It only took six days, but Ohio State has found another commitment in its 2023 class: Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage four-star running back Mark Fletcher (6-1, 225), who committed to the Buckeyes on Tuesday.
Fletcher is the No. 153 overall prospect and No. 8 running back in the class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, and Ohio State’s first commitment at running back in the 2023 class.
“That’s the first place I visited where I didn’t feel homesick,” Fletcher said. “I knew that was the right place for me.
“Coach (Tony) Alford played a big part in getting me to OSU. I can’t wait to play for him.”
Ohio State’s recruitment of Fletcher was a fast-developing process, as he was only recently offered on Jan. 21. Since receiving his offer, Fletcher made a visit to Ohio State the weekend of April 1, and what he saw was enough to convince him. Fletcher chose Ohio State over his other three finalists: Miami (Fla.), Michigan and Penn State.
At American Heritage, Fletcher rushed for 779 yards and 13 touchdowns his junior season, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. His sophomore season saw him go for 1,411 yards and rush for 11 touchdowns as the Patriots won the Florida 5A state championship.
“He’s a big, physically imposing back that has produced for three straight years at one of South Florida’s top NFL factories in American Heritage,” said 247Sports recruiting analyst Andrew Ivins. “(At 6-1, 225), he carries the weight well, and should be able to lean out once lifting in a college weight room as he adds even more strength. He owns a bit of an up-right run style but is very difficult to bring down in the open field once he’s got a full head of steam with the combination of his size and power. He is quick to hit the hole and does a nice job of using swift cuts to evade would-be tacklers, and can also get out of trouble with a stiff arm here and there.
“He hasn’t been asked to catch a ton of balls throughout his prep career but has shown that he’s capable of moving the chains via swing passes or screen passes. He has also proven to be rather effective in pass protection as he can chip large defenders while buying time for his quarterback. His top-end speed is a bit of a concern but he does his best to make up for it by making a difference in-between the tackles.”
With Fletcher in the fold, Ohio State will look to either Lehigh Acres (Fla.) Senior five-star Richard Young (5-11, 200) or Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater four-star Cedric Baxter Jr. (6-1, 215) to fill the other spot in this class.
