Walter Fletcher (running back)

Walter Fletcher
No. 25     Montreal Alouettes
Fletcher with the Montreal Alouettes in 2022
Born: (1996-12-17) December 17, 1996 (age 27)
Cheverly, Maryland, U.S.
Career information
StatusActive
CFL statusAmerican
Position(s)Running back
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight202 lb (92 kg)
CollegeEdinboro, Ball State
High schoolCentennial High School
Career history
As player
2021–2022Edmonton Elks
2022–presentMontreal Alouettes
Career highlights and awards
Career stats
Rushing attempts275
Rushing yards1,416
Rushing TDs4
Receptions107
Receiving yards1,035
Receiving TDs2

Walter Charles Fletcher (born December 17, 1996) is an American professional football running back for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).[1] Fletcher played college football at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and Ball State. He made his professional football debut in 2021 as a member of the Edmonton Elks.

Early life

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Fletcher was an all-state selection in football at Centennial High School. Fletcher was a three-year starter, rushing for 1,736 (236 carries) yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior. He was also named to First Team All-Howard County. Fletcher set school records for rushing yards in a single game (306), single season (1,736), single season touchdowns (25) and career rushing yards (2,955).

In 2014, Fletched attended a post-graduate school named East Coast Prep located in Great Barrington, Massachusetts for 3 months. Concluding the season, Fletcher enrolled in NCAA Division III's Randolph-Macon College in the spring of 2015 and later transferred to NCAA Division II's Edinboro University of Pennsylvania for the fall semester of 2015 as a walk-on.

College career

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Fletcher played three years at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (Division II), member of NCAA Division II's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. His sophomore year, he ran for a school-record 1,740 yards on 253 carries, which ranks fifth in a season. Fletcher ranked second in NCAA Division II in rushing yards, along with ranking second nationally in rushing yards per game (158.2 ypg.) Fletcher scored 18 touchdowns rushing and added three touchdowns receiving for 21 total touchdowns. He rushed for 100-or-more yards in eight of eleven games.

Concluding his junior season, Fletcher was named 2018's PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year. He was the first player to do so since Trevor Harris in 2008. Fletcher concluded his 3 seasons with 632 carries, 3,913 yards (6.2 ypc) and 41 touchdowns. He also added 93 receptions, 692 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns. He holds school records for yards in a season, single game (328), career points (288), most 200 yard games in a season (4), career running back receptions (93) and Edinboro University's first ever 100 rushing/100 receiving game. He ranks 3rd all-time in career rushing yards and a 2nd in career touchdowns.

As a graduate transfer, Fletcher enrolled to play for the Ball State Cardinals in 2019. Fletcher finished with 1,032 offensive all-purpose yardage in his lone season with the Cardinals. He had 132 rushing attempts for 726 yards with five rushing touchdowns. Fletcher averaged 5.5 yards per carry which was the second highest by a Ball State running back with at least 100 carries dating back to 2000. Fletcher also caught 26 passes for 306 yards (10.6 ypc) and two touchdowns.

Professional career

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Edmonton Elks

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After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft Fletcher signed with the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on December 31, 2020.[2] During the 2021 season Fletcher played in 11 games and carried the ball 67 times for 302 yards. He also caught 22 passes for 177 yards. Fletcher was selected as one of the Elk players to debut the team's new uniform designs for the 2022 season.[3]

Montreal Alouettes

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Following an injury to their incumbent starting running back, William Stanback, the Montreal Alouettes traded for Fletcher on June 14, 2022, in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2023 CFL Draft.[4] He played in 14 regular season games for the team, starting in six, where he had 85 carries for 486 yards with one touchdown and 29 receptions for 353 yards and one receiving touchdown.[5][6]

References

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  1. ^ Guskey, Jordan (May 30, 2021). "5 Questions: Catching up with Walter Fletcher ahead of his 1st season in the Canadian Football League". The Star Press. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Former Edinboro All-American Walter Fletcher Signing with CFL's Edmonton Football Team". WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. January 1, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  3. ^ "'Everything pops': Elks show off new jerseys with a vintage touch". Edmonton. May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  4. ^ "Alouettes trade for running back Walter Fletcher". Canadian Football League. June 14, 2022.
  5. ^ "Walter Fletcher". Montreal Alouettes. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  6. ^ "2022 Game Notes" (PDF). Canadian Football League. November 3, 2022.
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