 53 years old.
Two days later, Miami was scheduled to play Florida State University. Mark Fletcher said he never doubted he would play against the rival Seminoles.
“I just knew that deep in my heart that he would just want me to go out there and play football,” he said.
Playing with a heavy heart, he scored the first touchdown of the game.
“That was his first game ever missing and you know for that to be his first game missing in my career, you know, that touched me,” Fletcher said. “But I just wanted to just make him proud.”
A week later, the entire Hurricanes football program attended Big Mark’s funeral.
“That was heavy,” Linda Fletcher said. “It was emotional, just like overwhelming. ”It was an overwhelming day.”
Fletcher said the support mattered more than words.
“That meant everything to me when Coach (Mario) Cristobal told me that, you know, he’ll have, he was going to come,” Fletcher said. “I wasn’t expecting everybody to come just to have that support. It just, it meant the world to me.”
Even with that support, Fletcher admitted the uncertainty that followed.
“It would have been easy just to let go like I feel because that’s what I wanted to do, and I feel like this is my first time saying that publicly,” he said. “Like I wanted to quit. Like I told my coach, coach Mario that like, you know, I don’t really think I could play anymore. I didn’t want to play anymore.”
Linda Fletcher said she gave her son the option.
“I think I get sad just thinking of how strong Mark has to be because I said, you know, if you can’t play this is too much for you, we can stop it right now, but he says he could never do it.”
Now, as Fletcher prepares for the biggest games of his college career, his father remains present in every moment.
“I think about him so much,” Mark Fletcher said. “I think about him every day, every day, every single day.”
When he scores, he points to the sky.
“I love you, Dad,” he said. “I love you.”
Mark Fletcher said his father served as a father figure to many players who didn’t have one. He said, “Long live Big Mark.”
Fletcher finished Saturday’s came with a career-high in rushing yards in a single game with 172 in Miami’s 10-3 win over Texas A&M.
In case you missed it: Local 10 viewers can watch Local 10’s Miami Hurricanes: Chasing a Championship special by clicking here.
Up next:
Miami will face No. 2 Ohio State in the second round of the CFP at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m.
