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The Basics
Mark Fletcher is a 4-star class of 2023 RB out of American Heritage High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. According to 247 Sports, he is rated as the No. 8 RB nationally and the 29th overall player from Florida in the class of ’23. Before picking the Buckeyes Fletcher had a top 5 list that also included Michigan, Alabama, Miami, and Penn State.
Roster Outlook for 23-24
Currently, there are several talented running backs on the Ohio State roster. TreVeyon Henderson at RB1 is pretty much a lock. After the impressive numbers he posted as a freshman, Henderson is well-positioned to be a top draft prospect following his junior season. After his junior year in 22-23, it will be unlikely Miyan Williams returns for year four, instead likely opting for the NFL Draft or perhaps transferring out. RB2 will likely be Evan Pryor, though he can also expect to be challenged by incoming class of ’22 RB Dallan Hayden as well as current redshirt freshman Cayden Saunders. I wouldn’t be too surprised to see at least one or two of the guys towards the bottom of the RB depth chart to transfer if they fail to crack the top three spots of the rotation.
So right now, my projected top 3 for the 23-24 season are Henderson, Pryor, and one of Hayden or Saunders, with at least one of the 3 after Henderson opting to transfer out. This places Fletcher at RB4 on the depth chart coming in with a shot to compete for the RB3 and depending on transfers in and out, maybe the RB2 spot. Realistically, Fletcher won’t get many RB 2 or 3 reps as a freshman, but he has the tools to develop into a significant contributor after a year or two in the Ohio State system.
Opportunities for Playing Time
Mark Fletcher measures in at 6-1, 225 pounds. Playstyle wise, he is a strong running power-back with good vision and decent burst abilities. Coming in, his body is college ready which could help him compete and win battles against other RBs on the roster who still need to develop physically. Early on, the majority of on the field opportunities he will get will likely be in shorter yardage situations where he could utilize his physical running style to generate short to medium gains for first downs. In blowout situations, which OSU in no stranger to, he could get in later in the game to relieve starters. If injuries impact the starters as well, he could be one of the players ready to step up.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
