ESPN ranked Mark Fletcher No. 4 among the top running backs in college football entering the 2026 season, placing the Miami senior behind Ole Miss' Kewan Lacy, Florida's Jadan Baugh and Missouri's Ahmad Hardy.
With Darian Mensah taking over at quarterback and Malachi Toney and Cooper Barkate leading a talented receiver group, Fletcher is the force who gives the Hurricanes a way to control games when the situation calls for a physical running attack.
Fletcher rushed for 1,192 yards on 216 carries, averaged 5.5 yards per attempt and scored 12 rushing touchdowns last season.
Miami's Mark Fletcher gets the national respect his playoff run deserved
The reason Fletcher rose in the ESPN rankings was because of his performance during Miami's playoff run.
He set a College Football Playoff record with 507 rushing yards across four games and averaged 6.8 yards per carry against Texas A&M, Ohio State, Ole Miss and Indiana. Fletcher opened the run with 172 yards against Texas A&M, followed that with 90 yards against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl and ran for 133 yards in the Fiesta Bowl win over Ole Miss. He closed the season with 112 yards and two touchdowns against Indiana in the national championship game.
Fletcher repeatedly gave the Hurricanes an answer when defenses knew where the ball was going.
The three players ahead of Fletcher all deserve their respect as well. Lacy rushed for 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns at Ole Miss last season, Baugh posted 1,170 rushing yards and added 33 catches for Florida, and Hardy ran for 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe to Missouri.
Still, Fletcher performed well in the head-to-head matchups against the RBs that ranked higher.
He outgained Baugh when Miami beat Florida in September, rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown while Baugh finished with 46 yards and a score. Fletcher also ran for 133 yards against Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl, while Lacy had 103 yards and a touchdown.
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